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Southern Bastards #3

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    Ian Jane
    Administrator

  • Southern Bastards #3



    Southern Bastards #3
    Released by: Image Comics
    Released on: July 2nd, 2014.
    Purchase From Amazon

    The third issue of writer Jason Aaron and illustrator Jason Latour's Southern Bastards once again picks up right where the last issue left off. Earl Tubbs has returned home after four decades away to find that the town he spent his childhood in is corrupt. The tree his father was buried under was struck by lightning and an old friend of his is dead. Before we catch up with that, however, a flashback shows us what it was like between Earl and dear old dad when Earl tells the old man that he's heading off to serve in Vietnam. Back in the present day, a familiar looking dog takes a dump in a convenient location and then we cut to the diner where Earl shows up with a Bufford Pusser-esque stick in hand, the kind his daddy used to deal out justice when it served him.

    Earl goes face to face with Esaw and confronts him about Dusty's death. Earl is pissed and he uses that stick, hard. The place clears out except for Tad, that goofy kid who was hanging around in the first issue. The Sheriff moves in with plans to arrest Earl but Esaw tells him straight up that Coach Boss doesn't want this to end that way. In fact, Esaw goes right to Boss to let him know what happened but coming up with the game plan for tomorrow's game is more important to the crotchety old thug, leaving Esaw to deal with Tubbs. Earl makes a phone call while Esaw and his boys put on their helmets…

    All this and a recipe for fried apple pies! Things were already heating up last issue but here, they really reach a boiling point. You know it'll only get uglier from here but by giving us even more clues as to Earl's background (and therefore making him more interesting to the reader) while simultaneously propelling the core plot regarding Coach Boss and his grip over the town, Aaron's writing moves at a considerably faster pace this time around. Latour's artwork still kicks plenty of ass too - great line work, sketchy enough to have a quirky style to it but never rushed looking and ripe with detail. Great use of color, again with clever use of red, helps the line art to stand out while strong blacks and well placed inky shadows make the last few pages as tense as anything that's happened in the series up to this point.

    Things are probably about to get a whole lot worse before they get better. Here's hoping Aaron and Latour can keep the quality level on par with the first three issues, because if they can, Southern Bastards might wind up as one of the best new series of the year.








    • Andrew Monroe
      #1
      Andrew Monroe
      Pallid Hands
      Andrew Monroe commented
      Editing a comment
      Yep, this book just goes from strength to strength. This is one of those very rare comics that would make a great novel. Much as I love the art, it's one hell of a strong story. Earl's phone calls are a bit strange, weird vibe there. Tad is gonna be hurting real soon, judging from that ending. This book should ideally be read on your front porch on a blazing summer afternoon, moonpie and sweet tea within reach...

    • Todd Jordan
      #2
      Todd Jordan
      Smut is good.
      Todd Jordan commented
      Editing a comment
      Good sleazy southern vigilante reading is what it is. Reminds me of Walking Tall, which I imagine it is supposed to.
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