Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Southern Bastards #5

Collapse
X
Collapse
  •  
    Ian Jane
    Administrator

  • Southern Bastards #5



    Southern Bastards #5
    Released by: Image Comics
    Released on: October 29th, 2014.
    Written by: Jason Aaron
    Illustrated by: Jason Latour
    Purchase From Amazon

    Writer Jason Aaron and illustrator Jason Latour once again take us back to Craw County where we catch up with Earl Tubb, an older man who went back to bury his father but wound up digging up a whole lot of trouble with the local 'Coach Boss.' In fact, before we watch up with Earl, we see a flashback to Boss' high school years where his own coach put him down and tried to talk him out of playing football himself. He didn't listen and told him 'It's football sir, it's worth the blood.'

    Back in the present day at Boss' house, his two lackeys, Esaw and Mater, come in (hey, the door was unlocked, you can do this in the south) and find the man starring at Earl's stick, now all covered in blood and gore. They offer to get rid of it, hide the evidence for him but he's not having any of it. The three of them get in a car and head to Earl's daddy's place where a funeral is going down - Earl Tubb is being planted six feet under, an American flag draped over his coffin. The coach even has the gall to approach Earl's uncle and offer his condolences. When the old man, confined to a wheelchair, asks what really happened to Earl, the coach tells him no one knows for sure but volunteers the sheriff's services to help him get to the bottom of it and then he offers to pay for Earl's tombstone.

    Coach Boss knows that everyone in town is well aware of what he did to Earl Tubbs and he also knows that they're keen to forget about it. He also knows that the reason they want to forget is because they watched him kill Earl and didn't lift a finger to stop him...

    This one is all about Coach Boss as it shows not only more of his influence on the town and the way that those in the town react to him, but through the flashbacks shows us the abuse that he took from his teammates during his high school days and what he had to overcome to get to his current position in the town. Issue five deals not so much with the after effects that last issues shocking ending (though future issues almost certainly will do that) but with how Boss is going to move on. Or rather, if Boss is going to move on. Esaw and Mater aren't going to do anything but continue to play yes men and everyone else in town, including the sheriff up to this point, knows better than to stand up to him. He runs the show, they all know this.

    The issue ends with Boss making a very poignant gesture, one that shows both respect for the fallen and the power he has yet to give up. It sets up the issues to come and builds tension wonderfully. There's no real action here (unless you count the football scenes in the flashbacks), just well written character drama that still manages to be ridiculously suspenseful. Aaron's knack for dialogue remains strong while Latour's art and coloring continues to create the interesting looking characters that populate the small town with a distinctive but effective style. Can't wait for issue #6…






      Posting comments is disabled.

    Latest Articles

    Collapse

    Working...
    X