Black Fury in the Old West

Pale Horse #1 of 4
Story by Andrew Cosby
Written by Michael Alan Nelson
Art by Christian Dibari

Action Ash
It seems like the Western genre is back in comics in a big way. There seems to be a growing number of titles, the latest one being Pale Horse by BOOM! studios. It's only a four parter but the first ish was a good'n.

The story is of a black man named Cole. He is married (presumably) to a native American woman who is raped and murdered, leaving behind a baby son and a furious lover. After dealing with the transgressors, we join Cole and his son (who looks remarkably white for the offspring of a black guy and a native American) as they make a living bounty hunting as well as being outlaws themselves.

I thought it was going to be a simple revenge tale at first, but by the end of the book you know something else is going on and it will probably end in lashings of bloodshed.

Art is nice, reminding me a bit of someone else who I can't quite put my finger on. Also the colour palette is great, and gives the book a old western feel with a grimness to it that can't be ignored.

3 and a half rapists having their throats slit and being made to watch themselves die in a mirror out of 5

Hawks of Outremer

Robert E. Howard's Hawks of Outremer #1 of 4
Adapted by Michael Alan Nelson
Art by Damian Couceiro

Action Ash
Plot: The story is set in 1190AD, during the third crusade. A warrior named Cormac Fitzpatrick finds out a friend he still owes a favour to has been killed, and a lord that had been asked for help refused. So Cormac decides to avenge his dead friend, and hack up the suckers responsible for this transgression.

Essentially this story is "What if Conan (albeit an Irish conan) was in 12th century Turkey fighting in the crusades?". I am a big Conan fan and like Howard's writing style, however his warrior characters do tend to be rip offs of the famous Cimmerian (technically Kull came first, but he's just not as cool).

Although this is the case the first issue of this series sets up the foundations for a fun little revenge tale which promises to end in epic bloodshed and lashings of gore!

I liked the writing. The dialogue and caption boxes are great at times e.g. "Conrad von Gonler I name you liar, traitor and coward, dastard, poltroon and villain! Arm yourself and ride out here on the plain!"

The artwork is good at times, not so good at others, and an all round average effort. It works well for this story but is nowhere near the level of art seen in other Howard comic book adaptions.

All in all a fun read and I can't wait to see what bloody havoc is wreaked in the next three issues.

3 and a half axe cleaved skulls out of 5