Tall Tales from the Badlands Vol. 3by Sheena McNeilReviews may contain information that could be considered 'spoilers'. Readers should proceed at their own risk. Publisher
Credits Grade: 10 I like westerns. I especially like weird westerns that still come off as believable and / or realistic. Tall Tales from the Badlands definitely delivers. This issue is five stories of hardship and weirdness in the Wild West, and three pinups at the end as extras. A big plus is that it's an anthology with fleshed-out, interesting stories that are not forced to be too short or rushed (the book is about 55 pages) for the price of a regular comic book issue ($3.99).First, let me say that the black and white art is fantastic! Even though there's a different artist for each story, it's a very cohesive mix that captures the same visual design throughout. I love the character designs, and the attention to detail in things like clothing style. Second, I really like the flow from one story to the next. The first two and the fourth are fairly typical westerns, with a twist. The other two add a touch of fantasy or science fiction. Also, I was pleasantly surprised by the two fantasy twists, which I didn't see coming at all! "The Judgement of the People" is a great story of the "law" in the old west. Corruption, a god-complex, treachery / framing, and big punishments for "small" crimes all make for a good read. The twist is nicely done, and reminds me of something I might find in Tales from the Crypt. "Apologies" is a sad twist of fate that even the Donner party wouldn't have expected. I love the mother in this story. I love that she has the idea to try to keep living (though it would have been better sooner), and she's unafraid to get physical to protect her kids. "Rustlers" is a train heist story … with zombies. Normally, I'm not a huge zombie fan, but I appreciate when they're well done, and this one is. I love the design of the fat cattle rustler. "All Mine" involves a miner looking for gold and his Native American friend / helper. I really like that the twist in this one makes use of the Indian character in a way that seems fitting. I also really like the symbolism of the scorpion versus the tarantula, including the final squish. "Where the Heart Is" is about families trying to survive off the land in Colorado in 1872. When I started to grasp the twist, I was incorrectly thinking it would be like M. Night Shyamalan's The Village. I appreciate the uniqueness and the choice by the main family at the end. The three pinups definitely charge head-first into fantasy, and I can easily say that based on those images I would real full-length stories for each of them! In fact, I loved every story in this book and look forward to more. Even if westerns aren't normally your thing, if you like unusual stories with a good twist, give this book a try. Written: February 2, 2014
|
|
|
Home |
Features |
Columns |
Culture Vultures |
Report Card
Indicia | Contact | Archives © Sequential Tart, 1998 – 2021 |
