gc8's Weird Western Tales #37 - Requiem for a Gunfighter! review

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    Possibly the Best of the Jonah Hex Features in Weird Western Tales

    One of Jonah Hex's Best Moments
    One of Jonah Hex's Best Moments

    If I had to pick one favorite story from the Weird Western Tales run of Jonah Hex stories, it would be 'Requiem for a Gunfighter', the story from issue 37 of WWT.

    Story-wise, like all the WWT Jonah Hex-es, its a western cliché, Jonah Hex is the aging gunfighter that teaches everything he knows to the youth who wants justice for the murder of his loved ones - and then, in a twist

    ***(minor spoiler)*** he ends up in a showdown with the very kid he trained.
    ***(end spoiler)***

    Michael Fleisher's writing is as good as ever, and the artists du jour, Rich Buckler and Frank Springer, despite being new to the title, do a great job. There is a particularly cinematic style here, including good use of shadow, and close-ups and panel compositions to really tell stories.

    The artwork is notable for its cinematic style including the use of light and shadow, and tight shots like a gun being drawn...
    The artwork is notable for its cinematic style including the use of light and shadow, and tight shots like a gun being drawn...
    a typical page
    a typical page
    John Albano, Jr. uses color to add interest (sky) and depth (highlights on the hat and shoulders of the figure in the foreground) to enhance this Jonah Hex story
    John Albano, Jr. uses color to add interest (sky) and depth (highlights on the hat and shoulders of the figure in the foreground) to enhance this Jonah Hex story

    Also, for the first time there is a credited colorist, John Albano, Jr., which may mean that this is the first time there was a dedicated colorist on this title. It certainly looks that way. Compared to the poor coloring of some of the recent past issues, the use of color in this issue is striking as you can see in panel that shows gradations of color in the rocks, water, sky, and as serving as shading and highlights on things like faces and cowboy hats.

    'Requiem for a Gunfighter' is not one of the greatest comics ever made, but it is a good solid example of Jonah Hex comics from the Bronze Age period.

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