Jonah Hex- Is it really that good?

[Armadillo]

I heard a looooot of recommendations on that series and I thought of buying the first TPB. But the plot not sound so interesting... I mean, a bounty hunter in the wild west? that all? not sound -that- special :\ (It is done in manga a lot of time).

so, is it really that good? and what so good about it?

[Hel]

No. It's never as good as the internets makes it out to be and it's never as bad as the internets makes it out to be.

[jesse_custer]

It is the best current monthly out there. There are several reasons for this:

1. More than 90 percent of the time, one issue tells one story. To me, it is awesome looking at 20 single issues knowing that I have almost 20 different stories to read.

2. Jonah Hex, although a very simple character in concept, wrestles with his humanity constantly. Each issue also features new characters, and they're all very well done.

3. The dialogue is wonderful and believable for the setting.

4. The art team changes frequently, and somehow the art is consistently great. It's interesting seeing all the different takes on Hex's design.

5. Fantastic action sequences.

6. The narrative is cinematic, easy to follow, and varied.

Edit: By the way, you don't have to start with the first trade. Any issue or trade will do.

[Herr Mike]

My guideline is, if it doesn't sound interesting, it probably won't be, and don't pay attention to reviews. If you do, the next thing you know, you'll have a full run of Blue Beetle comics.

[jesse_custer]

My guideline is don't talk about a series unless you've actually read it.

There are plenty of comics, musical artists, movies, video games, and books I initially didn't think sounded interesting that turned out awesome.

[Alex Smith]

My guideline is, if it doesn't sound interesting, it probably won't be, and don't pay attention to reviews. If you do, the next thing you know, you'll have a full run of Blue Beetle comics.

Which is also a great series.

Just give it a try man. If you like it, great. If not don't buy anymore.

Personally I think Hex is the best book on the market right now.

[Herr Mike]

My guideline is don't talk about a series unless you've actually read it.

There are plenty of comics, musical artists, movies, video games, and books I initially didn't think sounded interesting that turned out awesome.

I agree, which is why I didn't pass any sort of judgement on the series. I just said that if it doesn't sound interesting to the guy it probably won't be. In my experience it's more or less true.

[jsf]

It's a great read. The stories are primarily done-in-one, which is a nice change from all the event driven, "written for tpb", stories that are the norm. Palmiotti and Gray have taken great pains to make the dialogue correspond with speech patterns from the period, as well as trying to refer to historical events (every now and then) to sort of contextualize the character. And there are rotating artists every month, and they're always among the industry's best. That alone makes this worth reading, as the book never feels stale.

Honestly, I think it's DC's best book at the moment. But check out a few of the trades, and see what you think. Yeah, it's a western ... but it's more like the Unforgiven run to the 'nth degree', than like a John Wayne type of western. Hex is one of the most compelling characters in print at the moment.

[Armadillo]

I agree, which is why I didn't pass any sort of judgement on the series. I just said that if it doesn't sound interesting to the guy it probably won't be. In my experience it's more or less true.
But I didnt meant that it is not sound interesting, it's just that the main concept sound too simple. But if a lot of people say that it is interesting title, I think I'll try the first TPB.
Thaks a lot, everybody! You helped a lot.

[Alex Smith]

If I were you I'd actually just pick up an old issue. All stories are self contained to that issue. #33 is particularly great. Especially the art.

[jesse_custer]

#33 had a great narrative.

[jackdaw53]

But as its been pointed out already.... because its mostly done in one stories, all you have to do is pick up an issue at random, read it and decide. None of this cobblers about having to read 6 issues and half a dozen other series to work out what's going on. All you need to enjoy the comic is right there in the comic itself. Revolutionary idea... one day it'll catch on.

And while I'm coasting a wave of enthusiasm... have a look at Jonah Hex vol 1 Showcase. In some ways its even better than the present series. (Jonah is a bit more humane, and the progression and growth of his character is easier to follow.) And the artwork is top quality, and done in a style that looks great even in black and white. The type of Showcase volume that justifies the line.

[DonEMC]

Jonah Hex is the best monthly comic being published today. It's stories are very interesting and the art is always good. Some of the top artists in the business are drawing Jonah Hex. Issue 35, which came out last week, is a good issue to start with.
I've been buying Jonah Hex since the early 1980s and I have to say I enjoy this current series as much as the old series.
The Showcase Jonah Hex Vol. 1 (when is Volume 2 coming out?) is the best trade paperback collection in my whole library. I've got two copies: One I've read over and over (and it's falling apart) and another that's preserved nicely on my shelf with my other Jonah Hex collections.
The Done-In-One style of storytelling here really works, but, DC has asked Jimmy and Justin to write a couple multi-parters to see if it'll bring sales up some.

[FanboyStranger]

It's a great book, certainly the best DCU book out (Diggle's Hellblazer and Fables are the best books DC/Vertigo/Wildstorm have been publishing over the past year, in my opinion). The writing is excellent, and top flight artists seem to just keep lining up for a shot on the book.

[Ilash]

I dropped Jonah Hex ages ago. It has to be said though that I do think it's a good series - sometimes excellent even - it wasn't something that I really felt I needed to read every month. The stories struck me as being a bit too similar to one another month after month and I started to lose interest in it as a monthly series.

I actually think this was the right move for me because I picked up the Darwyn Cooke issue and was blown away by both art and story but I do feel that its impact would have been lessened had I carried on with the monthly grind.

The great thing about the way Hex is written though is that because most of the stories are done-in-ones you can fix it up at any point when you feel like a good Western fix and never worry about being lost.

[guyjo]

Jonah Hex has never failed to entertain, each issue is a winner. I agree that one of its strengths is the self contained stories; individually, each issue is a fun read, while as a whole the series paints a portrait of a very complex man.

[Lupek]

It has been good to great, the entire run. Mostly great.

[Libaax]

Its by far the best ,consistent comic in DC, its always Great to very good.

Thats a very hard and special for an episodic series.


I dont understand how can you can judge a series by how its concept sound like. Most comics concept dont sound good until you know what it is.

[rick]

Jonah Hex is the best American comic book being published today.

Not just from DC, but from any company.

Fantastic art and just issue after issue of brilliant writing.

[Armadillo]

I dont understand how can you can judge a series by how its concept sound like.
But i dont... that the reason I open that thread.

[Libaax]

But you did judge the plot,concept and so on.


Anyway if you gonna read an issue read one with Jordi Bernet art. He is great.

[rick]

Anyway if you gonna read an issue read one with Jordi Bernet art. He is great.


I second that.

Bernet's art has been the best of an exceptional bunch.

Those guys from Europe really have a taste for the Leone West and it shows.

[Libaax]

I second that.

Bernet's art has been the best of an exceptional bunch.

Those guys from Europe really have a taste for the Leone West and it shows.

Do you know his famous spanish comic Torpedo will be translated to english ?

By Jimmy Palmiotti himself !

Im looking forward so much ! I like his art so much that i will collect in anything of him i can find !

[rick]

Do you know his famous spanish comic Torpedo will be translated to english ?

By Jimmy Palmiotti himself !

Im looking forward so much ! I like his art so much that i will collect in anything of him i can find !

I read all of the English editions back when they came out in the 1980's, and really think they are some of the best crime comics ever drawn.

I'm just a huge fan.

I hadn't heard about the new translations though. Do you know if these are the strips that already were translated once, or are they stoires that have never appeared in English before?

[Libaax]

IDW is realesing according to their site stories that have never been in english before.

I geuss the hole comic will be translated by them.

So you have read it can you describe it? How many issues ? Im wondering because of its spanish langauge barrier i cant even read about it in wiki.

[Armadillo]

But you did judge the plot,concept and so on.

But I didnt judge the comic, just the main concept, that -sound- to me simple, I didnt even say it's bad (I love cowboys :D), just simple.

Thanks a lot, guys.

[matt levin]

For me, the thing about Jonah Hex is that it's one of comics' few biographical comics-- I can tell you (heh...well, with a bit of rereading back issues) when Jonah was born, to whom, why he left home, joined the Confederacy, LEFT the confederacy, hw he got that scarred up face, whom he married (he married twice!) and what happened, his politics re: women's sufferage (found it silly, but supported it), up through what happened to him after he died...

I agree that the Showcase volume is really a fantastic collection (and I am pissed bigtime that the follow-up collection is being held up), and that the current series, though very episodic, and has not done much in furthering our background information on the character, nonetheless has been entertainingly written and well drawn.

The 'catch' to Jonah is that he is a marksman beyond belief. It's the one 'suspension of disbelief' required: he shoots, he scores. Each time, everytime;and he survives incredibly dangerous situations. But within the context of the character, this all works just fine.

It's a character play; Jonah vs. whomever he comes across, and, often, Jonah's almost a secondary character while we learn about those he's about to meet.

It's a remarkable feat of storytelling. and that's why I like it!
Matt

[Pixie_Solanas]

"A Crude Offer" had me entertained.

[david r]

I have read the first two trades, and Jonah Hex is one great book. It's a crying shame more people won't give it a chance. I hope this title never ends.

[HaroldAllnut]

Well, this thread up and convinced me. I think I'm gonna pick up the most recent issue of Jonah Hex, the one with the JH Williams art, and perhaps the one with Darwyn Cooke's art as well.

Does this title just have a different artist every issue/few issues? Seems like an interesting idea.

[david r]

Yes, it has rotating artists. But the writers are the same throughout. I give DC tremendous credit for keeping this quality book going.

[HaroldAllnut]

Yes, it has rotating artists. But the writers are the same throughout.

That's a very interesting concept. Seems like it'd keep the title on a pretty well-maintained schedule. Sounds good. I guess I'll pick up issues 33 and 35.

[rick]

IDW is realesing according to their site stories that have never been in english before.

I geuss the hole comic will be translated by them.

So you have read it can you describe it? How many issues ? Im wondering because of its spanish langauge barrier i cant even read about it in wiki.


Torpedo is about a completely unredeemable mob hit man during the 1930's and the stories are about his various crimes, vendettas and “romances”.

I have no idea how many issues there are, but a bunch of them got translated into English during the 1980’s.

They are well worth buying.

[dancj]

Jonah Hex is decent, but nothing special for me.

[HaroldAllnut]

I picked up issues 33 and 35, like I said I would, and, for those of you who can't read the pull list in my sig for reasons as yet unknown...

Jonah Hex is an impressive ongoing. Good stories, good art, good stuff-- and I never even cared much for Westerns. I recommend it.

[Bicorn Halfelven]

When i started collecting comics again, I picked up issue 28 and was instantly hooked. I really hope there is enough enthusiasm for this title that will keep it published. This is one of the books I read monthly where I cannot wait for the next month's once finished with the current issue.

Normally I'm not a big fan of Jimmy Palmiotti's work (especially as an inker, but to each their own), but his writing has me pegged as a fan.

Issue 29 was a mindblower on the art tip. Rafa Garres is AMAZING.

[Pixie_Solanas]

It is a quality book and I'm not really a fan of the western genre, Deadwood-aside.

And ditto to the above comment, Rafa Garres' art in the recent issue was nothing short of outstanding.

[Matt]

I have to say, I quite enjoy this title. Almost always very well written/plotted - which is actually pretty hard to do with Hex since the potential for suspense is lessened by the simple fact we already know when, where and how he dies.

[octothorp]

Jonah Hex is one of the best out there today. Good art, great characterization, et cetera. One note on the original post: manga? Heck, American comics have featured cowboys and frontiersmen for ages. Even Jack Kirby did westerns, back in the '40s and '50s. Comics were once quite diverse, with westerns, romance comics, horror, sports, you name it, sharing space with the superheroes. That really only died after the Wertham debacle. Modern manga, with it's own diversity, mirrors what we once had (before my day, but my pop-in-law remembers it well). I feel that we're returning to that level of diversity, what with Jonah Hex and House of Mystery and other fine comics. To paraphrase that madman, Mao, 'let a thousand comics bloom!'

[Libaax]

It is a quality book and I'm not really a fan of the western genre, Deadwood-aside.

And ditto to the above comment, Rafa Garres' art in the recent issue was nothing short of outstanding.

Which is very wierd but Garres i liked more before this issue. I like his broad faced Hex but this issue when it was dark you couldnt see what he drew+ the scar was gone for some reason.

I kept thinking an important story about his backround deserved better artist like Bernet,DeZuniga,Williams III etc

[jesse_custer]

The historical narrative of the lastest issue was awesome. I can't wait to see what Palmiotti and Gray will do for next month.