Review - Southern Bastards #2

Review by Paul Fiander
The Comic is available in both print and digital from Image comics. Follow this link for more details.
The return of Earl Tubb to Craw County was less of a glorious homecoming for a former Football star and more of a glorious F@~#k up. However it seems no matter how far you run there is always something to bring you back to your past. In what was supposed to be a quick clean and close up of his old house instead Earl found himself using a deep fryer basket to subdue a rather nasty piece of work.  This has led to a turn of events that prove the pivotal moment for this issue and perhaps the whole story. Of course I will not spoil but instead all I will offer you is a nod in the direction the story is heading.

In this issue we get to see what Friday night means to the citizens of a small town with very little prospects, Lights. The whole idea of a town built around High school football seems odd to some but if you come from a town that worships a sport it must make perfect sense. This is the first time we get to see Football being played. Jason Latour attacks the players on the field in the same way they go after each other. No Line is spared as he goes about filling each panel with the intricacies of a match. It’s however the vibrant colour of the uniforms that really stand out as we get to understand what being the shining light of a town really means. This feels like an entry point into a culture few understand but a great deal wish they could. (Examples of the art can be seen in the preview gallery below).

Jason Aaron has seemingly slowed down a lot of the narrative for this issue, but this works to set up the final section. Truthfully you can see the ending a mile off but it’s the journey that Earl goes through that is making this story so compelling. Not to mention wondering who is on the end of the phone. The honesty of the story though is really what keeps dragging me back, this is a warts and all tale complete with a central figure that has a past. I hope that as time goes on we can get the payoff that the story deserves but for now I’m happy just living in the deep embrace of the south.

Southern Bastards is a slice of life story that is not afraid to look at the darker side of humanity. The subject matter feels honest and that is mostly down to the creators. This feels like a story with legs and if you want a story to get your teeth into you are in for a treat.

Issue Rating 4.5/5

Preview Gallery

A little more more gritty tales with a realistic bent.

Satellite Sam, Vol. 1 TP

The 1950's in televisions golden age are the setting for this tale of murder and sleaze.
Southern Bastards #1

Where the tale started for the Jason's.
Images courtesy of Image Comics
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