Reviews by Alex Kennedy (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} 7comicsaweek) wrote,@ 2005-03-20 20:02:00 |
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Shaolin Cowboy #2 (Burlyman)
Everything by Geoff Darrow
Oh Geoff Darrow, how we've missed you. After spending a number of years using his ultra-detailed style to to do design for The Matrix films. His return to comics is in the pages of Shaolin Cowboy, which he writes and draws. Or more accurately, he writes and draws the hell out of. The first issue featured one of the most ballsy illustrative stunts I've ever seen and although there isn't really a set piece of that calibre in the second issue it's still an incredibly funny read with art like you wouldn't believe.
At the finale of the previous issue, we discovered that the gang of murderous revengers out for the Shaolin Cowboy are headed up by King Crab. Who is literally a crab. In an extended origin sequence narrated by the vengeful crustacean we learn that he is out to get our hero for devouring his family at an all you can eat seafood buffet, to the point where he travels to train at the very temple where Shaolin Cowboy learned his kung fu. This is of course leading up to a fight between the Cowboy and King Crab as the crab busts out his 12 forms of animal ju-jitsu. Cue another all out fight scene in the way that only Darrow can do. The fact that it's all being played pseudo serious (in spite of the asides from our hero's companion Lord Evelyn Dunkirk Winnieford the Ass) is what makes the whole elaborate gag work so well. It's not so easy to make something as ludicrous as this issue of Shaolin Cowboy work, but it's so genuinely funny throughout that one doesn't even stop to think about it. It's sublimely ridiculous, and makes perfect sense within it's own weird little universe. Oh yeah, and the zingers are great. All of the bon mots from King Crab's gang and the references to other comics ("Revengers Dissasemble" ) are chuckle worthy, adding to the feel good nature of the book. Some might not get it per se, but I have hard time imagining anyone not being at least amused by it.
And the art. Oh the art. Would that I could do the artwork in Shaolin Cowboy justice with my clumsy words. Suffice to say that there is NO other artist in comics capable of this level of insane detail and over the top action. Oh, people have come close, but none can aspire to match Darrow on this playing field. Who else could draw a pudgy Japanese cowboy fighting a Kung Fu Crab to the death? He has it all sewn up. End of story. I can only imagine the level of work that goes into each and every page of his work, and it's mindboggling. Try to not be drawn in by it... I dare you.
If you haven't picked up Shaolin Cowboy yet, I encourage, nay insist that you do so. It's it's own kind of quirky weird funny, and I daresay that there is nothing else in comics like it. It receives 7 out of 7 on the Seven Comics a Week seven-o-meter. What else do you need to hear?
Everything by Geoff Darrow
Oh Geoff Darrow, how we've missed you. After spending a number of years using his ultra-detailed style to to do design for The Matrix films. His return to comics is in the pages of Shaolin Cowboy, which he writes and draws. Or more accurately, he writes and draws the hell out of. The first issue featured one of the most ballsy illustrative stunts I've ever seen and although there isn't really a set piece of that calibre in the second issue it's still an incredibly funny read with art like you wouldn't believe.
At the finale of the previous issue, we discovered that the gang of murderous revengers out for the Shaolin Cowboy are headed up by King Crab. Who is literally a crab. In an extended origin sequence narrated by the vengeful crustacean we learn that he is out to get our hero for devouring his family at an all you can eat seafood buffet, to the point where he travels to train at the very temple where Shaolin Cowboy learned his kung fu. This is of course leading up to a fight between the Cowboy and King Crab as the crab busts out his 12 forms of animal ju-jitsu. Cue another all out fight scene in the way that only Darrow can do. The fact that it's all being played pseudo serious (in spite of the asides from our hero's companion Lord Evelyn Dunkirk Winnieford the Ass) is what makes the whole elaborate gag work so well. It's not so easy to make something as ludicrous as this issue of Shaolin Cowboy work, but it's so genuinely funny throughout that one doesn't even stop to think about it. It's sublimely ridiculous, and makes perfect sense within it's own weird little universe. Oh yeah, and the zingers are great. All of the bon mots from King Crab's gang and the references to other comics ("Revengers Dissasemble" ) are chuckle worthy, adding to the feel good nature of the book. Some might not get it per se, but I have hard time imagining anyone not being at least amused by it.
And the art. Oh the art. Would that I could do the artwork in Shaolin Cowboy justice with my clumsy words. Suffice to say that there is NO other artist in comics capable of this level of insane detail and over the top action. Oh, people have come close, but none can aspire to match Darrow on this playing field. Who else could draw a pudgy Japanese cowboy fighting a Kung Fu Crab to the death? He has it all sewn up. End of story. I can only imagine the level of work that goes into each and every page of his work, and it's mindboggling. Try to not be drawn in by it... I dare you.
If you haven't picked up Shaolin Cowboy yet, I encourage, nay insist that you do so. It's it's own kind of quirky weird funny, and I daresay that there is nothing else in comics like it. It receives 7 out of 7 on the Seven Comics a Week seven-o-meter. What else do you need to hear?
