Zilla and the Comics Junkies

Saturday, August 06, 2005


Billy the Kid's Old Timey Oddities

This eisner winning Eric Powell sure can weave a hilariously weird-o horror tale, let me tell you. Billy the Kid's Old Timey Oddities further cements this guy as one of my favorite writers in the business today - and is a must read for any EP or Goon fan. Essentially what EP has given us is a warped, alternative "extra chapter" to the tradtiional Billy the Kid saga.

We all know (or at least should) that William H. Bonny, a.k.a. Billy the Kid, was a terror in the old west during his time on this earth (ultimately made famous by the Lincoln County War, which was wonderfully portrayed in the classic modern western Young Guns). The history books presume Billy's run came to an end when he was shot and killed at the hands of Pat Garrett, a former friend and partner turned Sheriff. Given the lack of hard evidence and mystery surrounding the Kid's death however, the exact facts surrounding his demise have been forever in question (some even wondering if he was killed at all). Powell banks on this uncertainty for his story, laying the mat for a least one more Billy the Kid adventure (after the Garrett encounter), captured for your reading pleasure in one nice, neat TPB.

Powell's Billy is on the lam, trying to stay out of sight so the world will buy into the fact that he's dead and the long arm of the law will consider his case closed. At least one man knows he's not dead though (Fineus Sproule), and hunts him down as the perfect man to help him with a service. This is no ordinary man though, and no ordinary request (surprise!).

Fineus runs a carnival (of sorts) filled w/ societies outcasts (which he deftly lables "biological curiosities). There is a no-legged man, a wolf boy, a guy covered in lizard scales, a beautiful woman w/ mysterious (and magical) full-body tattoos, and a charming little innocent miniature boy with a huge troll-ish bodyguard (these two steal the scenes on more than one occasion BTW). And what's the service Fineus needs of the Kid? To help him steal a massive "heart jewel" from Dr. Frankenstein. Yeah THAT Dr. Frankenstein; except this version has been kidnapping carnies and performning ghastly experiments on them in order to create an army of monsters (can you feel Fineus' alterior motive?).

Weird enough yet? Oh it gets weirder, and funnier but i don't want to give away too, too much ;)

Powell's character development in these 4 issues is superb (as always). The motley cast, from Billy and Fineus to the various carnies, are so likeable, interesting, and each play an important part in the overall story. The little "miniature boy", Jeffrey Tinsle, is such a funny, unique, and unassuming character, w/ a very cool role to play when it comes down to it. I just loved that little guy. EP's Billy the Kid incarnation is cool too - true to form in most respects (gritty, hard around the edges, a little dopey, and the epitome of a bad-ass pistolier).

My only complaint is that i wish that Powell had drawn these issues and not only written them. The art is not bad at all (as a matter of fact it's pretty good once you settle in and get used to it), and suits the story just fine, but i happen to love Powell's art almost as much as his writing.

In the end I can only hope Powell takes this somewhere beyond this mini... regardless the trade for Billy the Kid's Old Timey Oddities (whenever it drops) is going right on my shelf. I'll be able to re-read this one over and over. A.

It was over when...

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posted by zilla @ 5:54 AM  |   | 

2 Comments:

06 August, 2005 14:18, Blogger note said...

I just finished reading these four issues (thanks zilla) and I have got to say- AWSOME. I really dug everything about this title. Other than this, the Goon is the only Powell stuff I've read (what else has he done?) but this is definetly continuing his great writting style. When I first dove into it I was worried it was gonna wind up going in a League of Extraordinary Gentlemen direction but by the end of issue one I was definetly pleaesed with where it was going.

I agree that the art takes getting used to but only a couple of frames. In fact, I really loved the art by the end of the fourth issue (where Hotz's ability to handle gruesome, slimy stuff really comes through). One of the things I always look for when I come across a new artist is the way they handle smoke. For me its a small, but very important piece an artist's established style. I love how Hotz has chosen to handle it. It's got great weight, great shadow. Love it. (A good example of this is the last frame zilla posted) I'm really hoping Powell and Hotz decide to continue this past the mini. It would make a great series.

 
08 August, 2005 10:49, Blogger zilla said...

yeah this story really was kick ass... powell has one hell of a mind for writing "his style" comics. can't wait for the trade of billy's - this is one i'll read a good few times ;)

 

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Zilla's Pulls


In no particular order:

Criminal, The Goon, Daredevil, Exterminators, Punisher, Hellboy/B.P.R.D (All), Powers, Godland, Usagi Yojimbo, The Walking Dead, Invincible, Conan, Ex Machina, DMZ, Desolation Jones, Fell, 100 Bullets, All-Star Superman, Ultimates 2, Loveless, and Fear Agent.

Futures

Minutiae

I'm recently back reading after a 15 year comics hiatus.

Zilla is not my real name.

I'm from Tejas living in VA. I'm married w/ 2 dogs. I'm an IT security consultant cranking the wheel for a big consulting firm in "real" life.

I watch the History Channel, Nat'l Geo, TLC, Mil Channel, ESPN and NFL Network, CourtTV (forensic files, etc.) and the Cartoon Network (love Genndy T's Samurai Jack and Clone Wars Adventures). My taste in movies: Gladiator, Last Samurai, Braveheart, Godfather, Tarantino (whatever), Kung-Fu (whatever), Westerns, Top Gun, Big Lebowski.

I love the outdoors and bs'ing around w/ my dogs.

In addition to being a comics junkie, i'm also a sports junkie especially when it comes to the Texas Longhorns and the Dallas Cowboys.



Blog contents copyright © 2005 Rod Wetsel