The Art of Raphael Gallur- Nekkid Gals & Gunslingers (NSFW)

I mentioned in a previous post that I had stumbled upon the work of Mexican comics artist Raphael Gallur.  Here is some more work from this talented guy.

Top Five Reasons I Can’t Watch Any More Hell On Wheels

I’ve tried.  Really, I’ve tried, but I just don’t think I can watch any more Hell On Wheels.  I have six unwatched episodes sitting on my DVR, and I am watching a seventh at the moment, thinking about all the other things I could be watching, reading, doing instead.  I am close to giving up.  Here’s why:

1. There are no likeable characters.  Not a one.  In most dramas you find at least one character that you like, even the villains.  Here I can’t find a one that I care about.  I vaguely cared about Lily Bell for the first few episodes, but she has become as uninteresting as the rest.
2. As I’ve said in many posts before I really look for westerns to explore a visual landscape, not just a point in time.  Here 90% of the scenes look exactly the same.  Sometimes the story moves into a place with trees, and boy that is nice, but otherwise it is one flat piece of land.  Historically accurate?  Sure, that is where you build a railroad, but it is boring as heck.
3. I can’t find a three dimensional character in the bunch.  Everyone is pulled out of the advanced stock characters barrel.  Preacher- who used to be a killer!  Grieving widow- with a secret!  Angry black man- with a clever plan!  Hooker- with a heart of gold!  Better than having them all pulled out of the basic stock character barrel, but only just. 
4. The writing is slow and plodding.  It never seems to go anywhere.  There’s the plains.  And some tracks.  And some guys working.  And the robber baron complaining.  And our hero angry.  Again.  Just like last week. 
5. The show keeps setting itself up to be this big discussion on race in the west.  It goes on and on about racism, but never really engages in it or adds anything meaningful to our thoughts on it.  “Oh, I used to own slaves but I set them free and now my best buddy is that big black guy over there,” says the main character.  Right, Johnny Reb, I’ll buy that.

Can anyone out there give me a good reason to keep on watching?

Lucha Libra Gunslingers: The Art of Rafael Gallur (Randy Cowpoke edition)

A few days ago, while working on the blog about vaqueros, I was looking for some appropriate artwork that would show the stylistic difference between cowboys American and Mexican.  In doing so I stumbled across a Mexican comics artist named Rafael Gallur.  I had never heard of him before, but he has some pretty great artwork.  His western pieces are a nice mix of traditional comics art and western themes with a bit of lucha libra style (lucha libra is a Mexican blend of professional wrestling and superheroes).  For the next few days I’ll show off some of his work, grouped in a way that makes vague sense to me.  Today’s edition- randy cowpokes!

If anyone knows what else Mr. Gallur has worked on, please let me know.  If anyone can get him a job, please use his talents!

Jonah Hex Drifting West?

I just saw a preview of All-Star Western #7, and it looks like Hex will in fact be moving out west- or at least as far west as New Orleans.  He’ll also be taking Amadeaus Arkham with him.  This is starting to remind me of the Frank Castle / Microchip stories from the 90’s Punisher comics:

Jonah Hex tracks the kidnapper Thurston Moody to New Orleans in pursuit of his bounty. But he and Amadeus Arkham find New Orleans under attack by the August 7, a group of anti-immigrant, steampunk terrorists. Only the renowned Nighthawk and Cinnamon stand between the terrorists and the immigrant workforce of this city. Hex consents to put the bounty aside (for the moment) to help his friends and finds himself in a battle to the death!

Anti-immigrant steampunk terrorists?  Well, at least we’ll be getting vaguely closer to a western.

Manhattan Public Library’s Western Picks

The blog for the Manhattan Public Library has put together a list of “classic and award-winning westerns”.  It’s a nice list worth checking out.  Thanks to Troy Smith for pointing this one out.