This issue didn't have it's usual ironic flavor of humor. But . . it was ok. It does go a little overboard sometimes. Anyways, we see an earlier time . . 1883 actually . . when Jack had also emancipated himself of the ostentatious walls of the Burroughs. He was calling himself Smilin' Jack, and he was the leader of the Jack Candle Gang. The reason, I think, the humor was abandoned this issue, is because this one is kind of like a history lesson. Jack had put his gang together, and was running rampant across the Western horizon. This issue, we meet each one, and learn a little of thier backgrounds. They're an eclectic lot of larceny, which includes Indian Wally Broadhome, Coldstream Angus McKee and the Jasper Kid . . who was really from Huntingburg, but they didn't think anyone would respect someone called the Huntingburg Kid. It's those kinds of leaps in logic that makes this book the facetious prose that it is. When I saw the Matthew Sturges was doing the scripts with Bill Willingham, I was afraid that we were going to lose him. But it appears that they are now a writing duo, much in the way of Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti. They've also recently started doing the House of Mystery book together. You know, my only complaint since the beginning of this series is the art. I don't really like the style that Tony Akins uses to illustrate these pages. But . . upon reflecting further, I actually think his style is perfect. These characters are, after-all . . characters . . literally, from the various fables as told around the world. To draw them in a chucky comic-book style, I now think, suits their stature and the "tongue-in-cheek" nature of their adventures. I enjoy reading this book every month. And now . . now that it's graced with these amazing Brian Bolland covers, it's a nice little gem hidden away on most comic racks.
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