Jonah Hex #43 - DC

First of all, I have to say that Paul Gulacy did a tremendous job on the art of this issue. I love Paul's work. But usually we see him in the 'cloak & dagger', 'spy' type stories. Or, he used to be on Batman for a long time. But I thought it was interesting to see him on this 'western'. It looked really good. This was one of the first issues I've seen in this series that didn't really have an ending that wrapped things up all neat and tidy. Basically, this local gang has taken, I assume, a wealthy man and his daughter hostage in a fancy hotel outside of town. The Sheriff doesn't know what to do because he know that if they pay the ransom, the gang will just end up killing them anyways. So . . he calls in Jonah. He's offered him $1000 each if he can get the man and his daughter out of there alive. Which he spends the first 14 pages of this issue doing so. However, these are bad men. So . . they fight back. In the process, they burn the hotel to the ground, and even though Hex does get both of them out . . the gang had beaten the man and he was already half-dead by the time that Jonah got to him. The daughter doesn't blame Jonah, however . . the bank does. They're the ones that pushed the Sheriff to get the issue resolved, and were putting up the money. So now . . they don't want to pay him. They say that by the time the money that's left pays off the lean on the Hotel . . there's nothing really left. Even for the daughter. In a twist, the daughter decides that she owes Jonah a debt and signs over the land in payment for that. The whole bank thing . . their concerns and motivations, had me a little confused. I'm not sure what they were trying to accomplish here. I'm also not sure if she signed the land over to Jonah for the reasons she stated, or . . to spite the bank. A lot of the motivations here were a little confusing and blurred. And at the end of the story, when she questions Jonah about his intentions for the land, as he rides off he tells her . . "It's currency. With the railroads and towns popping up, it's getting so a person can't keep to themselves. Best thing to do is leave it clear and free." Don't get me wrong. I like this series. I think Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray are doing a fantastic job here. And those first 14 pages, as Jonah silently works his way through the house trying to take out the gang members one by one . . those 14 pages were brilliant. The scene couldn't have played out better if it was in a movie. It was fantastic. It just seems that this one left us with more questions than answers. I'm not used to that with this book. But overall . . I thought it was a great issue. If you have any interest at all with the 'western' theme . . this is the book to pick up. You're gonna love it!