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Reach
for the Sky, Robot!
by Mark Allen
Robots that wear cowboy hats...
click--whirr... beep-yippee-kai-yay.
Iron
West. published by Image Comics, 160 pages, $14.99.
Cowboys and indians? Robotic cowboys and indians? A giant train
monster!? Sasquatch?!? What in the name of the wild, wild West is
going on, here? Well, I'll tell ya, pardner. It's called Iron West,
and it's just about the strangest, most unique and certainly entertaining
graphic novel to come out in '06. And, you've got creator, writer
and artist Doug Tennapel to thank for it.
See, there's this here lonesome loser named Struck - wanted for
train robbin', cheatin' at cards and makin' a woman wait for commitment.
O.K, he may not actually be wanted for that last one, but it adds
a little something to the character.
Struck is a loser who's easy to love. Not big on bravery and quite
short on chivalry, his quick wit and friendly manner still manages
to make him a sympathetic character. The fact that he finds himself
running for his life in the middle of a whole mess of strange goings-on
doesn't hurt.
During the course of the story, however, readers are witness to
a transformation that takes place within good ol' Struck. One that
makes him..., well, it makes him a better person. Kudos to Tennapel
for the sharp characterization.
But, hold your horses a second, there, cowboy (or cowgirl, as the
case may be), cuz that ain't all. That there Doug's a real crowd
pleaser. He draws good, too! Ahem. That is, he illustrates great
characters with an original art style that conveys action, humor
and drama flawlessly. And, yet, if I had to describe that style
in one word, the term "quirky" comes to mind. That's not
a shot, mind you. It's a compliment. His art looks like no one else's
- it's pure Tennapel. Check it out for yourself and see.
I reckon Iron West is fine readin' for just about anyone. Even the
young'uns. Find it at comics shops and online retailers and auctions.
(Apologies to readers for possibly painful alliterations.)
Review by Mark Allen
For information on the exciting Oklahoma Cartoonists Collection
and Toy and Action Figure Museum go to fourcolorcommentary.blogspot.com/
So,
what do you think? Agree? Disagree? Give
us your feedback.
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