Booknote: All-Star Western, Volume 2

Jimmy Palmiotti, All-Star Western, Volume 2: The War of Lords and Owls. New York: DC Comics, 2013. ISBN: 9781401238513.


Genre: graphic novels and comics
Subgenre: Western. Steampunk.
Format: Print. Trade Paperback.
Source: My local public library. 

In this one, Jonah Hex trails a kidnapper to New Orleans, and he has to work with Amadeus Arkham a while longer. However, before Hex can complete his task, he has to help his friends Nighthawk and Cinnamon deal with the August 17 terrorist group. If that was not bad enough, back in Gotham City, he confronts the Court of Owls and the followers of the Crime Bible as both groups struggle for control of the city.

The action continues in this volume as Hex and Arkham continue their awkward partnership. The story was entertaining and quick to read. For fans of Batman and the Owls' story, this is one they will want to read to see the early days of Gotham's Court of Owls.

The rest of the volume contains some additional stories.  The Nighthawk and Cinnamon story is the best of the bunch as the couple looks back at how they got started as masked heroes. The Bat Lash story is pretty much a filler story that adds very little to this volume. The Terrence 14 story is also filler, but it was a bit better. Terrence 13 is a man of science in the 19th century called to solve the case of a thieving ghost. Folks who like some steampunk may find the character appealing. The short story was good, but it was no big deal.

Overall, this is a good volume with good art. Fans of westerns will likely enjoy it. In terms of appeal, if you like things like Wild, Wild West (the series, not the movie), The Outlaw Josey Wales, and maybe Brisco County, Jr, you may like this series as well. Batman readers may be interested too. This is one I recommend for libraries with graphic novels and comics collections.

I am giving it 4 out of 5 stars.