The Fellowship was fortunate enough to obtain a copy of THE RIDE: SOUTHERN GOTHIC #1 from 12-Gauge Comics. Nathan Edmondson,
Jody LeHeup and Ron Marz write, and Paul Azaceta, David Lapham and Rick
Leonardi draw.
This oversized book contains three separate stories, each
one dark and sinister in its own way. The first shows us the consequences of a
crime of passion, the second shows how badly a heist can go wrong, and the
third starts an ongoing tale of revenge and the effects it can have on everyone
involved.
This title heralds a return to the concept of the pulp
comic, and I think it’s a good start. It’s not so much the depth of the stories
themselves; they are very short stories, after all. The point is the tone and
the flavor of the style that really brings it home to the reader. The idea of
fast and loose, wild and free living (and dying) in a really sweet set of
wheels, stickin’ it to the Man or takin’ the bull by the horns; it’s an idea
that has a great deal of appeal to some readers. And the artistic style also
helps make that point; it’s good, solid black and white artwork.
I find this concept an exciting one because of the way it
goes completely against what’s popular these days, and it does so very well. It’s
definitely worth a read.
THE RIDE: SOUTHERN GOTHIC #1 is available now at your FLCS
or by order from 12gaugecomics.com.
~Mike
