ALL STAR WESTERN #1

I actually watched the Jonah Hex movie that came out a year ago. Before that I had no idea who the fuck Jonah Hex was. I've read comics since the early 90's and didn't even know it existed. Go figure. The movie certainly sucked but the few issues I have read of the comic book since then have been entertaining, especially the Eduardo Risso-drawn one that came out awhile back. This is the new start of the book amidst DC's cavalcade of #1 issues storming the comic book stores, most of them hit-or-miss, and I have to say that so far this is my favorite. There are reasons for that, as it's really nothing new or fresh at all. Do you like old-school London? Do you like Jack the Ripper tales? Do you like inspectors sorting out mysteries in a dangerous city long ago? You'll love this. Hex arrives in Gotham City post-Civil War and is hired to find the Gotham Butcher, a seriously sadistic killer that butchers prostitutes. Hex is helped by Dr. Arkham, a snobby, uppity psychologist. Gotham is dirty and fierce and Hex is a total Schwarzenegger. The art by Moritat (like Prince with the one word name I suppose...so mysterious) is terrific; the characters are drawn bare-bones but the people and surroundings are large, ominous, and crowd-friendly. The internal monologue by Arkham gets old and it's a by-the-numbers serial killer tale but it's engrossing stuff and has a wicked To Be Continued... climax. The highlight of DC's New 52 for sure. ***1/2