Every week, hundreds of new comics hit the stands. But some stand out head and shoulders above the pack. With “Don’t Miss This,” we want to spotlight series we think need to be on your pull list. This week, we take a loot at “That Texas Blood” and all it has to offer.
Who’s This By?
“That Texas Blood” is born in part from the blood, sweat, and tears from writer Chris Condon, whose first major work is this series. Debut stories often have a certain zest and urgency to them, and Chris Condon’s work is so strong that he got a spot on our 2020 Year in Review: Breakout Writer column. Jacob Phillips does the art for “That Texas Blood” and while he’s not as much of a newcomer on the scene, this is his first ongoing series. While both Condon’s and Phillips’ rookie status make for a short “Who’s This By?” section, just think of it as another reason why you want to get in on the ground floor of this story.
What’s This All About?
“That Texas Blood” takes place in West Texas, in Ambrose County — a place not quite Marfa and not quite El Paso. It’s more of a Big Bend adjacent semi-ghost town, full of grumblings and bygones with just enough charm to keep it relevant. It’s here that we find sheriff Jim Bob. Yes, Jim Bob. He’s cut from the same block as Tommy Lee Jones’ character from No Country for Old Men, with all the glamour of an aging cowboy who’s too old for this shit but nevertheless surrounded by this shit. Throw in some True Detective eeriness and Stephen Kingesque plot hooks — the story begins when a writer returns to Ambrose County after his brother’s death — and you’ve got the general idea. This is more than just true crime though, and behind the mysteries therein lies a beating heart of a story that has a lot to say about regret, aging, moving on and standing still.
Joe Bob is only half the story, and Randy Tarrill, the frustrated author who’s come to backwater Texas to settle his brother’s affairs, does his fair share of heavy story lifting. The first arc of “That Texas Blood” (issues 1-5) follow his story in a psychological-thrilling fashion. On the surface, Randy’s story is about cleaning up after a shithead sibling, but of course, there are layers and layers of secrets. The skeletons in the closet have skeletons in the closet.
The second arc of “That Texas Blood” starts with a flashback sequence, and by all accounts looks like a fun little story within a story. And by that, we mean Jim Bob reminisces about a case from forty years ago which involves grisly murders related to a cult. “That Texas Blood” may be stepping fully into True Detective territory with this arc, but nothing too genre bending has happened yet, and the story still feels like its part of the milieu set up by the first story arc. It’s pretty stand-alone from the first five issues, meaning this is a great time to jump in on “That Texas Blood.”
What Makes It So Great?
Let’s get into it. Does the world really need more goth-of-center, cowboy stories with stoic, haunted protagonists wading through crime and subterfuge? You know what, yes. The world does need more of that. We’re fully in a yeehaw zeitgeist (no we will not be expanding upon this now) and “That Texas Blood” scratches that itch like no other. What makes “That Texas Blood” so good, among other things, is the characterization. The character writing is just superb. Dialogue is never dense, but always conveys so much — in context, subtext, emotion, you name it. Jim Bob and his cohort have a laconic way of speaking that feels very intentional. It’s clear that Condon put a lot of thought into how everyone in this story behaves, gestures, and laments. Nobody in “That Texas Blood” feels one dimensional, and while characters fill roles and adhere to certain tropes, everyone in “That Texas Blood” feels worth knowing.
Phillips’s artwork goes a long way in making “That Texas Blood” a must-add for your pull lists. His art style here is best described as no-nonsense realism with thick, heavy colors. There’s a lot of dark reds and muted blues here, mirroring the dusty landscape and reflective moonlight, respectively. The pictures in “That Texas Blood” just stand out, and there’s not a muddy panel in the issues out so far. The art matches the writing in that respect. Everything in this story is bold and to the point, but never simple. Additionally, Phillips uses a lot of vertical hatching to add texture and color variation to his panels. The result is that a lot of pages in “That Texas Blood” feel like they’re dripping, and from a usual perspective, it feels as if things are subtly but inevitably being pulled down. The subliminal effect is a little unsettling, and leans into the oppressive, desert heat side of the story. Things weigh heavy in Ambrose County.
We touched on this before but the final thing that makes “That Texas Blood” stand out is the fact that Condon and Phillips just pour their heart and soul into this thing. Some issues end with post-credits add-ons that help develop the lore behind the story, and Condon has even created a series of playlists to accompany the story arcs out so far. That’s true commitment.
How Can You Read It?
The first seven issues of “That Texas Blood” are already out, and can be found via your local comic shop or online. Issue eight is due this week, on July 28th. Issue nine is due next month, on August 25th.
