After one of the best debut arcs in recent comic history, “Southern Bastards” returns to shed light on series ‘big bad’ Coach Boss and set the stage for where the series will go from here.
Written by Jason Aaron
Illustrated Jason LatourThe hit southern crime series returns, as JASON AARON (Scalped, Thor: God of Thunder) and JASON LATOUR (Wolverine & The X-Men, Loose Ends) pull back the curtain on the history of Craw County and its most famous and feared resident. In a place where only bastards flourish, what does it take to be the biggest, meanest, most powerful bastard of them all? Only Coach Boss knows. And if I was you, I wouldn’t ask him.
“Southern Bastards” is going to be on the top of many top of 2014 and with good reason. The first arc was a thing of beauty. It went back to similar themes Jason Aaron played with in “Scalped” but set in a place that is never really explored in this sense – The Deep South. To say that there’s pressure on this team to continue this streak is an understatement. Thankfully, “Southern Bastards” #5 is an issue that picks things up at the same quality and pace of the first arc.
“Southern Bastards” #5 is both a flashback and continuation of the story. The focus here is on Coach Boss. In the flashbacks, we see him as a young football player doing his best to get better. No one has faith in him and, without spoiling anything, we’re shown a moment in Boss’ life that defines him going forward. Back in the present, Coach Boss is reflecting on what he’s done to Earl and what the fallout of it looks like.
This is an incredibly important issue of this comic series for a few reasons. The most important part is, of course, from a story telling perspective. He is the primary antagonist of the series and thus needs to be just as developed as the protagonist. I think what Aaron and Latour do with Coach Boss here is pretty genius. He’s not this generic crime boss like guy we’ve been led to believe. There’s much more to him. He’s been through pain, he’s been abused, he’s been kicked around. He’s just as much a victim to his surroundings as Earl was, except he went in a different direction than Earl. Earl left and made a life for himself and his family. Coach Boss stayed in Craw County and became the figure he is today. For all the comparisons made to “Scalped,” this is where Aaron shows that he’s not simply copying what he did there. Coach Boss is not Chief Lincoln Red Crow.
This also makes things more foggy. I want to outright hate Coach Boss. I don’t want to ever feel like I can defend him. While I can’t defend his actions, I can understand where he comes from and why he’s the way he is. Human beings are complex; the idea of good and evil is complex. That is what Aaron and Latour do so well here with the development of Coach Boss. It’s not just with him, either. They do this with the people of Craw County as well. Coach Boss goes on an entire speech about how everyone in the county will forget what he did. Not that they actually have but that they are scared to remember. This isn’t just on Craw County. This happens everywhere when it comes to certain people and situations. We, as a society, like to forget the bad things that happen. Partially, I think, because they are bad, but also because what can we do about it? We are powerless in many regards, and those in Craw County are powerless to Coach Boss. Aaron and Latour ask us to look at the old “is it better to be loved or feared” question with Coach Boss. We see what he does and it sets the stage for when Earl’s daughter enters the picture.
Earl’s daughter is another reason why “Southern Bastards” #5 is such a strong issue. She is a major player here without ever showing up. There’s no phone call, no letter and no signal that she’s there, yet she’s the probably the most important character in this issue. It’s excellent writing by Aaron in every regard.
Continued belowMuch has been made about the connection many southern readers have to this story. This is taking place in their backyard. They know these people in real life. I think there’s something to be said about that, but this creative team has taken the emotional connection to a new level. I’m from New Jersey and feel like I know this place. They are taking parts of the Deep South, but also working in things that anyone can relate to. Ideas like not being able to go home again and being victimized by your circumstances are applicable to everyone.
Jason Latour’s art is such an integral part of telling this story. You can’t tell this story visually in just any style. Latour makes this book come alive, and makes you feel like you’re in this story. You feel like you’re in Craw County. It sounds weird but you can feel the southern heat when looking at this artwork. It’s so authentic. Coach Boss is in almost every panel of this comic and he has the most interesting body language and facial expressions. It’s not guilt on his face. It’s something else. Something I can’t decipher and that makes him so much more interesting to study. Latour isn’t giving everything away in this sense.
The biggest problem with “Southern Bastards” #5 is that is indeed part one of something bigger. The ending does feel a little (just a little) abrupt. One nitpick aside this is a stellar book that deserves all the hype it gets month in and month out.
Final Verdict: 9.0 – “Southern Bastards,” at just its fifth issue, deserves a permanent spot on your pull list.
