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RED
RANGE
A pulp Western that doesn't go where you expect.
 Writer:
Joe R. Lansdale
Artist: Sam Glanzman
Letterer: Douglas Potter
Original Graphic Novel
Published by Mojo Press 1999
$10.95
Reviewed
by Paul Hanna
Revenge
is perhaps one of the most universal motivators in literature.
It's a common part of fiction, an easy way to get your protagonists
up and running. Penned by Joe R. Lansdale, RED RANGE begins
as an adequate revenge story, straight from the classic Eastwood
westerns.
Our
protagonist, the Red Mask, is a black hero whose mission is to
stop the Ku Klux Klan from murdering black property owners in
the south. After his own wife and son were murdered at the hands
of the KKK, Caleb Range became the Red Mask.
| "Caleb
Range knows revenge doesn't make a lick of difference; it's
merely sweet revenge." |
While
avenging a family's death is not an altogether new idea, especially
in comics, Lansdale acknowledges that fact. When explaining why
he goes on killing sprees of KKK members, Caleb remarks, "It doesn't
change much. Rufus and his mother are still dead. But it's somethin'."
This makes the Red Mask just a little different from other revenge-driven
heroes, as most of them are deluded into believing that they can
change things if they rise above the law. Caleb Range has seen
all that done, and knows it doesn't make a lick of difference;
it's merely sweet revenge.
The
story begins with a gory bloodbath. The KKK, led by an ugly, lumpy
man named Batiste, has descended upon the property of a black
family. They promptly murder the mother and father. The Red Mask
shows up and manages to slaughter the Kluxers and save the son
of the murdered family. Turzon, the young orphan, joins the Red
Mask as the KKK begins a cat-and-mouse chase of our protagonists.
Halfway
through RED RANGE, the story veers left sharply. Caleb
Range, Turzon, and Batiste are dropped in the middle of a mysterious
jungle, reminiscent of an Edgar Rice Burroughs nightmare. The
story starts to riff on pulp adventure stories, a smart move by
Lansdale. What might have simply been a so-so western, with panel
upon panel of shocking violence to pump it up, now becomes an
intriguing adventure tale: full of potential and surprises, setting
up for a series of RED RANGE original graphic novels.
| "The
major twist in the middle of RED RANGE is what sends
the entire work home." |
Glanzman's
art is scratchy, but it captures a feel not unlike the Lansdale/Truman
JONAH HEX stories (which should come as no surprise, as
Glanzman inked those books). In black-and-white, the art looks
even rougher than it might in color. His style is a perfect choice
for the book, especially the second half; the raw line he uses
complements the story's pulp tone.
The
story itself starts to become somewhat predictable just before
the second half; Lansdale's formula for the action scenes become
more and more obvious: Panel A sets up the shock, which is delivered
by Panel B. Switch to next shot in fight scene. Repeat. Lansdale's
dark and dirty sense of humor is a saving grace to the story's
first half (as well as Glanzman's pretty pictures). Any fan of
Garth Ennis will appreciate Lansdale's sense of humour, which
infects the entire book; the flashback involving Batiste as a
child is hilarious. However, the major twist in the middle of
RED RANGE is what sends the entire work home. A worthwhile
read.
Recommended
Paul
Hanna is a regular contributor to PopImage.
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