Random Happenstance

I feel like in old Jonah Hex comics, he got himself into jams more often; whereas in more modern issues Hex has seen your crap before and is three steps ahead. Is he today? From 2008, Jonah Hex #31, "The Red Mask" Written by Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti, pencils by Paulo Siqueira, inks by Amilton Santos. Cover by Richard Corben.

A small town has been hit repeatedly by bandit the Red Mask, who has evaded capture on multiple occasions. The sherrif brings in Jonah Hex to run him down, with the reward that he gets to keep whatever Red Mask had already stolen. Local idjit Cletus Hambone drunkenly interrupts the town meeting, first by claiming to be the Red Mask, then confused and forgetting he was in a church, what with "a scar-faced killer actin' the reverend." He does get a few laughs as he's dragged to the drunk tank, while Hex declines any assistance from the locals: they couldn't catch the Red Mask before, what makes them think they'd be any goddamned help now?

That night at the campfire, Hex is attacked by Indians, who think they're sneaking up on him, and just get chewed up instead. The last one sheds a tear as Hex puts his gun to his head...Back in town later, the sheriff evicts Cletus from his jail, fed up with his drunken antics and promising to throw him out of town if he finds him drunk tonight. Cletus tells the sheriff he's worried about him, since he doesn't trust Hex; but the sheriff says that's already taken care of: he's sent his men to tail Hex, and take care of him after he takes care of the Red Mask. That seems optimistic as hell. Spoilers after the break!

Hex follows a trail to a cave with a fire inside, and a figure seated in front of it. That's a hat and coat on a rock, though, and someone gets behind Hex with a stick, telling him to drop 'em. Smacked down, Hex still isn't surprised to see Cletus, who helps himself to Hex's guns. He forces the Red Mask on Hex, planning on the sheriff's men finding him, and gunning him down...say, where are those guys, anyway? Hex knew they were following him as well, since the last Indian had told him, in exchange for his life. Hex had then roped the sleeping men's feet to their horses and set them running. Oh, and his guns were empty, so he slaps Cletus down right enough. Hex took Cletus at his word when he said he was the Red Mask, because it was a good scam: after every robbery, when the posse would be out looking for "the Red Mask," Cletus would be sleeping one off in the jail.

With the gold and the Red Mask, Hex starts the ride back into town, but Cletus tells him that would be unwise: the townsfolk would never buy his story, and would probably just shoot him instead. Hmm. Good point...Whelp, it does save the Red Mask some walking, anyway.