Friday, August 08, 2025

Might've bought this one more than once, but Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez on Bat Lash! C'mon.

I'm momentarily at a loss to describe the opening story: not really a crossover, and yet...from 2012, All-Star Western #10, "The War of Lords and Owls, part 1" Written by Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti, art by Moritat.
Tallulah Black has just gotten thrown out of the Wayne Casino--out of a second story window. She came in the middle of a conversation between Lucius Bennett and Alan Wayne, an ancestor of Bruce Wayne's, which was thick with veiled threats. Jonah Hex has to withdraw with Tallulah, taking her for medical treatment to his associate, Dr. Amadeus Arkham. (This series, post-New 52, was tied to Batman lore; and would stay there for a stretch, largely to establish that the rot in Gotham had been festering for some time.) The Court of Owls also makes an appearance, and they think Jonah will help them achieve their own goals.
At Arkham's, Tallulah wakes up grouchy, with Dr. Arkham finds both intimidating and interesting. She immediately takes Jonah to bed. Later that night, Arkham tries to get answers from a deranged man, who claims the owls were after him since in his job as a chimney sweep, he had seen where they meet. Arkham assumed him to be insane, but the man and a guard are murdered almost impossibly quickly; and after finding a feather Arkham decides he'd best talk to Jonah...
But, also this issue: Bat Lash, in "Unholy Matrimony" Written by Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti, art by Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez! Bat is on the verge of being forced to the altar with a very pregnant young woman--one of twins. Despite protestations from the twins and their father, Bat knows the girls weren't completely identical: one had gotten knocked-up by a livery worker before his accidental death, and they had thought if they roped Bat in he'd have all the money they'd ever need. It's a fun story, that looks great; and despite being the start of a storyline I wasn't real invested in, the rest of the issue was pretty good too.

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