EC Comics is expanding once again under Oni Press, and this time it’s going into western territory. Outlaw Showdown #1 comes out swinging with five stories, living up to EC’s historic era of printing stories of all sorts. Running 56 pages, this one-shot blends EC’s signature brand of brutal justice with genre storytelling from across time and space. If there was a theme to this issue, it’s that justice is served, no matter what.
While some stories are definitely grounded in reality, Outlaw Showdown #1 isn’t afraid to get its supernatural spooky on. Kicking things off is John Arcudi and Sebastian Cabrol in “Cool, Cool Water,” a story about a tracker who seeks to find justice for Native Americans slaughtered for no good reason. Arcudi does a great job digging into the difficulty of chasing down outlaws in the heat out in the middle of nowhere. There’s an intriguing supernatural twist that is set up well enough that when it does rear its head, it feels earned. Plus, Cabrol gets to pull off some gore to give readers a taste of multiple genres.
Next up is “Fire in the Hole” by Tony Moore and colored by Rico Renzi. The art by Moore is super detailed, making it feel as classic as any EC tale. The story revolves around a mineshaft explosion and the guilt of being the sole survivor. This leads to mistakes, cutbacks, and a need to hide the evidence. Once again, a supernatural twist makes things go from bad to worse as, similar to the first story, justice is served.
Excellent variant cover!
Credit: Oni
“The Cure” by Ann Nocenti and David Lapham leans into the snakeoil salesmen of the time and the magician persona these salesmen had on people. The price you pay for being caught at fooling others, especially at a time when you lived and died seemingly by chance, is paid by the end.
“Pony Express” is the last original tale by Christopher Cantwell and Dan McDaid, which follows a pony express mailman who rides his horse hard to get information across the dangers of America’s dangerous environments. Cantwell delves into the dedication of the main character, who risks his own life and his horse’s life to deliver a message. He’s young, and while it may not seem worth it to some, it’s his dedication that makes him heroic.
This story builds towards a surprise ending and a reminder that his job is never done. McDaid’s art has an endearing simplicity to it that works well with the young rider’s passion.
Closing out this anthology is a blast from the past story originally published in 1952. Titled “Cold Single Action Army Revolver,” this tale is written by Harvey Kurtzman with art by Jack Davis. Densley is packed with captions and dialogue, serving as a reminder of the more prose-style approach of old-school comics. The art is stunning and in a style that makes every panel a story in itself.
Outlaw Showdown #1 is a worthy successor to EC Comics’ legacy. It’s a blood-soaked, dust-covered anthology where morality tales ride alongside monsters, outlaws, and the relentless pursuit of justice. With top-tier creators and a reverence for the genre’s history, it proves that EC’s spirit of sharp, shocking storytelling is alive and well under Oni Press.
You must be logged in to post a comment.