Jonah Hex No Way Back

Posted In: Jonah Hex

Deb Behrmann says...

Joaquim Dos Santos( JLU, G.I. Joe: Resolute, Avatar: LAB ) has been the director/producer on the DC Showcase Shorts which for me has been great as I'm a big fan of his work( he even got me to watch a short on Green Arrow who I HATE ). What's even better when his name is attached to something you're pretty much about to see some high quality animation that not even a lot of prime time cartoons get other then The Boondocks that is still traditional 2D animation.



Shazam/Superman is the origin story of Shazam and Black Adam, now I'm not a Superman fan but I am a fan of when him and Shazam get into their tussles but I am a huge Black Adam fan. Who gets this short rolling as he makes his return to earth after being exiled with two things on his mind, kill the wizard Shazam and his new champion. Which leads us to Billy Bastion who is being interviewed by Clark Kent, some would argue that this sounds wrong but again it's a short film and instead of a long drawn out way to have these two in the same city they just cut to the chase. Joaquim and the writer of this had the perfect idea of what happens when super powered people get near each other in a fight, throw buildings and cars at each other giving us a major fight that hasn't been seen since the JL episode featuring Shazam/Supes( which is a bonus feature on this disc ). The choice of getting Arnold Vosloo( The Mummy ) to voice Black Adam was great as he brings that regal voice to the role, Jerry o' Conell was ok but then he didn't really say much other then grunting.



The Specter was a very great throwback to old school horror thanks to Steve Niles and the added choice of having the old film grain was great. While it doesn't have the hand to hand combat Dos Santos is known for he still had people being attacked by objects and you'd never know that this could have been his first time doing so. The music score was also perfect for this and done by the "Track Team" who pretty much handled all the music for these shorts, it would be nice to see what these two could do with a full length feature.



Green Arrow is pretty much my fav short which is shocking as while I'm not a Superman fan I really can't stand Green Arrow( more of a fan of his son Connor ). It could have also been this was written by Greg Weisman who created Gargoyles and was a head writer for Spectacular Spider-Man but it also helped that he basically let Dos Santos turn up his fight meter to 11( even had Ollie pull off a armbar ). Not shabby that Malcom McDowell lends his voice too boot



Jonah Hex is pretty much was better then the live action movie and as a fan of the comic it was nice that the cahracter at least took some steps forwards after that disaster. Thomas Jane once again proves that he's perfect for voicing cowboys( having done so in Gun ) and Linda Hamilton while not saying a whole lot makes sure every time she does it's worth something.



There you have it, while these are short( they are short films ) they're still pretty great and either you've seen these already from when they were packaged with other $20 now a days is still a deal

Posted on October 28, 2010

Kristyn Overall says...

I apparently didn't pay attention, because I bought this thinking it was a full length movie, or at the very least, an hour long.Turns out it was just a bit over 22 minutes.It was a good 22 minutes, but not what I was expecting.And if I had known that the other shorts were not new, I probably would have bought one of the other DC animated movies instead.

Posted on October 28, 2010

Frederic Goslin says...

Wow, if you're going to create a great, self-contained graphic novel for an existing character, where you recap their history yet still progress their allure and mystic, then Jonah Hex: No Way Back should be a reference point for anyone.Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray have consistently provided monthly one and done stories with the regular Jonah Hex title from DC but this format really allowed them to expand their skills and talents by showing some sides of Jonah Hex that a shorter story has to imply.The writing team was able to pull Tony DeZuniga (a Jonah Hex staple) back on with the art and he is able to give the story that gritty look that surrounds Jonah Hex's life.Rob Schwager provides that grim and dusty look to solidify the western feel for the story.



Speaking of the story, this is where the book really stands out.An interesting twist for Jonah's history is brought out by revealing he has a half-brother.Faithful readers knew that his mother left, now we see more of why she left and the consequences of her actions.Even in the end, Jonah Hex harkens back to his childhood to open up his calloused heart and do what he feels he is obligated to, albeit in his way.The interaction and obvious differences between Jonah and his half-brother are played off well.Both have a purpose for the paths they have chosen.



Really can't recommend this book enough to everyone, even if you are not a fan of Jonah Hex already.This book will both entertain and impress you at the same time!

Posted on October 30, 2010

Charlette Martell says...

Well, this certainly is not a comic for kids. Any regular reader of Jonah Hex already expects grim and grueling grittiness to come with the barren territory; however this brand new original graphic novel may be the most brutal of all. There are no happy trails to be found here, with this book showcasing the one fundamental and uncompromising characteristic most Westerns revolve around, lawlessness. With little fear of reprisal, men are exceedingly cruel and ruthlessly unforgiving, with women and children given no quarter. Indeed a young Jonah and his mother greatly illustrate this exact point. Due to his violently abusive father, she had deserted both as a child, and as the story begins we find him trying to find her, given that she now is apparently wanted for murder. This leads to an awkward yet poignant reunion and the surprising discovery of a half-brother, whose more conventional and favorable upbringing has allowed for a much different life's path; of course things have a way of rapidly going south once Jonah hits the scene. Little do we know at the time the dastardly role played by one of Hex's constant antagonists El Papagayo, who has a long standing feud with any member of the Hex family due to Jonah's despicable dad, all setting the stage for a finale that may determine the fate and lives of an entire town and it's people. Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray's story and overall writing is stirring as usual, with the extra length afforded them being quite beneficial for further development of the plot and the players. While Tony DeZuniga's pencils are rather rough and sketchy, they do properly fit the story's ominous tone. This book was published to coincide with the Jonah Hex movie being released this month, with the two projects together hopefully acquainting this charismatic cur to a much broader audience. No Way Back has admirably succeeded in its part.

Posted on October 31, 2010

Carey Amancio says...

The animated short has a great look to it. So what if it is not a full length feature. The storyline which involves the origins of Captain Marvel fits within the time frame without a feeling of being jam-packed. Fantastic art work with the fist-to-face strikes. Brilliant!!

Posted on October 31, 2010

Alva Betita says...

Good story but what has happened to the art? We seem to have gone backwards from the 1970's WEIRD WESTERN TALES to almost a sketchpad rendering of the characters. Give me the old days when they tried to make things look realistic. Still enjoyed the story though.

Posted on November 1, 2010

Delfina Jubic says...

Bruce Timm and company just keep cranking out the hits. Ever since BTAS, I have just been overwhelmed, by everything that these guys have done. One of things that I love about the DCAU, is that while have been given great stories about Batman and Superman and the other big name DC heroes, they always remember the little guy.



DC Showcase is a collection of short films that revolve around `other' heroes in the DC universe and give us a story about how they do what they do to keep truth and justice. Three of these shorts have already been given to us in the last 3 DCAU DVD releases, but it is still nice to get them in their own package. Of course the main attraction is the title, `Superman/Shazam: The Return of Black Adam' Captain Marvel isn't what one would call a less popular hero, in fact he is extremely popular. Still, the DCAU has not really given him the screen time he deserves. After the JLU episode `Clash' I was so happy to finally see Captain Marvel as part of the DCAU, now he gets his own origin story. The short is about the length of an actual tv episode and it is great to see Superman witness the creation of Captain Marvel. Brining back George Newbern and Jerry O'Connell to voice their respective characters was awesome, because like in `Clash the two actors work off each other so well. Arnold Vosloo brings a great persona to Black Adam and just having Black Adam in general in the short is great as well, because like Captain Marvel he is another character that never really has been given much time in the spotlight.



Along with this new short there are extended versions of the first three shorts. You barley notice the changes, but they do seem longer with a lot less broken dialogue so the flow is much better. `The Spectre', is perhaps my favorite because it uses the old 1970s film scratch effects to make it come off an old cartoon. The casting of Gary Cole to voice The Spectre was pure genius, as he is probably one of the best character actors out there today. It's a great story of revenge and mystery and it works well from beginning to end. `Green Arrow' is the most modern of the shorts. Casting Neil Mcdonugh and Malcom McDowell is a real one two punch. It is a great Green Arrow story of him doing what he does best. It's got great action sequences and witty humor and throwing a little surprise in at the end is just the icing on the cake.The final short is `Jonah Hex' and its style is a true western. The animation is very brown and earthy like the westerns of old, so the vibe is there. You have a great cast in Thomas Jane, Linda Hamilton and Michelle Tractenberg. It's a very slow story more plot driven than action driven, though the action sequences are great.It definitely makes up for the bust that the actual film was.



The only negative that I have about the package in general is that there were not enough short films. It would have been great to see at least 6 Showcase shorts because there are so many characters that still have yet to be Showcased. While this installment is a tremendous success I really hope that this is the first of many more installments to come.

Posted on November 1, 2010

Conchita Bordoy says...

The `return' of Tony De Zuniga to Jonah Hex is remarkable.Not only has Jonah Hex hit the big screen, but also with that exposure, Hex has developed a significant following too!Hollywood has buzzed with the casting, the story, and the buzz that the heroine created with her portrayal of the love interest.

That brings us to No Way Back.Continuing Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti's run on our anti-hero, they have given readers a back story that is very compelling (and dark too).We have all wondered why Jonah is why he is, now we know.An abusive father, and an abandonment by his mother, will create a certain bitterness in anyone.Add the tomahawk to his face, and the process is complete.



They say that our eyes mirror our souls, and our demeanor reveals our inner `sense'.Jonah Hex is clearly a troubled man. His brother, Joshua Dazzleby, raised by his mother AFTER her abandonment of Jonah, has turned to the Lord for comfort.Both preacher and lawman, he rules Heavens' Gate with grace and strength.Jonah, while bringing the body of his mother for burial, unsettles the town yet prepared them for El Papagayo and his revenge against Jonah Hex's father.This time, the sins of the father are revisited upon the children and those around them.How will Jonah prepare the citizens of peaceful Heaven's Gate for the murderers?Is Hex blood thicker than water?

Firstly, I am pleased to finally learn who Jonah is , and how he became this way.Secondly, the art of Mr DeZuniga (for 140 pages) is awesome!Storywise, Gray and Palmiotti are consistant, yet portray a Hex that Mr Fleischer was unable to in his day.Our version of Hex is that of a man ruled by passions, temptations, and bounties.This is a violent book.This is a disturbing book in many ways.Yet, this is the Jonah Hexthat modern readers have resonated with, post 911.As an older reader, I enjoyed the Fleischer/DeZuniga/Ayers tales yet find something that makes me want to read this book.It might be the art, it might be the glimmer of a man that can find redemption yet, or it might be the fact that Jonah Hex is the vigilante we want to be when read about those who prey on our innocent.Imagine a drug dealer supplying kids right in front of Jonah...can't imagine it would be for long.Or, those who beat their wives and children repeatedly...

Once, I suggested a title for a Tim Truman book, I don't Draw Pretty, but Gritty....that describes Jonah Hex.On a side note, even his name suggests a wanderer.Biblically speaking, Jonah ran from God and finally found his peace, perhaps the `Hex' in our case now, is that he will never find peace...Only Mr Fleischer and Joe Orlando might know.

Highly recommended.

Four scars out of four!



Tim Lasiuta

Posted on November 1, 2010

Velvet Revira says...

My kids and I enjoyed the "Return of Black Adam," but it wasn't until it arrived it that we realized it's a "short."



As you can imagine, it was a little disappointing, given they charged full feature length film price for it. (At $19.99, to boot.)



Next time, I'll be sure to look at the length of the main film before I buy.

Posted on November 2, 2010

Donnell Lauw says...

MINOR Spoilers:



Judging from DC Comics' synopsis of this book, I was expecting a full re-telling of Hex's origin, but that is not the case, here, which is GOOD, because this writing team already told that story (in the "Origins" trade). This one does dive into his past a bit more, but instead of focusing on his abusive father as much, his dying mother is the focus, along with Hex learning for the first time that he has a half brother.It's interesting to see Hex through his brother's eyes, who shares Hex's blood, but is on a completely different path as a preacher.



The book is good, and any recent Hex fan, like myself, will enjoy the story, for sure.However, the art is not for everyone.DeZuniga is Jonah Hex's co-creator and original artist, but I was never a fan of his work, personally.It's too "sketchy" for my taste. Some of his closeups are fantastic, though. So he's quite talented, but for the most part, I'm not a fan. Check out DC Comics' June 3rd post on their blog, The Source for a preview.



Bottom Line:Although I'm not crazy about the art, the writing is still great, and if you're a fan, you should have this in your collection.

Posted on November 5, 2010