Doc Frankenstein proved to be an interested read, full of potential, so I decided to give Burlyman Entertainment's second title a gander as well. Visually and conceptually, the book is amazing. Geof Darrow's meticulously detailed art, though gory, is wondrous and awe-inspiring in its own unique way, and the surreal characters and premise offer plenty of amusement. It sounds as though this comic book has it all, but it doesn't. It's missing one element. A rather important one, actually -- a plot. Darrow's strong European style is enough to keep the reader interested in the book, but there's not much of a hook to get us coming back for more.
A former Shaolin monk has found his way to the Wild West, and he's made plenty of enemies during his travels. A trio of them -- John, Juan and Jon -- wait in hiding, ready to spring a trap to bring the so-called Shaolin Cowboy's life to an end. They're not so successful, but perhaps the legions of other gunslingers and mercenaries who want a piece of the legendary Western warrior from the East might have more luck. Especially if they strike at him all at once.
Oh, and the Shaolin Cowboy's horse talks, which makes up for his apparent vow of silence.
Darrow doesn't scrimp when it comes to designs and detail, that's for damn sure. The art in this book merits several perusals. There are dozens of characters here, each one meticulously crafted, even if he or she is glimpsed only the once. I'm sure there are plenty of references I'm missing in the crowd scene, but part of the fun is trying to recognize something familiar in a sea of almost psychedelic figures. The action is choreographed perfectly. The characters go into slow motion for a couple of pages as the Shaolin Cowboy erupts into a graceful but frenzied whirlwind of violence.
There's a particularly interesting sequence in the book that's really a ten-page splash. Clearly, one fold-out sequence to connect it all would be cost prohibitive, so Darrow spreads it out over five double-page splashes. It's an interesting visual technique, but it was a bit frustrating from a storytelling point of view. Though it makes for a good joke and stunning visual, it also feels a bit like filler, edging any sort of plotline clear out of the book.
While the art is full of detail, the script is rather devoid of it. The horse's dialogue tells us nothing of the title character's background or even his steed's unusual nature. Of course, in this setting, a talking horse isn't so unusual. The backdrop is part Western, part sci-fi apocalyptic desolation and weirdness. The back covr, featuring the Cowboy's exodus from a temple, is the only hint at his backstory, and I found I was thirsty for a lot more. 6/10
