I noted in my first review of Along The Canadian that while I found the book to be rough in some areas, there was definitely development on each issue. This issue continues the improvement in important areas, although it's still not quite there yet. However, most of the problems that I have with Along The Canadian have to do with work done on the foundation of the series in issue one, as it seems clear that Rivers knows all of these characters and their situations better than he's able to communicate in the comics. This particular issue is clearer than the previous ones, and I get the impression that the mystery in the character relationships is mostly intentional, even though it still rests to some extent on a knowledge of how these characters knew one another that wasn't clearly spelled out in the beginning. However, while the plotting isn't always entirely clear to me, the artwork is noticeably clearer and the character interaction is very well done.
I like the relationships between the three lead characters that Rivers explores in this issue. The grizzled, old veteran sheriff, his new but equally capable deputy and their Cherokee office mate, who longs to be more active in the field work, make for an interesting set of characters, and I really enjoy the mentor/partner dynamics between all of them. It's also clear that each of them has secrets in their past related to family or outlaws, and it is my guess that Rivers will make some of the muddier elements of their pasts clearer in upcoming stories. Certainly there's every indication that the story of Allen's family and the Sheriff's son will be resolved in the next two issues.
There's a moral flexibility in Along The Canadian that muddies the waters a little bit but also provides some nice reality and some fascinating character dynamics. The outlaws are sometimes the protagonists of the piece, as with the final sequence in this issue or in the way that Chavis views Cole, and the lawmen certainly aren't always spotless. I'm not entirely sure what the three crow-men in this issue are on about, and that's a mystery from early on, but it's clear that this comes from the same moral ambiguity that defines the book to some extent. I respect Rivers for adding in this ambiguity, but at the same time, I wonder if that didn't unnecessarily clutter up the story and hurt the clarity, which remains my big complaint with the book.
On the notion of clarity, however, I originally complained that Rivers's artwork made the characters look to similar and seemed a little drenched in shadow, but I see very little evidence of that here. True, one of the crows and the horse-thief look somewhat similar, but in general, I really like the character designs and I love the distinctive look that Rivers's artwork has. The opening panel is beautifully detailed, and there are similar beautiful backdrops throughout. In addition, his work on the rainy night or the silhouette effect of the crow-men or the posse horses riding is spectacular.
Along The Canadian is a curious book, because it features elements of mysticism and magic, but it also reads like a strongly-researched western. The ending of this issue is a really nice action sequence that would fit right into your average Sergio Leone piece, even as the confrontation in town between the Sheriff and the three crow-men feels more like something out of Stephen King. Rivers has a lot to like here, and blends these elements together exceptionally well, and if he can make all the confusing backstory elements clear by the time the story wraps up, I may wind up really enjoying this book as a whole. As is, this issue is a notable improvement over the previous ones.
