The third issue of Mutant, Texas doesn't bring much in the way of surprises or big changes. But that's OK, because the tone and style of the series has suited me fine right from the start. This is basically an extended origin for Ida Red, setting up her role as Sheriff of the town, her powers and her supporting cast, and it works on both that level and as an entertaining story in its own right. The various colorful characters, from Clint Saugoro's sarcastic horse to the addled mayor to the hateful Sheriff Brunt, all get some fun screen-time, and Ida herself is the epitome of a determined, smart and pure-hearted heroine.
What has made Mutant, Texas especially fun for me is recognizing some archetypal Texan elements to it. Mayor Lansdale has the look of Ross Perot, the name of Texan writer Joe Lansdale and the style of a kind-hearted good old boy. When he breaks into song in the middle of a crisis, and Rolly joins right in with him, that was quintessential Texas spirit, and it made me laugh. Meanwhile, Donna Margarita brings a fine Tex-Mex flavor to the Mutant, Texas surroundings, while Clint Saugoro represents the cowboy tough guy archetype embodied in another Clint we all know and love.
Beyond capturing Texan archetypes, though, what has made this series really connect with me is that Dini and Bone have captured some of the stronger archetypes of animation and comics as well. The Coyotes are the perfect screw-up henchmen, Sheriff Brunt has a look that speaks of toughness and integrity gone wrong, and of course the giant snake is a universal foe going back all the way to the Bible. That each of these characters has a Texas twist in terms of the animals they represent (coyotes, scorpion and snake) is just the icing on the cake.
The story itself is fairly light, a plot that feels a little stretched over four issues, but it is nicely setting up the origins of Ida Red. The sequence where she meets her pet/mount/ally was a nice bit of storytelling, conveying not only Ida's power but her good heart, where a less-kind heroine might have just blasted the threat and lost a potential friend. And the sideline plot with Clint and Margarita, while not completely necessary to the main story, also helps to set up that while Ida Red can stand alone as a heroine, she doesn't have to.
I'll be back for the next issue, of course. Not due to any compelling curiosity about the cliffhanger, as the story isn't really set up to make me believe the town is in real danger, but because every issue full of these characters has been a blast to read.
