ABOVE SNAKES #2: Limb from Bloody Limb

Revenge, dark humor, western, violence, what else do you need? In the magnificent second offering from Sean Lewis and Hayden Sherman, Above Snakes #2, we get a peek into Dirt’s past that helps plant a solid foundation in this supernatural western. The story picks up a week later after the brutal encounter that solidified him as a badass who’s ready to kick ass and chew bubble gum…you know the rest.

One of the things that stick out about this book is the story within a story. We’re not just talking about some random gunslinger who shoots whiskey like a sailor. Quite the contrary. Above Snakes mixes the right amount of humor, magic, loss, and despair and wraps it up nicely for readers and admirers alike. The bar scene is a perfect example of how in tune with each other the creative team is. The dialogue, art, and layout come through in such a matter you feel like you are in the dusty old saloon right next to Speck, Dirt, and Annie. Annie, aka the game changer, when she comes into the picture, business picks up once again. Another layer of great storytelling while keeping everything in its place and operating like a well-oiled machine.

A huge part of that machine is Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou! I love seeing letterers on the cover of books; as a part of the creative team, I wish this happened more often than it does. His uncanniness to make every single panel pop with intense beauty deserves its own review. If you’re going to pick up a book solely on letterer, make sure it’s Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.