Post-Homecoming and the Runnin’ Rebs are losing one game after another. But Coach Boss’ troubles don’t stop at the field - a rival drug-lord from a nearby town is threatening his business operations and Roberta Tubbs, daughter of Earl whom he murdered earlier in the series, has him in her sights for revenge. Is this the end for Coach Boss or will he get a last minute hail mary?
Southern Bastards, Volume 4: Gut Check is a helluva touchdown in the end zone. D-did I do it - did I sound like I knows the American footballs? Phewf. Alrighty, back to talking sorta-normal!
Yeah, terrific comic. And it’s a long time coming too - it’s been nearly two years since the last book! Jason Latour explains the delays: the title’s editor’s father passed away followed shortly by Latour’s dad (Latour’s eulogy is included at the back if you want to make yourself cry). I imagine it must’ve been that much harder continuing with SB given how father-centric this series is.
But Gut Check is a welcome return for the Bastards. The action is damn near relentless as Coach Boss deals with his team’s losing streak the only way he knows how: violence. The best scene in the book is when him and a couple of goons visit the Locust Fork Superbolts’ star player to make sure he can’t make the game against the Rebs and everything goes wrong.
I loved the new character, Colonel Quick McLusky, whose quirky Coen Brothers-esque southern-fried speech was completely over-the-top: raperations, endeavorations, agreegable circumferences! It’s like he stepped right out of O Brother, Where Art Thou?
Coach Boss and the Colonel’s forces go to war against each other as Jason Aaron puts the screws even more on Boss, before Roberta Tubbs steps up and all bets are off. I didn’t know whether this was the end of the series, whether Coach Boss’ story ended here, or what would happen. Then there’s a twist, and another twist - it’s such compelling, exciting and satisfying storytelling. First rate drama through and through.
I don’t love Latour or Chris Brunner’s art which are both a bit too scratchy and rushed-looking for my taste. That and the subplot about the alcoholic sheriff and his ex-high school sweetheart, which I couldn’t have cared less about, were the only aspects of the book that didn’t hit the spot.
Otherwise, Southern Bastards, Volume 4: Gut Check is a brilliant, gripping read and another fine addition to this fantastic series - the two Jasons score big again!
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