Giddy up gang,
Stories are life experiences filtered though characters and plot and setting. An author’s job is to make shit up in order to relate some truth or idea. While a lot of All-True Outlaw stories are quick shot comics on a specific theme or high-concept flicker, “First Angry” is a gestalt of funky brain-thoughts. Here’s some of what’s smooshed into this 7-page short:
Back in 2023 during a trip to Arizona, all my senses took an adventure as I traveled for the first time from the leafy Appalachian biome to the land of cacti and aridity. It was awesome experience of seeing mountains and vistas and feeling warmth of the winter sun karmically balanced again vicious nosebleeds and acute sinus pressure.
Naturally, I took in the food and art scene as best I could – nature as well! (Saguaro National Park was flat incredible!). I saw a lot of neat stuff at the botanical gardens. One animal I took particular note of was a coyote in the wildlife preserve. I was intrigued by its wary behavior, keeping its distance from humans, pacing the fence line, watching with a sort of relaxed attentiveness. I’d always been intrigued by the animal’s relationship with America’s Native peoples, which led me down the path of researching trickster gods, mythology and creation lore.
I’ve covered the subgenre of Acid Westerns a bit in Project 100, which are pretty niche and are part of a sparse catalogue that shares hazy similarities. Acid Westerns are firmly in the Revisionist category: claustrophobic, dire and occasionally odd. We tried to style “First Angry” in this way, it should give you a sense of dread and worry, with a tinge of Wild West to keep it thematically appropriate. Throw in a lacquer of 1990s counterculture attire and a scofflaw protagonist and you got yourself a stew going.
This meaty mess is emulsified with art by Jordan Kroeger and a lettering confection by Marina Leon. Jordan’s art serves as the perfect medium to channel the vibe of the script. His line work walks a path between realism and fantasy, which is the path walked by Hamish, the main character. His eye toward page design and panel composition hums the story along, keeping things together until it all begins to rumble apart.
You may remember Marina’s work on “Taking a Life” from a few months back. She fulfilled the requirements of the story very, very well – including a tight turnaround. Marina captured the retro vibe in the font choices and made sure things slouched into the psychedelic, when appropriate.
So that’s a bit how a story is assembled over at All-True Outlaw, forcing big ideas into a misshapen vessel and making sure it’s drawn well!
Appreciate your patronage.
Westward!
~Jamil