‘Hillbilly: Volume 2’ – Eric Powell (Albatross Funnybooks)



I feel like I’ve been reading a little too much horror recently so needed a little change, not much of a change though. The great thing about Eric Powell’s books is that while there’s still a vein of horror running through it all, his work is so many other things at the same time; just what I needed then. I’m well behind on his ‘Hillbilly’ series (read the first volume back in December, where did the time go…) so thought it was time to do some catching up…

With the Devil’s Cleaver in hand, Rondel still walks the wooded hills and valleys of a fairytale world that is hauntingly familiar. If you have a problem with a sprite or troll, it may be that Rondel is the man to help but don’t cross him… He will always have the last laugh.

Powell is really taking his time setting this series up and that’s a brilliant thing if you’re a fan, or even if you just like a well told story. If you’re after something to get stuck right into though… Well, you’re going to need to give ‘Hillbilly’ a little while longer to get going. The foundations of the story are being build on but it looks like the house itself is going to be massive if you get what I mean…
What you are left with, in the meantime, is a series of short tales; some of which start to hint at something larger but are all fairly self contained. I like this approach as it gives you room to duck out, if the book isn’t doing it for you, and not worry that you haven’t had the full story. It pretty much goes without saying that I’m not ducking out. Rondel is fast proving to be a character that I want to spend more time with and the story of how he met Lucille just made me feel that all the more. Powell really has his finger right on the pulse of this story and I’m in awe of how he switches gear so effortlessly. One minute, we’re in the middle of some weird horror and the next minute it’s all about the touching friendship between a man and a bear. And it’s so easy to get caught up in it all and just let the story take you wherever it’s going. It’s still very much early days but I think Powell has another great story on his hands.

This volume of ‘HillBilly’ sees Powell share out the art duties and the result really feeds into the whole feel of this ‘slightly weird and very dangerous’ fairytale. Powell is the highlight for me, of course, but I would love to see more of Steve Mannion and Simone Di Meo’s work, in future volumes, as it’s really clear that not only do they ‘get’ what Rondel’s world is all about, they’re both amazing at drawing that world and depositing the reader right in the middle of it.

Once you get your head round the fact the ‘Hillbilly’ is a slowburner, in terms of the story, then there is plenty to get to grips with and enjoy. I’m not going to lie, I want things to start moving now but Volume 2 really works as a continued introduction to this beautiful but dangerous world and the people who live there.  I wouldn’t mind seeing more of the Iron Child as well but that’s another story…

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