Created by: Eric Powell
Cover by: Eric Powell
Published by: Dark Horse Comics
Summary:
This first issue starts off with a flashback to the origins of Rondel, a boy born without eyes. This first issue is titled “The Black-Eyed Wanderer and The Devil’s Cleaver” as we delve into the unfortunate circumstances that Rondel was born into. Rondel finds himself deep in the woods, led away by animals, only to encounter a witch named Mamie, who gives him an enormous meat cleaver.
The witch Mamie carves eye slits into his face, and Rondel receives sight for the first time; the destruction of his home, his cabin. Mamie uses his anger as a tool for revenge on another witch named Eldora, which backfires. This story starts the legend and mystery of the wandering hillbilly, Rondel.
One of the themes I’ve seen in Eric’s writing is that he can successfully turn a story into a tall tale, or fiction that seems to continue on once the book ends. I see this attempt with Rondel and his backstory. Another technique I have noticed is that the artwork looks hand-drawn and closer to sketches, which is a great choice for a story such as this. Seldom will the reader come across details that are highlighted in color, such as an animal’s eyes or the hood on a creature’s scarf.
Readers who are already fans of The Goon but have not tried Hillbilly will like this issue. This issue is a great issue to start off for newcomers, and it’s still a solid issue for Hillbilly readers who are already familiar with Rondel’s adventures as a witch hunter.
Overall: 8.5/10
India Williams is a comic writer and reviewer based in Florida. She is a lifelong comics fan, with favorites including Thor, Conan, G.I. Joe, and Speed Racer. When she’s not writing comics or reviewing them, she enjoys toy photography.
