
Sometime in 1978 I was looking to buy my 100th comic book. As I spun the rack at Richards Drugs (in Warehouse Point, CT. next to Geisslers) I couldn't find anything... but one book caught my eye, 'Jonah Hex Spectacular'. This book was not only an incredible read, but it started mine and my fathers life long love and obsession of my favorite character of all time, Jonah Hex!
Over the years I have collected, watched and read everything featuring Jonah. As of now, the only Hex I'm missing is 'All Star Western' # 10 and 'Weird Western Tales' # 31.
So with all that back story, I want to take this time and thank writers Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray for what has been not only an incredible run but to me and probably most Hex fans, the definitive run on the character! You two have told the best and most compelling Jonah hex stories ever and worked with an incredible talent pool of artists. Not to mention you wrote the story that my podcast partner Brian and I appeared in; Jonah Hex # 34, drawn by our pal Mark Sparacio!
To put their run in perspective, the first 'Jonah Hex' series lasted 92 issues from 1977 to 1985. Currently, 'All Star Western' is on # 24 (plus a zero issue) continues the tale that started following the 'New 52' ending of the second Hex series that lasted 70 amazing books... bringing the Palmiotti / Gray total to 95 CONTINUOUS Jonah Hex stories.
This run is second only to writer Michael L Fleisher's amazing run of 114 continuous Jonah Hex stories; 'Weird Western Tales' # 22 to # 44 and then all 92 issues of the first volume of Jonah Hex!
In August of 1985, Jonah Hex was cancelled. In between that last issue and your first (January 2008), I graduated High School and College, got married and had two kids, won three softball championships, started a podcast and have made some incredible friends in that time. But... they were Hex-less!
So again, thank you two (and all the amazing artists you have worked with in your run) for bringing my character not only back, but really bringing him to life. I'm not sure if just anyone could have worked the magic you guys have!