Advance Review: Darrow Returns True To Form In ‘The Shaolin Cowboy: Staying A.I.Live’ #1
by Tom Smithyman
Overview
If you like your political satire mixed with sophomoric humor and amazing illustrations, then this book is for you. It’s a little light on plot, but that’s no surprise. There’s still plenty to sink your teeth into.
Overall
9/10Not many writers can pull off a damning indictment of modern times — ranging from ICE detentions to the rise of artificial intelligence — and successfully mix it with dog poop jokes.
Then again most writers, or artists for the matter, aren’t Geof Darrow.
He returns to one of his most enduring series with The Shaolin Cowboy: Staying A.I.Live and his patented social commentary — which comes alive through the printed word as well as his visuals.
The new four-part limited series begins with the Cowboy finding a message in a cola bottle (one that he has to hilariously slice open with a karate chop because it’s otherwise impossible). The message comes from a boy begging the reader to get into contact with his mother. Thus, the Shaolin Cowboy’s new quest begins.
But things are never easy for this quiet hero. An AI-generated photo released by the government has an entire small town convinced that the Cowboy is a terrorist, so they turn on him. The real terrorist, by the way, may be of Haitian, Mexican, Korean, Indonesian, Guatemalan, Inuit, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Honduran, Canadian, Belgian, or Navajo decent. In other words: someone who probably doesn’t look white enough.
That allows Darrow to have some visual fun as the Cowboy kicks through the windshields of pickup trucks and generally destroys the hicks in his way. In the meantime, the artist entertains with signs for stores and restaurants ranging from Gun Doctor to Oink Boink Sexy BBQ. Yes, it’s sophomoric. And yes, it’s funny. Get over yourself.
It’s a typical visual masterpiece that Darrow fans are used to. He certainly doesn’t disappoint here. But the plot for this first issue seems a little thin. The real menace hasn’t shown its face yet, and the AI from the title is barely referenced. Chances are that will soon be rectified in a hilarious manner.
Any chance to read a new Darrow book is a blessing. Just a hair more plot, particularly for a limited series this short, would make the occasion even more impactful.
The Shaolin Cowboy: Staying A.I.Live #1 — written and illustrated by Geof Darrow, colored by Ian Herring, and lettered by Nate Piekos — will be available Wednesday in comic book stories and on digital platforms from Dark Horse Comics.
