Southern Gothic has never looked as good as it does on the pages of That Texas Blood. The Image Comics-produced neo-Western series, written by Chris Condon and illustrated by Jacob Phillips, combines the blood-and-dust stained fiction of Cormac McCarthy with the nihilistic noir of a Frank Miller graphic novel.
Despite its phenomenally twisted storyline and intense visual style, That Texas Blood has largely flown under the radar of mainstream audiences. Recently, however, the acclaimed comic flew to the top of the aftermarket sales charts, beating out multiple issues of heavyweight titles such as Absolute Batman and Amazing Spider-Man.
This sudden surge in popularity is not a fluke in the system; That Texas Blood is getting the television adaptation treatment from FX and filmmakers Jim Mickle and E. L. Katz, taking the gritty, dread-inducing series to the small screen. News of the adaptation has driven collectors, long-time fans, and new readers back to the comic.
News of its upcoming adaptation has largely been credited with the renewed interest in That Texas Blood. However, Condon and Phillip’s masterclass in storytelling scratches many itches for contemporary comic fans. While recent releases focus on bringing the audiences of superhero blockbusters into their fold, That Texas Blood brings a tightly-paced visceral journey to life. Set in Ambrose County, Texas, the series follows Sheriff Joe Bob Coates as he attempts to find his place in an increasingly violent world where brutality reaches even his rural Texas home.