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God Country #1-6
God Country
SOUTHERN BASTARDS meets American Gods in a high-stakes fantasy series that masterfully blends high-octane action and jaw-dropping worldbuilding.
In GOD COUNTRY, readers meet Emmett Quinlan, an old widower rattled by dementia. Emmett isn't just a problem for his children--his violent outbursts are more than the local cops can handle. When a tornado levels his home--as well as the surrounding West Texas town--a restored Quinlan rises from the wreckage.
An enchanted sword at the eye of the storm gives him more than a sound mind and body, however. He's now the only man who can face these otherworldly creatures the sword has drawn down to the Lone Star State...
In GOD COUNTRY salvation is a double-edged sword.
Collects GOD COUNTRY #1-6
In GOD COUNTRY, readers meet Emmett Quinlan, an old widower rattled by dementia. Emmett isn't just a problem for his children--his violent outbursts are more than the local cops can handle. When a tornado levels his home--as well as the surrounding West Texas town--a restored Quinlan rises from the wreckage.
An enchanted sword at the eye of the storm gives him more than a sound mind and body, however. He's now the only man who can face these otherworldly creatures the sword has drawn down to the Lone Star State...
In GOD COUNTRY salvation is a double-edged sword.
Collects GOD COUNTRY #1-6
168 pages, Paperback
First published August 2, 2017
44 people are currently reading
2160 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 429 reviews
December 9, 2021
Well.
I thought I would like it more, but it certainly wasn't bad.
It seemed (to me) to have a Norse vibe to it even though space gods (or something like that) were fighting with Emmet and his new BFF, a sentient sword god who keeps him from relapsing into dementia. <--which is a really cool premise.
And I liked it. I did.
There's lots of shit exploding, plenty of tugs on the old heartstrings, and a decent underlying moral to the story.
I'm not really sure why I didn't fall in love with it like so many of my friends did, but there was just something missing that kept it from being a spectacular read. I can see the brilliance of this graphic novel but I just can't feel it in my bones, if that makes any sense? However, I would definitely encourage anyone who is interested in this (or just Donny Cates, in general) to give it a try and see what they think for themselves.
I thought I would like it more, but it certainly wasn't bad.
It seemed (to me) to have a Norse vibe to it even though space gods (or something like that) were fighting with Emmet and his new BFF, a sentient sword god who keeps him from relapsing into dementia. <--which is a really cool premise.
And I liked it. I did.
There's lots of shit exploding, plenty of tugs on the old heartstrings, and a decent underlying moral to the story.
I'm not really sure why I didn't fall in love with it like so many of my friends did, but there was just something missing that kept it from being a spectacular read. I can see the brilliance of this graphic novel but I just can't feel it in my bones, if that makes any sense? However, I would definitely encourage anyone who is interested in this (or just Donny Cates, in general) to give it a try and see what they think for themselves.
August 8, 2017
An old dude with Alzheimer’s somehow has a Final Fantasy-type giant magical sentient sword that cures his horrible disease while he holds it – but a space wizard villain something wants it back for reasons. Stupid fighting ensues!
God Country is a pretty boring comic. Too much of it is clichéd and derivative. The narrator has this down-home Southern-drawl-style way of speaking because the story’s set in Texas and I guess that’s just how everyone down there talks? It put me in mind of Sam Elliott’s narrator in The Big Lebowski or any Cormac McCarthy character (the book opens with a quote from Blood Meridian).
The characters are very roughly sketched out – Emmett is basically a crappier version of Jason Aaron’s Old Thor over at Marvel while the villain is simply Generic Bad Guy - while their motivations were either vague and nebulous or non-existent, making it hard to be invested in anything that was happening. The fantasy is unremarkable and the storyline of “Emmett and Giant Sword Fight Stuff” was instantly forgettable and dreary.
Emmett’s introduction where we see the terrible effects of Alzheimer’s was attention-grabbing and different though there’s barely any exploration of the illness afterwards and in the end its inclusion feels pointlessly contrived. The finale between Emmett and his son Roy tried for an emotional gut-punch that it never earned but I appreciated that it wasn’t as corny as it could’ve been.
A trite, tedious comic with weak writing and art, I couldn’t be doing with God Country and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone.
God Country is a pretty boring comic. Too much of it is clichéd and derivative. The narrator has this down-home Southern-drawl-style way of speaking because the story’s set in Texas and I guess that’s just how everyone down there talks? It put me in mind of Sam Elliott’s narrator in The Big Lebowski or any Cormac McCarthy character (the book opens with a quote from Blood Meridian).
The characters are very roughly sketched out – Emmett is basically a crappier version of Jason Aaron’s Old Thor over at Marvel while the villain is simply Generic Bad Guy - while their motivations were either vague and nebulous or non-existent, making it hard to be invested in anything that was happening. The fantasy is unremarkable and the storyline of “Emmett and Giant Sword Fight Stuff” was instantly forgettable and dreary.
Emmett’s introduction where we see the terrible effects of Alzheimer’s was attention-grabbing and different though there’s barely any exploration of the illness afterwards and in the end its inclusion feels pointlessly contrived. The finale between Emmett and his son Roy tried for an emotional gut-punch that it never earned but I appreciated that it wasn’t as corny as it could’ve been.
A trite, tedious comic with weak writing and art, I couldn’t be doing with God Country and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone.
January 9, 2019
In a remote part of Texas, Roy is trying to juggle between taking care of Emmet, his father suffering from Alzheimers, and his wife and young daughter. He's failing at both when a tornado appears and leaves a demon and the God of Swords behind. Emmit picks up the sword and instantly gets his memories back. However, the sword's creator will stop at nothing to get the sword back. Emmit puts his family through hell to keep the sword as he battles gods hellbent on getting the sword back.
The Good: The story is engaging and fast paced. It had me leaping through the pages to find out what happened.
The Bad: The story is over. Can't see how they'd make a second volume.
The Ugly: Geoff Shaw's art is dark and sloppy, reminiscent of a less talented Sean Murphy or Matteo Scalera.
Received an advance copy from Image and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
The Good: The story is engaging and fast paced. It had me leaping through the pages to find out what happened.
The Bad: The story is over. Can't see how they'd make a second volume.
The Ugly: Geoff Shaw's art is dark and sloppy, reminiscent of a less talented Sean Murphy or Matteo Scalera.
Received an advance copy from Image and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
January 4, 2018
This was an OK comic: old guy with Alzheimer's gets this big ass sword that cures him but the god who owns the sword wants it back...well, it is kind of predictable after that. The characters are relatively superficial (arguably, the most interesting character is the sword itself), even if the art is pretty good. Not sure what all the fuss was about on this one..
July 31, 2017
"Long time ago, out in West Texas, there was this storm..."
What a brilliant deep fried fantasy! I've never read anything like it. There's action, drama, depth, and fantastical artwork. And god battles in Texas? Bring it on!
What's it about? Emmett Quinlan has Alzheimer's and a dangerous temper. Out of nowhere he gets Valofax, the God of Blades and talking sword, and suddenly he's a badass god! Then there's war, a journey to hell, and a legion of attacking demons in good ol' Texas. And it's damn fun! Nice work, Donny Cates.
Did you catch that Duff Beer cameo? Awesome!
Geoff Shaw's artwork is amazing. It's sketchy and detailed and sharp. And he has that ambiguous yet definitive way of drawing fantasy elements that just immerses you in these other worlds. This effect is perfectly complemented by Jason Wordie's masterful colors. They're rich and vivid!
Overall I was really impressed. Pretty sure it's a one shot so it's low risk, it's cheap, unique, well written, and amazingly illustrated.
January 14, 2018
There's a 12 ft. tall talking sword in this book.
SOLD!
I was really surprised with this one. I guess my expectations were pretty low...and holy hell were they ever blown out of the water.
This one fired on all cylinders for me. The art was awesome. There were splash pages scattered throughout the volume that left my jaw hanging and overall I really dug it. The color of the book worked well too. The story - which I wasn't really expecting anything from, really impressed me. I cared about the characters, their relationships with one another, and I really felt Emmet's struggle wanting to hang onto his family and not lose his identity to alzheimer's. What a dirty ass disease. There were some feels too in the book that got me right in the heart.
And the ending. Nailed it. So often I feel like these shorter mini-series flop out on the endings. This one I really dug. It was wrapped up perfectly, IMO.
*Shrugs* Who'da thunk it? I really wasn't all that hype for this one and spank my ass if I didn't really enjoy it.
Did I mention there is a 12-foot talking sword?
Yeah. I really liked that part.
SOLD!
I was really surprised with this one. I guess my expectations were pretty low...and holy hell were they ever blown out of the water.
This one fired on all cylinders for me. The art was awesome. There were splash pages scattered throughout the volume that left my jaw hanging and overall I really dug it. The color of the book worked well too. The story - which I wasn't really expecting anything from, really impressed me. I cared about the characters, their relationships with one another, and I really felt Emmet's struggle wanting to hang onto his family and not lose his identity to alzheimer's. What a dirty ass disease. There were some feels too in the book that got me right in the heart.
And the ending. Nailed it. So often I feel like these shorter mini-series flop out on the endings. This one I really dug. It was wrapped up perfectly, IMO.
*Shrugs* Who'da thunk it? I really wasn't all that hype for this one and spank my ass if I didn't really enjoy it.
Did I mention there is a 12-foot talking sword?
Yeah. I really liked that part.
March 29, 2018
Donny Cates is just killing it. Even at his worst the work he does is still solid. Much respect for this guy.
So what's God Country about? Well, you can read the description on any review or right above here. So let me tell you what it really is about. This old dude gets a sword from the sky and kills a demon. Then the god who had the sword comes down to talk to him. They don't see eye to eye and then the god returns home. Once there popa god says we must take the sword back and sends his other son to retrieve it. And from there a lot of killing, kidnapping, and fights go on.
Good: So above you'd probably think this is a gigantic fighting comic. And in some ways it is. And the fights are big and fucking epic. However, it's the family moments, the heartfelt moments, that really hit hard. The art is also great, the fights are stunning, and the designs are pretty interesting.
Bad: The second half gets a little heavy in itself, trying too much at once, and felt a bit too rushed.
I really dug the shit out of this. While not as good as Redneck or Babyteeth I'd still say it's a damn good time. People, check this out if you haven't yet! A 4 out of 5.
So what's God Country about? Well, you can read the description on any review or right above here. So let me tell you what it really is about. This old dude gets a sword from the sky and kills a demon. Then the god who had the sword comes down to talk to him. They don't see eye to eye and then the god returns home. Once there popa god says we must take the sword back and sends his other son to retrieve it. And from there a lot of killing, kidnapping, and fights go on.
Good: So above you'd probably think this is a gigantic fighting comic. And in some ways it is. And the fights are big and fucking epic. However, it's the family moments, the heartfelt moments, that really hit hard. The art is also great, the fights are stunning, and the designs are pretty interesting.
Bad: The second half gets a little heavy in itself, trying too much at once, and felt a bit too rushed.
I really dug the shit out of this. While not as good as Redneck or Babyteeth I'd still say it's a damn good time. People, check this out if you haven't yet! A 4 out of 5.
March 31, 2019
Alright comics nerds, this was my first taste of Donny Cates. Y’all have been hyping him for the last year or two, how good is he?
Reading this story, of one old man’s battle against inevitable, I was constantly asking myself, “what is this a parable of? What’s the point of this story - the lesson we will be expected to take away? Is it sacrifice? Strength? Noble acquiescence? Or raging against the dying of the light?”
I imagined myself writing my first story - wondering what ending I’d be aiming at, and how I think I’d get there any more artfully than all the practised writers who’ve come before me? Was it this doubt-ridden for Donny while he was writing this story, inhabiting these simple characters? Or did he have a brilliant moment of clarity, and just had to keep his eye on it, like a sailor heading for a storm-ridden lighthouse?
I’m not really sure if this was just a personal fable of a parent of Donny’s and how he is coping with the loss, or if it’s meant to be everyone’s tale and Donny’s just playing at omniscient narrator.
It felt a little distant for me - slightly sloppy/scritchty art, thin characters with not much in the way of a personal journey to hang my interest on. I feel like I’m observing someone else’s slightly awkward therapy sessions, and I dunno whether I’m supposed to admire the *craft* that do many creators were willing to praise on the back of the book or if I can let myself go, “hmm”. It wasn’t the worst I’ve read, it was definitely a nice break from the endless mythology building of most comics tales I read...but it doesn’t make me want to read more like it. I’m pretty much indifferent.
Reading this story, of one old man’s battle against inevitable, I was constantly asking myself, “what is this a parable of? What’s the point of this story - the lesson we will be expected to take away? Is it sacrifice? Strength? Noble acquiescence? Or raging against the dying of the light?”
I imagined myself writing my first story - wondering what ending I’d be aiming at, and how I think I’d get there any more artfully than all the practised writers who’ve come before me? Was it this doubt-ridden for Donny while he was writing this story, inhabiting these simple characters? Or did he have a brilliant moment of clarity, and just had to keep his eye on it, like a sailor heading for a storm-ridden lighthouse?
I’m not really sure if this was just a personal fable of a parent of Donny’s and how he is coping with the loss, or if it’s meant to be everyone’s tale and Donny’s just playing at omniscient narrator.
It felt a little distant for me - slightly sloppy/scritchty art, thin characters with not much in the way of a personal journey to hang my interest on. I feel like I’m observing someone else’s slightly awkward therapy sessions, and I dunno whether I’m supposed to admire the *craft* that do many creators were willing to praise on the back of the book or if I can let myself go, “hmm”. It wasn’t the worst I’ve read, it was definitely a nice break from the endless mythology building of most comics tales I read...but it doesn’t make me want to read more like it. I’m pretty much indifferent.
December 31, 2020
A tornado delivers a 12-foot talking sword to a mean old Alzheimer's-stricken Texas coot, restoring his mind but incurring the wrath of the god who forged the blade.
I thought this was going to be a Jesusland critique along the lines of Southern Bastards. Not even close.
God Country sets out as a thoughtful examination of dementia, its dehumanizing effects on its victim and its tragic consequences for family. It ends as a fight to the death between an old fat guy with a sentient weapon, and a snide god patriarch who views humans as vermin.
God Country 's best moments are its conversations. A war god speaking kindly to a little girl; a son given an unexpected opportunity to connect with his disapproving father...and being rebuffed; the tension between a man who wants to care for his sick dad and a woman justifiably terrified of her violent, unpredictable father-in-law.
The battles in God Country are just noise.
I thought this was going to be a Jesusland critique along the lines of Southern Bastards. Not even close.
God Country sets out as a thoughtful examination of dementia, its dehumanizing effects on its victim and its tragic consequences for family. It ends as a fight to the death between an old fat guy with a sentient weapon, and a snide god patriarch who views humans as vermin.
God Country 's best moments are its conversations. A war god speaking kindly to a little girl; a son given an unexpected opportunity to connect with his disapproving father...and being rebuffed; the tension between a man who wants to care for his sick dad and a woman justifiably terrified of her violent, unpredictable father-in-law.
The battles in God Country are just noise.
June 13, 2024
Donny Cates convierte la demencia de su padre en un cómic acerca de la familia, las historias y el doloroso proceso de dejar ir. Hermosamente ilustrado por Shaw y aún más hermosamente coloreado por Wordie. Una corta aventura que nos recuerda el poder de las historias. Saqué lagrimita en el número final, en mi opinión, el más perrón.
December 15, 2022
Kurguda gördüğüm birkaç boşluk haricinde harika çizimlerle süslenmiş hoş bir hikaye olduğunu söyleyebilirim. "Kılıçların Kılıcı" kişiselleştirmesi gerçekten güzel oturmuş. Dediğim gibi çizimler, sahneler birbirinden güzel ama kurgunun derinliksiz, fazlaca aile içi git gelleri notumu düşük tutmama sebep verdi.
March 7, 2022
I can see why this title would hit really hard for those who have lived with relatives who fall victim to the cruel reality of Alzheimer's, dementia or other diseases of the mind. Perhaps my expectations were too high but I found it to be a good, not great, self-contained family drama.
A Timeless Message.
A Timeless Message.
October 14, 2017
I thought this one was a perfectly middle of the road graphic novel. A demented man from Texas gains a giant, magical, speaking, video-game looking sword that returns to him his mind whole. The concept is pretty interesting at face value, but fails to live up to the promise of its premise pretty quickly.
The sword, as it turns out, is actually the property of a race of space-gods who bear a passing resemblance to the cast of Marvel's Thor or DC's Fourth World characters. If you guessed that the gods want their sword back, then you can imagine the conflict that follows.
All in all, the book feels bland despite the fireworks you'd expect from such a conflict. Shaw does a terrific job with the talking-heads scenes, but fails to deliver really exciting, kinetic action. As so much of the story depends on the reader developing an emotional attachment to the characters, it's a real shame that more time wasn't given to character moments. Or, that more powerful dialogue wasn't packed into the book.
I expected more urban fantasy than I got and I suppose that let me down.
The sword, as it turns out, is actually the property of a race of space-gods who bear a passing resemblance to the cast of Marvel's Thor or DC's Fourth World characters. If you guessed that the gods want their sword back, then you can imagine the conflict that follows.
All in all, the book feels bland despite the fireworks you'd expect from such a conflict. Shaw does a terrific job with the talking-heads scenes, but fails to deliver really exciting, kinetic action. As so much of the story depends on the reader developing an emotional attachment to the characters, it's a real shame that more time wasn't given to character moments. Or, that more powerful dialogue wasn't packed into the book.
I expected more urban fantasy than I got and I suppose that let me down.
April 4, 2020
Arzheimer's is a nasty condition. Losing memories of your loved ones must be painful. A magical artifact repairs Emmett's mind, allowing him to remember his wife, son and granddaughter. He displays a serious human weakness when faced with the prospect of giving it back, though. Even with the indestructibility and immense strength it gives him, he does not want to let go of his memories even though he risks the well-being of both his family and the family of the sword's owner. The god that created it wants it back and he is just as stubborn as Emmett is. Both are in their twilight years and are worried about what they leave behind, something to be remembered by.
Emmett Quinlan has Alzheimer's disease, so his son Roy decides to move his family in his father's house as he doesn't want to send him to an old folks home. The old man's verbal violence puts too much stress on his wife Janey who takes her daughter Deena and heads back home. They are stopped by a massive tornado and a 20-foot dark creature. Right as it attacks Deena, Emmett saves her using a huge sword named Valofax which fell from the sky. The story may seem simplistic so far, but the focus on legacy, family and loved ones, determination, together with some epic battles should keep anyone turning the pages. The ending is worth it.
Emmett Quinlan has Alzheimer's disease, so his son Roy decides to move his family in his father's house as he doesn't want to send him to an old folks home. The old man's verbal violence puts too much stress on his wife Janey who takes her daughter Deena and heads back home. They are stopped by a massive tornado and a 20-foot dark creature. Right as it attacks Deena, Emmett saves her using a huge sword named Valofax which fell from the sky. The story may seem simplistic so far, but the focus on legacy, family and loved ones, determination, together with some epic battles should keep anyone turning the pages. The ending is worth it.
September 20, 2020
Probably one of my favorite books of all time. This story is about a man who is suffering through Alzheimers and can't remember his son Roy, his daughter-in-law Deena and his grand-daughter Deena. But then he receives this sword that allows him to remember then and then he has to fight Demons, God of the dead - Balegrim, Aristus whose the God of war and ultimately the King of Gods, Attum (All father). This sword allows him to be rid of the disease and have a power to protect his family and this book is so good. Its about family, hanging on to memories, cherisihing what was and is of our family and passing them as stories. The battles are as epic as it gets but that last moment in the book when he passes away memories to his son, and that page with the panels...is the most beautiful ever. This book resonated with me so much and its so good!!
August 26, 2017
It's a damned shame there isn't a rating higher than five stars.
This is, by far, the single most beautiful story I've read in quite some time. The art is almost as busy as the pace is fast, but with a fairly simple through-line in the plot it never feels difficult to follow.
The voice of the narrator caught my attention first. The country dialect lulls you into a sense of older, more simple times. Which is, of course, a complete contrast to the actual story which, once it begins, almost never gives you a chance to breathe. Oh, sure, you get a page or two of calm between storms, but it's mostly full speed ahead from page one.
If you have a love for stories in general, read this. If you like a good fairy tale, read this. If you love your family, read this.
Read this.
This is, by far, the single most beautiful story I've read in quite some time. The art is almost as busy as the pace is fast, but with a fairly simple through-line in the plot it never feels difficult to follow.
The voice of the narrator caught my attention first. The country dialect lulls you into a sense of older, more simple times. Which is, of course, a complete contrast to the actual story which, once it begins, almost never gives you a chance to breathe. Oh, sure, you get a page or two of calm between storms, but it's mostly full speed ahead from page one.
If you have a love for stories in general, read this. If you like a good fairy tale, read this. If you love your family, read this.
Read this.
March 4, 2018
Really cool fantasy drama novel. Father who suffers from Alzheimer's ends up with a powerful sword that cures him only when holding this powerful sword. I large quest into realms and fighting Gods is whats in store. Deals with family/love, father/son relationships, mental illness and remembering the past. Its one and done, cant see a second Vol at all. The artwork didnt really work for that well. Kinda looked a little rushed.
August 20, 2020
Krátké, jednoduché a plné momentů, které se tváří velkolepě. Takže vlastně taková esence Catesova psaní.
Na co tohle hlavně doplácí, tak je délka. Na prostoru šesti sešitů prostě až tak velkou parádu nerozjedete, zvlášť když se pokoušíte psát rodinný příběh a nedáte úplně dostatek prostoru k tomu, aby si člověk k postavám stihl vytvořit nějaký vztah.
I tak je to ale hodně příjemná rubačka a věřím, že kdyby to nebylo celé tak uspěchané (a nepřipomínalo mi to místy Atomahawka), tak klidně přihodím hvězdu navíc, minimálně už za ten Texaský přízvuk.
Na co tohle hlavně doplácí, tak je délka. Na prostoru šesti sešitů prostě až tak velkou parádu nerozjedete, zvlášť když se pokoušíte psát rodinný příběh a nedáte úplně dostatek prostoru k tomu, aby si člověk k postavám stihl vytvořit nějaký vztah.
I tak je to ale hodně příjemná rubačka a věřím, že kdyby to nebylo celé tak uspěchané (a nepřipomínalo mi to místy Atomahawka), tak klidně přihodím hvězdu navíc, minimálně už za ten Texaský přízvuk.
March 27, 2021
Although he has gained success during his time at Marvel from the Jim Starlin-inspired cosmic titles to his ongoing run on Thor, Donny Cates came into recognition with his creator-owned comics, particularly in Image, where he has written Redneck, Crossover and the book that I am here to review: God Country.
As the elderly Emmett Quinlan is dying from Alzheimer's at his home in West Texas, his son Roy is torn between his duties of being a father to his own daughter and watching his father fade away into someone that Roy’s other family fears. When a giant tornado destroys everything the Quinlan family holds dear, Emmett rises, holding a giant enchanted, indestructible, talking sword named Valofax. As along as Emmett wields the sword, his Alzheimer's is cured, but when otherworldly forces attempt to reclaim the lost weapon, Emmett isn’t going to give it up without a fight.
What immediately stood out for me – apart from Valofax itself, which looks it could have come from Berserk or Final Fantasy VII – is how you could see the seeds that would lead Cates into Marvel’s cosmic titles. Outside of the cosmic, Marvel is also about flawed heroes balancing their everyday lives and the super-heroics, and Cates pushes that to a personal place, as this book opens with two words “For Dad”. Cates does not shy away from a family struggling to be together when a member is dying from such a disease as the first issue is not an easy read.
Things certainly lighten up when Emmett wields Valofax and they have a great banter, but never negates the bizarre situation the family is going through, as well as coming to the realisation that no one can last forever. The relationship between fathers and their children is a recurring theme throughout from Emmett’s relationship with his son and granddaughter, to King Attüm of Always’ relationship with his two sons, one of which is the more sympathetic Aristus, who is somewhat reluctant in his mission to retrieve the sword.
In one panel, within the Quinlan household, you can see a framed front cover of Jack Kirby’s New Gods #1 and you can absolutely see the influence of the King here. Obviously, no one can come close to matching the big, expressive of Kirby’s art, but artist Geoff Shaw puts his own spin, from the cosmic knights inhabiting the Kingdom of Always, to even the Kirby Krackle. Often with comics by Cates and Shaw is that the relentless nature of their storytelling can be too much, and Shaw’s action sequences here are visceral, but there is enough room for quiet scenes to embrace the nuance of key characters.
As their debut book published by Image, you can see the roots of where Donny Cates and Geoff Shaw will go into their later work, but as its own thing, God Country is an insane, yet heartfelt mashup of battle fantasy and family domesticity.
As the elderly Emmett Quinlan is dying from Alzheimer's at his home in West Texas, his son Roy is torn between his duties of being a father to his own daughter and watching his father fade away into someone that Roy’s other family fears. When a giant tornado destroys everything the Quinlan family holds dear, Emmett rises, holding a giant enchanted, indestructible, talking sword named Valofax. As along as Emmett wields the sword, his Alzheimer's is cured, but when otherworldly forces attempt to reclaim the lost weapon, Emmett isn’t going to give it up without a fight.
What immediately stood out for me – apart from Valofax itself, which looks it could have come from Berserk or Final Fantasy VII – is how you could see the seeds that would lead Cates into Marvel’s cosmic titles. Outside of the cosmic, Marvel is also about flawed heroes balancing their everyday lives and the super-heroics, and Cates pushes that to a personal place, as this book opens with two words “For Dad”. Cates does not shy away from a family struggling to be together when a member is dying from such a disease as the first issue is not an easy read.
Things certainly lighten up when Emmett wields Valofax and they have a great banter, but never negates the bizarre situation the family is going through, as well as coming to the realisation that no one can last forever. The relationship between fathers and their children is a recurring theme throughout from Emmett’s relationship with his son and granddaughter, to King Attüm of Always’ relationship with his two sons, one of which is the more sympathetic Aristus, who is somewhat reluctant in his mission to retrieve the sword.
In one panel, within the Quinlan household, you can see a framed front cover of Jack Kirby’s New Gods #1 and you can absolutely see the influence of the King here. Obviously, no one can come close to matching the big, expressive of Kirby’s art, but artist Geoff Shaw puts his own spin, from the cosmic knights inhabiting the Kingdom of Always, to even the Kirby Krackle. Often with comics by Cates and Shaw is that the relentless nature of their storytelling can be too much, and Shaw’s action sequences here are visceral, but there is enough room for quiet scenes to embrace the nuance of key characters.
As their debut book published by Image, you can see the roots of where Donny Cates and Geoff Shaw will go into their later work, but as its own thing, God Country is an insane, yet heartfelt mashup of battle fantasy and family domesticity.
December 4, 2022
3.5 stars. This was pretty solid. A tornado comes ripping though the part Texas where the Quinlans live and spits out a giant demon. Before it could attack, a magic swords flies in and chops the demon down and now grandpa Quinlan wields the sword. But now the creator of the sword from galaxies away, sends his son to retrieve the sword. But as long as grandpa Quinlan holds the sword, his Alzheimers is gone. So of course he ain’t giving the sword up. Let the battle ensue. The battle was quite good and the art from Shaw was solid. Overall, a pretty cool story.
May 25, 2019
This has been a tea and graphic novel day. I binged Isola this morning and now this one. Isola had gorgeous art with subpar writing while God Country was a satisfying read from an art and writing perspective. Geoff Shaw creates frenetic, violent images that suit his battle scenes. They’re sloppy but entirely appropriate. Cates is stellar. I’ve never read his mainstream stuff but I might seek out Redneck and Babyteeth based on the recommendations of the guys in my comic shop. On that note, I gave the manager a list of my favourite writers and artists and his staff created a list of recommendations for me that included this book based on my love of Jason Aaron ‘s Southern Bastards. This book is just as gritty and desperate as that series.
January 14, 2018
Great artwork and story idea but it seemed too rushed to be a great story. If this could have had more time to develope this could have been better.
September 9, 2021
I own this book.
My god, this story broke my heart. I don't think I've ever really gotten super emotional about a comic before, but this one got me. Basically, Roy and his family have moved back to Roy's childhood town to care for his father, Emmett, who has Alzheimer's. One day, after a bad turn, Roy's wife decides it would be better if they left and went back to the city but Roy refuses and his wife and daughter drive off into a brewing storm. This is when the story kicks off. Basically, the storm was of biblical levels and brings with it demons and a magical sword from a far off realm that Emmett picks up. This sword not only talks but while he is holding it, Emmett is cleared from his alzheimers. A miracle for his family. But a sword like that doesn't come without its consequence and it is being hunted by a ruthless king who wants it back, and sends his son to get it. His son politely explains everything to Emmett who refuses to give it back and has to prepare that a battle is coming which he may not win. The family enjoy their time with Emmett before the king kidnaps Roy's daughter, and then it starts.
I just thought this one tugged on the old heartstrings in a great way. Everybody has been affected by alzheimers in one way or another, and this story clearly came from a place of grief and hurt. I liked the story. I liked the art. I found it all very good, interesting and I am not big enough to deny that I cried.
My god, this story broke my heart. I don't think I've ever really gotten super emotional about a comic before, but this one got me. Basically, Roy and his family have moved back to Roy's childhood town to care for his father, Emmett, who has Alzheimer's. One day, after a bad turn, Roy's wife decides it would be better if they left and went back to the city but Roy refuses and his wife and daughter drive off into a brewing storm. This is when the story kicks off. Basically, the storm was of biblical levels and brings with it demons and a magical sword from a far off realm that Emmett picks up. This sword not only talks but while he is holding it, Emmett is cleared from his alzheimers. A miracle for his family. But a sword like that doesn't come without its consequence and it is being hunted by a ruthless king who wants it back, and sends his son to get it. His son politely explains everything to Emmett who refuses to give it back and has to prepare that a battle is coming which he may not win. The family enjoy their time with Emmett before the king kidnaps Roy's daughter, and then it starts.
I just thought this one tugged on the old heartstrings in a great way. Everybody has been affected by alzheimers in one way or another, and this story clearly came from a place of grief and hurt. I liked the story. I liked the art. I found it all very good, interesting and I am not big enough to deny that I cried.
February 26, 2020
Kdysi jsem cetl prvni cislo a nejak me to neuchvatilo. Nasledne se kolem tyhle serie a prvniho poradnyho debutu Donny Catese rozjel hroznej hype a prvni cislo se tocilo okolo €50 nez se ukazalo, ze to nebude ongoing serie, ale kratka miniserie.
Rikal sem si, ze se k tomu nekdy vratim a kdyz na me nekde vypadla ex-libris kopie za par korun, tak konecne prisla ta chvile... A stejne jako tenkrat po prvni sesitu, tak ani ted nechapu, cim je tohle tak skvely. Maximalne pokud mate nejakej fetis na texaskej prizvuk.
Hlavni hrdina je senilni dedek s Alzheimerem, kterej dela svymu synovi ze zivota peklo. O moc se to nezlepsi, kdyz z nebe prileti obri mluvici mec a dedka si vybere jako svyho novyho sampiona. Dedek razem zapomene, ze ma Alzheimera (haha), ale zase musi resit, ze mec chce jeho puvodni majitel, jakejsi zoufalej zapomenutej buh.
Strida se tu rodinny drama a akcni rubacka a mistama sem mel pocit, ze sem nektery pasaze videl uz v Catesove Thanosovi. Slabsim jedincum mozna na konci ukapne nejaka ta slzicka, ale me to bohuzel ta koule nechytlo. Ve finale sem teda rad, ze sem si to precetl z dotrhanyho paperbacku za cenu jednoho piva.
Rikal sem si, ze se k tomu nekdy vratim a kdyz na me nekde vypadla ex-libris kopie za par korun, tak konecne prisla ta chvile... A stejne jako tenkrat po prvni sesitu, tak ani ted nechapu, cim je tohle tak skvely. Maximalne pokud mate nejakej fetis na texaskej prizvuk.
Hlavni hrdina je senilni dedek s Alzheimerem, kterej dela svymu synovi ze zivota peklo. O moc se to nezlepsi, kdyz z nebe prileti obri mluvici mec a dedka si vybere jako svyho novyho sampiona. Dedek razem zapomene, ze ma Alzheimera (haha), ale zase musi resit, ze mec chce jeho puvodni majitel, jakejsi zoufalej zapomenutej buh.
Strida se tu rodinny drama a akcni rubacka a mistama sem mel pocit, ze sem nektery pasaze videl uz v Catesove Thanosovi. Slabsim jedincum mozna na konci ukapne nejaka ta slzicka, ale me to bohuzel ta koule nechytlo. Ve finale sem teda rad, ze sem si to precetl z dotrhanyho paperbacku za cenu jednoho piva.
July 15, 2020
(3,6 of 5 for a story about old man god-killer and his talking sword)
I liked it. It has a similar vibe as Murder Falcon (but it's not as kick-ass as MF), very nice art and Donny Cates can do cool stories. But it was not that awesome as I would expect. The story is a bit of a cliche even if Donny (successfully) tried to polish it a bit. God Country is fun, touching and action-driven. I enjoyed reading that even when it didn't meet my expectations.
I liked it. It has a similar vibe as Murder Falcon (but it's not as kick-ass as MF), very nice art and Donny Cates can do cool stories. But it was not that awesome as I would expect. The story is a bit of a cliche even if Donny (successfully) tried to polish it a bit. God Country is fun, touching and action-driven. I enjoyed reading that even when it didn't meet my expectations.
October 9, 2017
Se agradece una historia contada en solo seis números y no tener que leer interminables arcos preparados para ser recopilados en un retapado. La premisa es sencilla pero original, el dibujo cumple de sobra y es bastante potente y espectacular cuándo es necesario. Creo que tiene su dosis justa de emotividad sin caer en lo
Sensiblero, en lo típico y tópico. Muestra una serie de conflictos familiares Cotidianos situados en un entorno que comienza siendo de lo más normal del mundo para, a partir de un momento dado, alcanzar dimensiones universales y cósmicas.
No pasará a la historia del medio como una obra imperecedera, pero sin duda es una obra muy disfrutable con un dibujo que le va como un guante y que proporciona una lectura ma que agradable.
Una breve sinopsis: en un pequeño pueblo de Texas vemos como una familia brega con el problema de tener a su patriarca aquejado de una demencia senil y Como esta situación está llevando al límite la relación de pareja de su hijo. Pero todo cambiará cuando entre la escena Valofax, la espada diosa de todos los Filos.
Sensiblero, en lo típico y tópico. Muestra una serie de conflictos familiares Cotidianos situados en un entorno que comienza siendo de lo más normal del mundo para, a partir de un momento dado, alcanzar dimensiones universales y cósmicas.
No pasará a la historia del medio como una obra imperecedera, pero sin duda es una obra muy disfrutable con un dibujo que le va como un guante y que proporciona una lectura ma que agradable.
Una breve sinopsis: en un pequeño pueblo de Texas vemos como una familia brega con el problema de tener a su patriarca aquejado de una demencia senil y Como esta situación está llevando al límite la relación de pareja de su hijo. Pero todo cambiará cuando entre la escena Valofax, la espada diosa de todos los Filos.
March 6, 2022
⭐⭐⭐ 1/2
January 15, 2024
Not a fan of “God Country.” The story skims every surface with no real insight into the characters, no reason why the sword chooses Emmett, no true challenges, a staid antagonist who’s honestly boring and ineffective, no genuine depth and not enough explanation, leaving too many questions unanswered. It starts out promising, but then it just sort of meanders along, almost giving the reader something, yet ultimately spiraling into a predictable, meh resolution.
“God Country” falls well short on every level, giving it 1.25 stars. Harsh, I know, but I rolled my eyes too many times and found myself annoyed by the characters and bland storyline, started rushing toward the end, wanting it over with, and ultimately felt like I’d wasted my time. I advise skipping it. Don’t waste yours, too.
“God Country” falls well short on every level, giving it 1.25 stars. Harsh, I know, but I rolled my eyes too many times and found myself annoyed by the characters and bland storyline, started rushing toward the end, wanting it over with, and ultimately felt like I’d wasted my time. I advise skipping it. Don’t waste yours, too.
December 4, 2019
Not ashamed to admit, I cried just a tad.
This is an excellent book. Perhaps some people are turned off because it’s not what they’re expecting.
It’s a book about life and death. The real kind.
It’s about the loyalty of Family.
It’s about love and heartache.
Joy and the willingness to sacrifice everything.
All myths and legends come from people’s emotions. The hard to explain is explained away by gods doing miraculous things.... often in human image.
Heroes are given almost impossible tasks; most often they are tasked with going to Hell.
I think that’s why I enjoyed this book so much. It followed a subtle paradigm that fit with all heroes and myths.
However, this hero just happened to be an old man with Alzheimer’s who loved his family.
Everyone is and can be a hero given the right opportunity.
God Country is well written, incredibly drawn, colored, lettered and edited.
It’s a phenomenal book.
It’s one of those books I’ll be reading again, then again... then again.
This is an excellent book. Perhaps some people are turned off because it’s not what they’re expecting.
It’s a book about life and death. The real kind.
It’s about the loyalty of Family.
It’s about love and heartache.
Joy and the willingness to sacrifice everything.
All myths and legends come from people’s emotions. The hard to explain is explained away by gods doing miraculous things.... often in human image.
Heroes are given almost impossible tasks; most often they are tasked with going to Hell.
I think that’s why I enjoyed this book so much. It followed a subtle paradigm that fit with all heroes and myths.
However, this hero just happened to be an old man with Alzheimer’s who loved his family.
Everyone is and can be a hero given the right opportunity.
God Country is well written, incredibly drawn, colored, lettered and edited.
It’s a phenomenal book.
It’s one of those books I’ll be reading again, then again... then again.
July 9, 2017
well that was really amazing. when you pick it up you think it's a story about a stubborn old guy, magic swords and vengeful gods. but it's not. it's much more than that. it's a story about family and dealing with old age and builds from that. brought a few tears to my eyes so I'd say this comic book is worth every penny. read it, you won't regret it.
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