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That Texas Blood
That Texas Blood, Vol. 2
Sheriff Joe Bob Coates travels down the long and winding road of memory to a dark night in 1981 that saw a boy killed, a girl missing, and a mad cult on the loose in Ambrose County, Texas.
SCOTT SNYDER (NOCTERRA, WYTCHES, Batman) calls the series “a dark and twisted Texas mystery with tons of heart.”
Collects THAT TEXAS BLOOD #7-12
SCOTT SNYDER (NOCTERRA, WYTCHES, Batman) calls the series “a dark and twisted Texas mystery with tons of heart.”
Collects THAT TEXAS BLOOD #7-12
174 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 12, 2022
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152 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
February 7, 2025
7.7/10
All the ugly things happening lately, brought back memories in Joe Bob's mind. A case from 40 years ago..
1981. A young girl named Laila Freeman is missing. Her brother, Darrin, goes out looking for her. The police found the young boy's body. No sign of his sister.
Thi second volume is as well written as the first, but with a more interesting case and the introduction of Harlan Eversaul. A private investigator, who forms a great duo with Joe Bob.
Very good series so far and one that deserves more recognition.
All the ugly things happening lately, brought back memories in Joe Bob's mind. A case from 40 years ago..
1981. A young girl named Laila Freeman is missing. Her brother, Darrin, goes out looking for her. The police found the young boy's body. No sign of his sister.
Thi second volume is as well written as the first, but with a more interesting case and the introduction of Harlan Eversaul. A private investigator, who forms a great duo with Joe Bob.
Very good series so far and one that deserves more recognition.
March 11, 2022
Nice improvement over volume 1. Here we get a story from the past. I liked how they told this story by having Joe Bob and his partner chilling at the diner while Joe gave her the details. The was the case of this missing girl, a dead boy and what seemed like two dead cult members. As they are investigating, a man comes to the officers wanting so help as he’s been studying this cult. He gives them the 411 on them and now it’s up to the Sheriff to decide if he believes him. I found myself caught all up in this story. Had an eerie and creepy vibe and I loved how the story slowly built up with suspense as they were putting the pieces together trying to find this cult and the missing girl. Great stuff.
January 11, 2022
When I reviewed the first volume of That Texas Blood one year ago, I praised the comic for its strong characterization and stunning visualization of small-town Texas. The story obviously took cues from creators like Ed Brubaker, however, and thus you will recognize the air of familiarity in how it tells a crime story. As writer Chris Condon and artist Jacob Phillips return to Ambrose County, Texas for another six issues, what new horrors will aging sheriff Joe Bob Coates will face?
Please click here for my full review.
Please click here for my full review.
June 8, 2022
The second That Texas Blood volume improves on the first, even if it's still mired in cliches. The old man cop recollects the time a cult came to Texas, kidnapped a girl, and threatened to sacrifice her to the bat god. So far, so already done by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips.
Still, the characters are compelling and the straightforward plot is engaging. The art continues to perfectly match the vague noir/horror vibes. I can't complain - I had a good time. Bring on more cliche Texas noir.
Still, the characters are compelling and the straightforward plot is engaging. The art continues to perfectly match the vague noir/horror vibes. I can't complain - I had a good time. Bring on more cliche Texas noir.
June 16, 2023
Texas noir with a 70’s crazy cults vibe. No flashy bangs or whatever but real good characters with real good dialogues. Like in vol.1 the feel of the place is very well done and there's a pregnant atmosphere. I dare you not to like Joe Bob and Eversaul and fear for Laila. Double dare ya, even!
Good job from Jacob Phillips. It’s very hard not to measure him up against his father since he so obviously learned from him but he can stand tall. Interesting way to colour the book too, what with these stripes of a kind.
Good job from Jacob Phillips. It’s very hard not to measure him up against his father since he so obviously learned from him but he can stand tall. Interesting way to colour the book too, what with these stripes of a kind.
May 27, 2024
That Texas Blood continues to be a really nice surprise to me. Pacing is great, not rushed not too slow, simple but interesting. And the artwork - again, Jacob Phillips knows what he does. Enjoyed a lot, looking forward to the next one.
September 30, 2022
Sheriff Joe Bob Coates flashes back to a case from his youth, when a violent cult kidnapped a young girl to try kickstarting a Mayan apocalypse right there in Ambrose county.
I love how human Condon's protagonists are: snippy, clumsy, uncertain, even while they're selfless, determined, and brave. And Jacob Phillips continues to do his daddy proud.
This second story does fall off a bit from the high of the first volume. While the tinge of supernatural does help explain Joe Bob's unease about the nature of the recurring violence in his county, it's still a bit of an awkward fit with the straightforward crime noir that was volume one.
That said, if Condon and Phillips keep writing these, I will happily keep reading them.
I love how human Condon's protagonists are: snippy, clumsy, uncertain, even while they're selfless, determined, and brave. And Jacob Phillips continues to do his daddy proud.
This second story does fall off a bit from the high of the first volume. While the tinge of supernatural does help explain Joe Bob's unease about the nature of the recurring violence in his county, it's still a bit of an awkward fit with the straightforward crime noir that was volume one.
That said, if Condon and Phillips keep writing these, I will happily keep reading them.
April 8, 2023
Now that was much more memorable than vol one! I hate to keep bringing up Brubaker and Philips work on crime graphic novels, but when you set the standard it's hard to notice similar stories, especially when Jacob is doing the art here. But this was a improvement over the first vol, as our protagonist recounts a dangerous run in with a Mayan cult in his Texas town, and the way it haunts him 40 years after the fact. Credit to Philips for using their art to tell a story of two time periods and make it easy to know when.
February 13, 2022
Instead of taking after Criminal, now we're taking after Reckless. There are fewer creative panelling choices here but the colouring work to split between the modern and flashback scenes was great. Secret cult, missing person, media/celebrity getting involved, yadda yadda yadda I've seen it before.
March 24, 2025
I thought I had picked up the wrong series, the first TPB is not paranormal - just violet in the old Texas way. This collection brings out that paranormal retelling a couple decades old story about a Manson type starting a death cult in the same little county. The opening of a portal that maybe let in more evil.
I really enjoyed this one, the art is nice and the story flows quickly, I found myself flipping through each page like a little kid. Lots of fun and my favorite type of detective story. Felt a bit like True Detective. If you like that kind of acid soaked detective story you’ll like this!
I really enjoyed this one, the art is nice and the story flows quickly, I found myself flipping through each page like a little kid. Lots of fun and my favorite type of detective story. Felt a bit like True Detective. If you like that kind of acid soaked detective story you’ll like this!
February 26, 2023
Meriterebbe anche 4.5, volume che ti tiene con il fiato sospeso dall'inizio alla fine! Disegni e gestione delle tavole davvero incredibile, il buon Philips jr sta seguendo le orme del padre benissimo, un piacere per gli occhi!
June 15, 2022
A little more interesting than the first book, Volume 2 finds a younger Joe Bob investigating Camazotz cultists transplanted to Ambrose County Texas from LA. There’s a lot less Shakespeare here and some weak-tea imitation Lovecraft instead.
August 27, 2023
“See, I keep thinkin’, when yer young, they tell ya certain things ‘bout God and Heaven and the Devil and Hell. So, I always thought the Devil was like they tell ya in Sunday School and on the teevee…Red horns, tall ‘n a pitchfork. Fire ‘n brimstone.
What they don’t tell ya in Sunday School is that there ain’t just one devil…
And I suspect there ain’t just one hell. Hell ain’t just a place below with fire and caves and little demons on wings…
Naw, Hell is here. And just knocked on the foot and walked right in…”
Just…hell damn yeah, y’all.
See now THIS is what I think I thought the book was when I started hearing people talk about it. Just a totally different flavor of badass but one that totally solidifies this series’s gimmick to the point where now I have to read every single goddamn issue of it.
The choice to make Ambrose County itself the running thread (and casting Sheriff Joe Bob as our grizzled but achingly good and sweet Shepard through the wilderness of Ambrose) is so simple and amazing you almost can’t believe it.
I think too the shift backwards in time gives this a little more juice than you would expect from a second arc. Jacob Philips just continues to level the fuck up and this second arc is a prime example of that improvement. While the opening 6 issues are almost sparse and laser focused, the next 6 are stagey and dreamlike. Far more sketchy and impressionist and fantastically blocked between the past and present.
Condon too shifts upward amazingly. replacing the cranking, feverish dread and inevitably of the first arc with pulpy, driving weirdness. Making this almost feel REH and Joe Landsale in response to the opening Coen-esque acidity.
I just…I fucking love comics, y’all. And books like this are exactly the reason why. So wholly It’s Own Thing while translating all this amazing filmic language onto the page. I could and would read it forever.
What they don’t tell ya in Sunday School is that there ain’t just one devil…
And I suspect there ain’t just one hell. Hell ain’t just a place below with fire and caves and little demons on wings…
Naw, Hell is here. And just knocked on the foot and walked right in…”
Just…hell damn yeah, y’all.
See now THIS is what I think I thought the book was when I started hearing people talk about it. Just a totally different flavor of badass but one that totally solidifies this series’s gimmick to the point where now I have to read every single goddamn issue of it.
The choice to make Ambrose County itself the running thread (and casting Sheriff Joe Bob as our grizzled but achingly good and sweet Shepard through the wilderness of Ambrose) is so simple and amazing you almost can’t believe it.
I think too the shift backwards in time gives this a little more juice than you would expect from a second arc. Jacob Philips just continues to level the fuck up and this second arc is a prime example of that improvement. While the opening 6 issues are almost sparse and laser focused, the next 6 are stagey and dreamlike. Far more sketchy and impressionist and fantastically blocked between the past and present.
Condon too shifts upward amazingly. replacing the cranking, feverish dread and inevitably of the first arc with pulpy, driving weirdness. Making this almost feel REH and Joe Landsale in response to the opening Coen-esque acidity.
I just…I fucking love comics, y’all. And books like this are exactly the reason why. So wholly It’s Own Thing while translating all this amazing filmic language onto the page. I could and would read it forever.
August 28, 2023
After a mostly mediocre first arc, I wasn't very enthused about reading volume two. I can happily say however, that this was much more enjoyable and the kind of thing I was hoping we would get in the first. After the previous events Joe Bob heads over to church to speak to his pastor about the idea that Ambrose County is cursed with evil. between recent events had past ones. It also happens to be the 40th anniversary for when a cult came to town. This is where the art really works, as if Jacob's didn't already practically make the comic last time, we get two distinct styles with current day and flashbacks.
The contrast in styles for here blends very well with both modern and past stories shifting. In present day we see Joe Bob and his current partner talking about those events, and having conversations that while fill entire pages, never feel drawn out. In the past Joe ends up teaming up with a P.I. in Harlan Eversaul to work together on this case. The coloring of both time periods really brings everything out as well, from the bright more upbeat nature of present day, to the dark, brooding menace that lurks in the past.
The fact that all of this seems to be centralized to Ambrose County really lifts the quality, having this very unknown and supernatural feel to it, the story tends to tease you with the idea that maybe this is just some crazy cultists that have gone off the deep end, or is it actually possible that there is some ancient evil behind this all. and its whats constantly testing this small town and its now Sheriff in Joe Bob Coats, a man who is very easy to like, which makes it all the more better to see his adventures unfold.
The contrast in styles for here blends very well with both modern and past stories shifting. In present day we see Joe Bob and his current partner talking about those events, and having conversations that while fill entire pages, never feel drawn out. In the past Joe ends up teaming up with a P.I. in Harlan Eversaul to work together on this case. The coloring of both time periods really brings everything out as well, from the bright more upbeat nature of present day, to the dark, brooding menace that lurks in the past.
The fact that all of this seems to be centralized to Ambrose County really lifts the quality, having this very unknown and supernatural feel to it, the story tends to tease you with the idea that maybe this is just some crazy cultists that have gone off the deep end, or is it actually possible that there is some ancient evil behind this all. and its whats constantly testing this small town and its now Sheriff in Joe Bob Coats, a man who is very easy to like, which makes it all the more better to see his adventures unfold.
January 23, 2023
The second arc of That Texas Blood was a bit of a step down for me unfortunately. While the first volume has a very gritty noir tone to it, this volume takes a step in the direction of being a little too fantastical and bombastic to me.
The "Eversaul" arc introduces us to P.I. Harlan Eversaul who works with a young officer Joe Bob to investigate a missing girl and a new occult presence in the town. The story is essentially told completely as a flashback - narrated by current day Sheriff Joe Bob. While it does deflate a bit of the tension in the story, the main issue I have with this arc is how over the top the actual mystery is. It feels like Condon learned the wrong lesson from the first season of True Detective since simply adding a Satanic cult does not make for a gritty crime thriller. The plot is frankly a bit cartoonish and lacks the mature sensibility I enjoyed in the first volume. It's still an interesting story without a doubt, but does feel like there was less polish to the writing this time around.
I do feel like Jacob Phillips' artwork leveled up a bit with this arc. The easy comparison to make is to his father's work on the Reckless series (of which Phillips adds colors to), but there is a distinct quality to it that I appreciated. I still have hope in the Condon/Phillips duo to deliver a stronger future volume based off the strength of the first arc so hopefully they can land the next one more comfortably.
The "Eversaul" arc introduces us to P.I. Harlan Eversaul who works with a young officer Joe Bob to investigate a missing girl and a new occult presence in the town. The story is essentially told completely as a flashback - narrated by current day Sheriff Joe Bob. While it does deflate a bit of the tension in the story, the main issue I have with this arc is how over the top the actual mystery is. It feels like Condon learned the wrong lesson from the first season of True Detective since simply adding a Satanic cult does not make for a gritty crime thriller. The plot is frankly a bit cartoonish and lacks the mature sensibility I enjoyed in the first volume. It's still an interesting story without a doubt, but does feel like there was less polish to the writing this time around.
I do feel like Jacob Phillips' artwork leveled up a bit with this arc. The easy comparison to make is to his father's work on the Reckless series (of which Phillips adds colors to), but there is a distinct quality to it that I appreciated. I still have hope in the Condon/Phillips duo to deliver a stronger future volume based off the strength of the first arc so hopefully they can land the next one more comfortably.
March 2, 2024
Joe Bob is a sheriff at Ambose County in Texas, and he is convinced that there is something wrong with the place. It's almost as if it were cursed in some way. He started believing that back in 1981, when children were kidnapped by a local cult. Assisted by a private detective whose knowledge borders on the non believable, he will have to turn every stone to find a missing girl, but he will be witness to the unleashing of something that he will never be able to explain and that will follow him for decades.
The story follows Joe Bob with a brand new scenario. In my view, Randall's fate in volume 1 was incomplete, and I had hopes that his story would continue in volume 2. This makes me feel as if volume 1 was incomplete. Yet, I find that this second volume is more solid and offers another good crime story with just the right amount of possible surnatural. The reader is kept off balance as weird things that we can not explain are going on, and we never know if they actually amount to something or not. It's another great story to enjoy, and that shows the talent of the writers. I am definitely looking forward to reading volume 3.
The story follows Joe Bob with a brand new scenario. In my view, Randall's fate in volume 1 was incomplete, and I had hopes that his story would continue in volume 2. This makes me feel as if volume 1 was incomplete. Yet, I find that this second volume is more solid and offers another good crime story with just the right amount of possible surnatural. The reader is kept off balance as weird things that we can not explain are going on, and we never know if they actually amount to something or not. It's another great story to enjoy, and that shows the talent of the writers. I am definitely looking forward to reading volume 3.
September 12, 2022
A rare (for me, at least) dramatic fall from four stars for the first volume to two stars for the second volume. Maybe I was feeling generous and hopeful, but the writing in the first volume, with some refs to Shakespeare, some clever humor, seems to fall apart here. I liked the first volume story, but here we have a central story about a Satanist Cult, ooh! Not interested or persuasive or engaging premise.
I note that Newburn, one of the other (crime) comics (true to his Dad, crime comics artist Sean) Jacob Phillips is illustrating, features an older straight white dude with a young black girl sidekick, and sure enough ol' Joe Bob has a . . . wait for it. . . black girl sidekick! Everything feels suddenly cliched, and tired, and even ol' Joe Bob begins (already! I feel so fickle!) to sound cliched, and I seemed to like him so much in the first volume!
This is Condon's first comic, so I'll read the third volume, at least to look at the development of Jacob Phillips's art.
I note that Newburn, one of the other (crime) comics (true to his Dad, crime comics artist Sean) Jacob Phillips is illustrating, features an older straight white dude with a young black girl sidekick, and sure enough ol' Joe Bob has a . . . wait for it. . . black girl sidekick! Everything feels suddenly cliched, and tired, and even ol' Joe Bob begins (already! I feel so fickle!) to sound cliched, and I seemed to like him so much in the first volume!
This is Condon's first comic, so I'll read the third volume, at least to look at the development of Jacob Phillips's art.
January 13, 2022
Straightforward story about kidnapping in small town Texas.
A local lawman reminisces about murder and kidnapping in 1981. With the aid of a private investigator from Los Angeles, he becomes involved in solving the case. (Trying not to give too much away) there are some interesting characters, some stereotypical of small town America, and the plot is a bit of a slow burner but it’s well worthwhile. The artwork is easy and straightforward as well as clear. I received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
A local lawman reminisces about murder and kidnapping in 1981. With the aid of a private investigator from Los Angeles, he becomes involved in solving the case. (Trying not to give too much away) there are some interesting characters, some stereotypical of small town America, and the plot is a bit of a slow burner but it’s well worthwhile. The artwork is easy and straightforward as well as clear. I received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
April 30, 2022
Much like Volume 1, Volume 2 is even more enjoyable on reread and I enjoy it more than the first volume. It’s a subtle and meditative book. I just wanna see what Condon & Phillips do and where they take this book over the course of it’s run. Volume 2 is high quality storytelling that blends Southern Gothic/Neo-western/and crime thriller superbly. I’m also a sucker for the Kolchak The Night Stalker-esque private eye character they introduce in this arc. Can’t wait see what the third arc holds. Viva Sheriff Joe Bob Coates.
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April 17, 2022This volume of That Texas Blood was just a story .. not like the first one, the first one was something special, something real. At the very least I truly felt it. Unlike the second which's just lame.
However, the Christmas Special #13 was really a stand alone beauty! My god it was good!
Look how savage it was...
"But he had the tools to fix anything, didn't he? So, in his murderous, low-down, evil way, he got to work." ❤️
However, the Christmas Special #13 was really a stand alone beauty! My god it was good!
Look how savage it was...
"But he had the tools to fix anything, didn't he? So, in his murderous, low-down, evil way, he got to work." ❤️
August 19, 2023
Volume 2 of this glorious neo-noir series, That Texas Blood, by Chris Condon and Jacob Phillips. This one felt darker than the first, as its pitch black tone is set right from the start when we hear about missing children and Satanic cults, Mayan bat monsters and ritualistic murder.
The private eye, Harlan Eversaul, had an aura of Carl Kolchak about him, and the quality of artwork and dialogue is absolutely top notch. Highly recommended.
The private eye, Harlan Eversaul, had an aura of Carl Kolchak about him, and the quality of artwork and dialogue is absolutely top notch. Highly recommended.
June 2, 2025
The story was smoother than the first one. I enjoyed the read. Finished in a single sitting on a flight, and it was perfect for that. Loved the illustration again. My only complaints are that I find Joe Bob’s “well” annoying rather than endearing, and the drawings of women are rough. Is that a weird thing to say? I don’t need or want Tomb Raider-style ladies, but damn, they do these poor women dirty. Otherwise very solid.
September 26, 2022
Gotta love a good cult story. I like the take of Joe Bob off loading his past feeling from an old case that he feels at a diner where the whole story is told through a flashback of them eating and staying until the diner closes. Would love to see a spin off with the PI. Would be super interesting to see what ‘supernatural’ things he would get hired to do and solve on the 70s.
February 27, 2023
Firm three-star territory. Good, but not great. Not particularly original. The story is interesting, though the telling of it in flashback is awkward and doesn't really seem to have a purpose. This really does kind of read like a rip-off of Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips, complete with chapter titles, the art in grids, the artwork itself, etc. Wish it was more original.
November 29, 2021
A moderate improvement from volume one. Jacob Phillips continues to refine and improve his art. There’s some really great looking stuff in this book. But Chris Condon’s writing is still just at the level of readable cliches. This time it’s kind of a True Detective thing and it works well enough.
December 28, 2022
Absolutely amazing improvement from the first volume and the story in this volume hits on so many different levels.
Beautiful art throughout which just adds more to the overall experience.
Onto the next one
The Marc Knight
Beautiful art throughout which just adds more to the overall experience.
Onto the next one
The Marc Knight
March 10, 2023
Really solid story telling, propelled by a great cast of characters and of course, the setting is key to how the mystery plays out. It teases supernatural elements, where there’s more to it than meets the eye. But even in that approach, the richness of the plot shines through.
March 11, 2023
This is turning out to be a fantastic series. Book 1 was excellent and this was just as good.
The pacing, storyline, character development, and art work are all top notch.
Very graphic and violent. Possibly some disturbing themes.
I highly recommend this series!
The pacing, storyline, character development, and art work are all top notch.
Very graphic and violent. Possibly some disturbing themes.
I highly recommend this series!
August 14, 2023
Texas Noir.
I can’t get enough. Condon’s storytelling with Phillips evocative artwork perfectly showcases a tale that spans the decades in this installment of That Texas Blood. This might be my favorite volume of the current three released. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
I can’t get enough. Condon’s storytelling with Phillips evocative artwork perfectly showcases a tale that spans the decades in this installment of That Texas Blood. This might be my favorite volume of the current three released. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
January 24, 2025
Noticeable improvement over the first volume. Really enjoyed how disconnected this was from the previous volume. Maybe the Sata it's were a bit too Charles Manson-lite but served their purpose enough.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews