Mutant, Texas: Tales of Sheriff Ida Red

(Oni, 2002, 2006)

Fans of Paul Dini’s Jingle Belle will recall last year’s Jingle Belle Jubilee, which featured the daughter of Santa Claus inviting a few friends over on Christmas Eve. One of those friends has graduated from the one-shot special into her own mini-series.

Rather than emulate the playful, whimsical atmosphere from his Jingle Belle books, Dini turns the brightness down a shade for Mutant, Texas. An accident in space transforms the prototypical small Texas town into a city full of talking animals and other mutations. As an infant, Ida Red is rescued from the desert and raised as one of the townsfolk, even though she has exhibited no special powers since her rescue. Now grown, Ida tries to come to terms with the fact that she’s an outcast among outcasts.

Even with its darker overtones, it remains no grimmer than a typical Dini issue of Batman: Gotham Adventures. The story’s easily understood, well paced, and full of some interesting imagery. But beyond the basics, there’s not much else. The art by J. Bone is a little light for the mood at times, and the concept relies too much on overdone motifs like radioactive-based mutations. And the intended surprise at the issue’s end is anything but.

Although not the best work from Dini and Bone, it’s still entertaining enough. And the story is kid-friendly, and perhaps works a little better on this level.

— Jim Johnson

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