A Cowboy in High Cotton by Jul
Why read the book?
Lucky Luke inherits a cotton plantation in Louisiana that he never wanted, and rather than keep it he gives it to the enslaved people who labour there. The gesture is generous but naive, and it makes him many enemies at once. Neighbouring planters see a threat to their whole way of life, while some he means to help doubt that any white owner can be trusted.
Written by Jul and drawn by Achdé, the story takes on race in the Old South with care. Luke finds allies in figures like the real lawman Bass Reeves, faces a hooded mob, and the tale builds to a stake, a revolt and a sudden hurricane that scatters his foes. It is one of the bolder modern albums.
Favourite quote
This land belongs to the people who worked it, not to me.
What I Loved
The album is brave in its subject yet keeps the warmth and wit of the series. Luke's plain decency drives the whole story.
The real lawman Bass Reeves makes a welcome ally, and the Southern setting is richly drawn. The parody of plantation pride and bigotry is handled with real point.
Key Takeaway
A bold modern album where the lone cowboy puts plain justice above an unwanted fortune.
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