Welcome to Craw County: Jason Aaron Talks Southern Bastards

Welcome to Craw County, Alabama, home of Boss BBQ, the state champion Runnin’ Rebs football team ... and more bastards than you’ve ever seen.

From the acclaimed team of Jason Aaron and Jason Latour, the same bastards who brought you Scalped and Wolverine: Japan’s Most Wanted, comes a southern fried crime series that’s like the Dukes of Hazzard meets the Coen Brothers ... on meth.

"We were thrilled to have an opportunity to publish work by Jason Aaron and Jason Latour, but the fact they were doing something set in the South made it even more appealing," explains Image Comics publisher, Eric Stephenson. "So many comics are set in big cities like New York, so it’s always interesting to see creators explore other settings, and it’s especially cool when its a writer and artist with firsthand experience. What the Jasons have come up with is really unique, and being from the South myself, I’m really proud of the work they’re doing on this book."

Writer Jason Aaron talked with PREVIEWSworld about what readers can expect from Southern Bastards #1 (FEB140475).

PREVIEWSworld: What made this the right time for you and series artist, Jason Latour, to revisit your Southern roots and tell this story?

Jason Aaron: Latour and I had talked about doing this series a couple of years ago, but put it off because we were both so busy. Then I think I just got to the point where I couldn't wait anymore. Once I finished Scalped, I had a creator-owned sized hole in my heart. I needed to write another crime story. I needed more deeply flawed, thoroughly screwed characters in my life. And this book has more than its share.

PREVIEWSworld: Southern Bastards is being referred to as The Dukes of Hazard meet Deliverance. Our question is - will Billy Jack make a cameo? Is there a car chase with Dirty Mary and Crazy Larry. The homage to 70s cinema is oozing out of the preview we see in the February issue of PREVIEWS, and we just want to get the references right. Did we leave anything out?

Jason Aaron: Don't forget Walking Tall and Deliverance and Convoy and Cockfighter. Yeah, we're obviously leaning hard into our 70s inspiration here. This is gritty, old school redneck drama, but all set in the present day Deep South. And we dive right into that setting right out of the gate. Our first action scene takes place in the kitchen of a BBQ joint. The second issue takes place at a high school football game, one that gets a bit bloodier than usual.

PREVIEWSworld: You both have roots in the culture of the South. So what does that mean in terms of how you spread the table? What settings/geography did you two focus on to show readers that this story doesn't take place 10 minutes from the Mason Dixon line? What colors the scenery?

Jason Aaron: Southern Bastards is set in Craw County, Alabama, a fictional place inspired in part by where I was born. And we'll be exploring more and more of that county as the series goes on. Like the rez was in Scalped, I want Craw County to basically become a character in and of itself. And having a whole county gives us plenty to play with. Some of the most important locations initially include Boss BBQ, which is one of busiest joints in town and also one with its fair share of dirty secrets, and Craw County High School, where Coach Euless Boss walks the sidelines of the Runnin' Rebs football games like a god. A very scary god.

PREVIEWSworld: Describe for us the "fun factor" that went into this book. What made this book akin to kickin' back a drink with a friend?

Jason Aaron: Out of everything I've ever written, this one is definitely closest to my heart, just because this is where I'm from. This is who I am. Who I'll always be, in some way I believe, even though I don't live in the South anymore. This is the story of the South I love and the South I love to hate. A place that's a part of me and a place that scares the holy hell out of me.

Southern Bastards #1 Sneak Peek

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