3 out of 5

Oh, DC in the late 80’s and early 90’s: You so crazy.  When you could have mature, in-universe, limited series titles that weren’t vomited offshoots of crossovers or quick cash-ins.  Creator-driven, and without a requisite Batman or Wolverine appearance?  Shut your mouth.  Ah, but these were those early pre-Vertigo days, which seem rather golden now, at least in terms of the big two…

Now, Mike Baron in the late 80s and early 90s?  Just as crazy as ever, and just as capable as ever of swinging his smirking heroics between widescreen, DC-viable adventures and Badger insanity.  The Butcher errs on the more serious side of Baron, and it’s not wholly isolated from the DC universe, with a brief but, appreciably, not superfluous appearance from Green Arrow, but it’s still identifiable to the writer, thanks to its subtle but constant character asides – which gives an on-paper vigilante much more personality than expected – extended martial arts sequences, and casual plotting style.  Not that that makes it a particularly great comic, but its got enough quirk to be entertaining.

Native American Jon Butcher is hunting down the big businessers who offed his parents in order to nab some sweet, sweet resources on their land.  The end.

Yes, it’s the ‘dead parents vengeance’ classic, but he’s an Indian! …This has potential for grim and gritty churn (encouraged by Shea Anton Pensa’s muscley, angular art) but Baron nudges most of the characters into slightly more compelling (or surprisingly vile) directions.  John actually has friends and can be bemused, for example, and people rarely speak in one liners.  And to his further credit, Baron does the Native American bit well; John’s culture comes across as  natural, informing his character without heavy handed nods to letting the audience know research has been done.

But it’s still pretty standard stuff, and despite an attempt to couch things in a mythology framework, there’s not really any disguising that these are just regular schmoes punching each other.

An interesting relic of a particular era, but unfortunately not the most compelling or original thing.