You know what’s great about the X-Files? Everything! Everything is great about the X-Files! It’s a goddamn national treasure right up there with the White House and that soup painting by Andy Warhol. The political intrigue of a secret FBI unit, the moral intricacies of discovering a world beyond our understanding, ALIENS! It’s got everything a good show needs so it’s no wonder that years after its demise (and a couple mini-arcs) the X-Files fandom is still going strong; cumulating into a huge expanded universe via comics. X-Files Case Files is yet another welcome addition to the comic world, albeit a bit more low-key than usual, as it sends everyone’s favorite G-Men to Texas to hunt a giant owl. A wonderful little story that explores the backwoods of Americana, Hoot Goes There will remind you why Mulder and Scully are the perfect pair to tackle the weird and wild.
The duo are sent off to east Texas to chase rumors of a giant owl swiping citizens left and right, the latest case being of a woman stolen right off her property in full view of her neighbor. Mulder and Scully soon arrive to the police/donut shop and begin exchanging information with the locals. Apparently what they heard wasn’t the full story. According to rumor, the owl is, in fact, an owl witch and is believed to tie into all sorts of bizarre things that have happened in town. Mimicking the crying of a baby, it would lure unsuspecting victims and steal them away, at least according to Mulder. While Scully is naturally incredulous, they both follow up on the initial report with the neighbor, splitting up when Scully has finally had enough of the man’s drunk ramblings. But Scully may have left too soon as strange things begin to show up on Mulder’s hotel door step, things that even he’s never had experience with.
Though Hoot Goes There isn’t a very serious comic, it’s definitely a lot of fun. There are no worldwide conspiracies or religious questioning, just a story about two people chasing down a giant bird. It gets back to the original roots of X-Files; solving bizarre mysteries while exploring local folklore and monsters. It’s a good little horror story for when you need a break from Mulder rambling on about his sister. But the biggest appeal, which was also one of the biggest appeals of the show, is the banter between Mulder and Scully. They’ve always had a solid sense of camaraderie in the show and the comic recognizes that their relationship is just as important to the story. Their dynamic really helps push the comic along and makes the reader feel like they’re watching a long lost episode of the show.
While the art isn’t exactly stand out, it doesn’t take away from the work either. No wandering faces or mismatched facial expressions, just some good ol’ comic work. Mulder and Scully look just like they did in the show and the background and color work are appropriate to the scenery. I did enjoy the classic, eye-rolling faces that Scully kept making, so that was pretty cool. All in all, X-Files Case Files: Hoot Goes There #1 is a solid read for any X-Files fan, especially if you’re starving for a bit of lighthearted case work or just like cool monsters. Out now!