Dead West

(Gigantic, 2005)
™ and © 2005 Rick Spears and Rob G

Dead West is a fun tale that starts strong but trails off at the end. Employing a bit of the ol’ “Wild West white man vs. American Indian” gestalt, this is a revenge story about the lone survivor of a group of Indians who uses magic to raise the dead in the settler town of Lazarus.

The art is fun and the plot fast-paced, and the whole 144 pages read rapidly. However, by the end of the story, the reader may be more than ready for it to be over. Though the ending works, it’s no zinger, and the story could have profited from editing out some pages to tighten the tale by getting rid of unnecessary material. In many ways, it’s reminiscent of the cult film Army of Darkness… the director’s cut, that is, which needed stronger editing.

Still, this is worth reading. The first half is well-executed and entertaining, the ensuing quarter is enjoyable, and even the conclusion isn’t bad. Fans of Wild West and horror stories (aka the Joe R. Lansdale crowd) will eat this one up.

— Ray Sidman

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Notes

Writer

Artist

#1

June, 2005
Cover Price: $14.95
1 copy available for $9.00

Rick Spears

Rob G.