Avery Belle is the cowboy you call when things get weird. Plagues and omens spread from the town of Odette. It’s rife with pestilence and possession all running downstream. This is going to be a 8 second, supernatural ride like no other full of curses, demons, and family feuds! TexArcanum is a spectacular story that explores the sins of the Old West and its effects on the present day!
- Written by Christopher Monfette
- Illustrated by Miguel Martos
- Colors by Patricio Delpeche
- Letters by Michael Heisler
- Publisher Mike Richardson
- Editor Rose Weitz
- Designer Abi Joyce-Shaw
- Digital Art Technician AJ Newell
- Prepress Jake Johnson
TexArcanum is a Wild West Horror Ride!
TexArcana blasts onto the comic book scene with a BANG! I wasn’t really sure what I was getting into, but I was hoping it was Cowboys vs Demons…and uh, yeah, that’s the simple way to describe it! Obviously it’s so much more than that though.
The issue starts with a trip through a major point on the timeline of American history: Western Expansion or “The Wild West.” Stagecoach caravans are making their way to the west coast through the perilous lands in between. We get glimpses of the life and culture of these people, not far removed from their immigration from other countries, in folktales and stories. When the settlers are stopped by a man dressed in opulent attire are offered a cold drink and a simple deal, the fate of the future is written in blood.
Characters and Comparisons in TexArcanum
Enter Avery Belle. He’s a hunter, exorcist, and sort of shaman with an all around sandpaper like personality. You know what, I’ll go ahead and get this out of the way…there are some strong parallels between Avery and Dean Winchester. That’s the charm of this book for me. It feels like Supernatural and Constantine with a country western flair about it. It doesn’t copy those things mind you, but is definitely in the same genre. So fans of those types of titles (like me) will probably love this.
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The characters in this issue are great. They’re fleshed out without flashbacks or exposition. Avery is as magnetic as they come. You want to have a beer with the guy, but you know he would just want you to leave him alone. He’s cool under pressure, smart as hell, and quick witted. Officer Littlefeather is the perfect compliment to Avery. She’s an even match in a battle of wits and brave to boot.
The World and Lore
What really stands out in a story like this is the world building. The established lore of the Old West and the reason for the supernatural forces of darkness. I love that we go straight from that to “Trailer Park Exorcism”. The American Southwest is the perfect place for a story embedded in violent histories. Curses, shamans, artifacts, plagues…it all houses these things that could be questionably real vs otherworldly. Not only that it’s a sprawling land of wide open spaces with beautiful landmarks, yet still and unbelievably dangerous place to be if you’re not prepared.
The Artwork of TexArcanum #1
The artwork is unbelievably good. Martos and Delpeche go together like bread and butter. The beauty of the environments are executed beautifully. They act as a canvas for thee bloody, gory, eye-catching images that stain the grass and dirt. The pestilence and famine of rotting corpses and vermin are so striking and unnerving. A gutted human reveals rattlesnakes. Boils and sores give you the creeps. It’s all so squeamish in the right ways!
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I can’t go without mentioning panel and page layouts. Transitions are so engaging. Pacing is beautiful. I absolutely love the use if polaroids and claws tearing through panels to help tell the story, past and future.
Overall Grade 10/10
TexArcanum is the perfect blend of action, horror, and history. I’ve tried to avoid comparisons as much as I could, but this really is the perfect start of a story for fans of Supernatural, Constantine, and everything in between. I love westerns and horror, so when those things come together I’m totally in. This is a great story by Christopher Monfette full of rich history, monsters, and mystical evil. The artwork is phenomenal and enhances the story.
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