“The Dirt Beneath the Devil #1” Review – Western With a Slow Burn

The Run Down

In this new Old West set story by Dan Panosian, we meet June, coming into town for her monstrous father’s inheritance. However, she’ll come to learn that inheritance comes at a cost. Is she ready for the darkness and tension in her family to come to the light? Find out with Eddie, Anthony and I as we review “The Dirt Beneath the Devil #1”!

Writer: Dan Panosian
Letterer: Pat Brosseau
Artist: David Ferracci
Colorist: Lee Loughridge

The Writing

Eddie: The year is 1981. A woman finds out her estranged father has passed away and she travels from New York to Kansas City for the reading of the will. There is something strange about the conditions of her inheritance. They have to travel by horse from Kansas City to Wichita, a journey of about 200 miles through somewhat treacherous territory. That’s the premise of “The Dirt Beneath the Devil #1” written by Dan Panosian, illustrated by David Ferracci, colored by Lee Loughridge and lettered by Pat Brousseau from Mad Cave Studios.

Industry veteran artist Dan Panosian takes the writing reins for this western mystery. The premise is compelling, an example of the breadth of story the comic medium can tell. Western comics are an integral part of comic history and I can appreciate what Panosian is trying to do. He lays out the initial parts of the story in a similar way to what you’d see in an old John Huston or Howard Hawks western.

Where the writing of the issue falters is that this issue focuses a lot on plot and character exposition versus the real intended action of the story itself. This may be a deliberate narrative technique to preserve mystery or action for future issues, but it affects the pacing for the reader, preventing the early “grab” that readers want to feel from the first issue.

Anthony: Over the last 7 – 8 years, Dan Panosian has been building quite the resume as a dark/horror comic book writer. “An Unkindness of Ravens”, “Alice Ever After”, “Canary”, “Black Tape”, “Last Boy”, and now his latest offering “The Dirt Beneath the Devil”! Panosian does a fantastic job of setting up a story and immediately grabbing the reader’s interest. It’s almost like a John Williams movie score. Layers build on each other with each adding a bit more complexity than the last until you start to see the larger overarching plot start to take shape.

The characters are deep and rich right out of the gate. They feel like real people to the point you empathize with some, hate others and feel a little uneasy about the rest. He builds tension and unease gradually from page one right up to the cliffhanger (which I was waiting for the whole issue)!

Eda: Going into this, I had very little idea of what to expect. All I knew was that it was Dan Panosian, and I was on board. This being the first western comic I’ve ever read, I’ll say that while the writing is certainly there, it took me a minute to get used to it due to the pacing. That being said, it still hooked me through its character development and use of symbolism and meaning.

Speaking on the pacing, while it won’t be for everybody, it feels almost intentional at times. The pacing really seems to work at helping build the tension, making us wonder what will happen and when the trigger will finally be pulled. Within that time, we really get to know these characters and the background of what’s going on. As previously stated, this book introduces us to June as she and the others have to ride 200 miles for the reading of her father’s inheritance. What wasn’t stated however was the horse she specifically has to ride… Hendido.

For those who don’t know, “hendido” is a word meaning “split, cleft or cracked.” Surely enough, Hendido has an unusual split in one of his hooves. This mirrors exactly what June is experiencing, being estranged from both her father and family. What this might mean for the story overall, I’m really anxious to find out!

The Art

Eddie: The artwork from David Ferracci and Lee Loughridge is the star of this issue. They capture the feel, dirt, grittiness and sense of looming danger of the Old West era of the United States. Ferracci’s pencils and paneling build the framework of the world for the reader. We can see and feel the wonder and potential dangers lurking. Loughridge’s colors are especially effective in creating this environment. He helps us feel the heat of the sun, the dust blowing in the wind and the change in mood when day shifts to night.

Anthony: David Ferracci is a good, solid visual storyteller. His backgrounds & environments are beautiful and technically perfect. The only note I have on his work here is that sometimes a couple of the characters were difficult to tell apart and I had to really dial in on identifying details. It’s a minor gripe, but it’s the kind of thing that disrupts an otherwise fully immersive experience, even if only for a moment. Mind you, the characters LOOK different, but there are some panel sequences that are zoomed in and I just found myself wondering “whose hand is that?”

Lee Loughridge is becoming my favorite colorist. He’s a magician! I’ve never gotten jazzed up over a colorist more than I am right now about this man. The colors for this issue are superb. Moving from cool to warm to scorching hot in perfect sync with the demands of the story. His color work serves as a guide for the eye, making movement from panel to panel so smooth you forget the pictures aren’t moving.

Eda: The art and colorwork here were fantastic across the board. Ferracci worked wonders in each panel, going into great detail with his linework to create a truly desolate wild west. His work made it very easy for me to envelop myself into the world, while each character design felt distinct, outside of maybe one or two characters.

As for Loughridge’s colors, I completely agree with both Anthony and Eddie! His colors effortlessly created these fantastic looking sunrises and sunsets, reflecting beautifully on the settings and characters. Even when we get to the night, it’s full of deep blues and colors that truly stand out.

Final Thoughts

Eddie: “The Dirt Beneath the Devil #1” has some pacing issues that the rest of the series can overcome. There’s just enough meat on the bone here for me to give the series a second try.

Anthony: “The Dirt Beneath the Devil #1” has hooked me! Panosian, Ferracci, and Loughridge have crafted a dark, unsettling introduction to a horror series that, if it continues on this path, could be one for the ages. I really hope the series lives up to the high expectations set by the first issue!

Eda: While it slightly stumbles, “The Dirt Beneath the Devil #1” is a pretty great start overall! Panosian and crew could truly have something great on their hands.

Eddie’s Grade: 8/10
Anthony’s Grade: 8.5/10
Eda’s Grade: 8/10

Overall Grade: 8.25/10

For more from Eddie’s video review on “The Dirt Beneath the Devil” keep an eye on Nerd Initiative’s YouTube channel and WretchedHiveComics on Instagram!

For more from Anthony, check out his Instagram!

For more from me, check here as well as my socials!

Comments

Have you been looking forward to “The Dirt Beneath the Devil”? Are you a fan of Dan Panosian? Let’s discuss in the comments below!