PRAIRIE GODS

Writer/artist Volk blends noir fiction, supernatural horror, SF, and neo-Western genre elements in a collection of five standalone tales, set in the fictional prairie town of Broadacres.

Powered by unapologetically visceral illustrations that adeptly convey intense emotion and relentless violence, these darkly diverse stories are like a sampler box of chocolates—with some confections injected with methamphetamines and others with strong psychedelics. One vignette features retired race car driver Freddy Davis, who has defeated all the best drivers in the world in his legendary black 1970 Pontiac GTO, called the “Broadacres Bullet.” Looking for one final challenge, he decides to race the Devil himself. Another story follows the town’s seemingly immortal sheriff, Ned Reade, as he tracks a fugitive into the badlands. Other tales revolve around a World War I veteran’s memories of a space alien saving his life on the battlefield; a secret buried deep in an abandoned silver mine on the outskirts of Broadacres; and a U.S. Air Force pilot who crashes during a blizzard and, after fighting off a nightmarish beast, finds himself somewhere totally unexpected. Although the illustrations and overall layout are visually spectacular, it’s the town of Broadacres that provides the most effective hook. Arguably more interesting than its featured inhabitants (which aren’t all that deeply developed), the prairie town is equal parts Dodge City and Area 51—an outpost in the middle of nowhere where anything can happen. The setting is an ideal narrative sandbox for a storyteller, with a nearby military base, miles of abandoned mine shafts, and desert wastelands that are home to mythical beasts. Although the collection ends with multiple unresolved plot threads and more than a few questions, these stories offer a great introduction to Volk’s sprawling, and virtually limitless, Broadacres realm.

A wild set of well-illustrated tales that unearth incredible stories and dark secrets.