Vault Comics; $3.99 

I've always had a soft spot for Westerns, especially the kind that throws something supernatural into the mix. Dead Acre: Black Badge #1 takes that idea and runs with it. 

Cullen Bunn introduces James Crowley, a gunslinger who has already died and now finds himself working for the White Throne. His job is pretty straightforward: hunt down demons that have made their way into the mortal world. His latest assignment sends him to Dead Acre, a remote Western town where things are clearly not what they seem. 

That's a great setup, and Bunn doesn't waste much time getting the atmosphere right. The story has that dusty, isolated Western feel, but there's something darker lurking underneath it. You can tell from the beginning that Dead Acre has some serious problems, and the book does a good job making you want to find out what they are. 

The concept also reminded me of one of my favorite characters from Preacher, the Saint of Killers. There are some obvious differences, but the idea of a supernatural gunslinger carrying out a mission with a higher power behind him definitely brought that character to mind. I also couldn't help thinking about The Bondsman, the Kevin Bacon series about a resurrected bounty hunter forced to hunt demons. Dead Acre scratches some of that same itch, but it has its own Western-horror identity. 

The artwork is a big part of the appeal. The characters, town, and landscapes all look like they belong in an old Western, and the action has a real sense of movement. The gunfights are especially fun to look at, with the panels giving the action room to unfold instead of rushing through it. 

This first issue is mostly setting the table, but I didn't mind that at all. There's enough happening to keep things moving, while the bigger mystery is left hanging in the background. By the time I reached the end, I had a pretty good feeling that things are about to get much worse for everyone in Dead Acre. 

Dead Acre: Black Badge #1 is a strong start for fans of Westerns, supernatural horror, and stories about gunslingers who aren't exactly on the right side of the grave. Cullen Bunn has a fun premise here, and I'm definitely interested in seeing where he takes it. 

–Scott Schlazer