As June Buckley’s journey across the Kansas frontier continues, a gruesome death shatters the uneasy peace among the heirs to William Buckley’s fortune. Suspicion spreads like wildfire as old resentments, hidden agendas, and deadly accusations threaten to tear the travelers apart. But something far darker than greed stalks the wilderness, and as night falls, June discovers that not all monsters wear human faces.
In the dying days of the American frontier, a young woman journeys into the unknown to claim a legacy she never asked for—and may not survive. June Buckley’s father was a monster in life. In death, he may be something worse. Summoned alongside a group of treacherous heirs, June is forced to traverse the same brutal path that built her father’s empire. But the trail reveals more than hardship—it exposes the rot in every soul traveling beside her. And at the center of it all is Hendido…a creature bound to her father’s past, and perhaps to something far older and much more wicked. As the tension simmers and night closes in, June begins to understand: Her inheritance comes at grisly price. The Dirt Beneath the Devil #1 is a nice period piece with a slow build that delivers a solid shock and surprise at the end.
Westerns are a genre that seem to come and go when it comes to comic books. There’s times when they’re popular and a glut of releases and other times it’s a desert of new comics. The Dirt Beneath the Devil #1 is here to fill the gap with a debut that feels like a moody mystery set in the American frontier. Written by Dan Panosian, the debut issue takes on a familiar concept, individuals connected in some way are brought together to deal with an inheritance. There’s rules that need to be followed and all of it has an air of mystery about it. Of course there’ll be strife between them and some twists regarding the will and inheritance, but all of it, so far, is presented in an engaging way that sucks the reader in.
The art by David Ferracci is solid. With color by Lee Loughridge and lettering by Pat Brosseau, the details feel authentic and immerse the reader into the world. But, more importantly, the comic’s art has an air of danger about it. Small details build the distrust between the reader and the characters. The art also really sets the personalities. Even before they speak or act, you know what type of individual you’re dealing with. It really helps set expectations and whatever chaos and trial there is to come.
The Dirt Beneath the Devil #1 is a solid debut issue. It takes a familiar concept and puts it in a setting that feels rather new and fresh. It does a great job of building up the tension and then leaving the reader with a surprising expectation as to where things are going. Even if you don’t dig westerns, this is one that’s well worth checking out.
Story: Dan Panosian Art: David Ferracci Color: Lee Loughridge Letterer: Pat Brosseau Story: 9.0 Art: 9.0 Overall: 9.0 Recommendation: Buy
Mad Cave provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
In the dying days of the American frontier, a young woman journeys into the unknown to claim a legacy she never asked for—and may not survive.
June Buckley’s father was a monster in life. In death, he may be something worse. Summoned alongside a group of treacherous heirs, June is forced to traverse the same brutal path that built her father’s empire. But the trail reveals more than hardship—it exposes the rot in every soul traveling beside her. And at the center of it all is Hendido…a creature bound to her father’s past, and perhaps to something far older and much more wicked. As the tension simmers and night closes in, June begins to understand: Her inheritance comes at grisly price.
(W) Mark Russell, Mark London (A) Val Halvorson, Alberto Ponticelli, David Ferracci, Emanuele Ercolani, Felix Ruiz
In an age where technology intertwines seamlessly with our everyday lives, TERRORBYTES delves deeper into the shadows of our digital existence, exploring the uncharted territories of human consciousness shaped by technological evolution. This new series pushes the boundaries of speculative fiction, presenting stories that challenge the very essence of identity, morality, and reality in a hyper-connected world.
The new series will continues to explore the dark and often dystopian themes that define our world. It poses critical questions about the future of human relationships, privacy, and autonomy in a world increasingly dominated by technology. Each issue/comic stands as a cautionary tale, reflecting upon the potential consequences of our current technological trajectory and challenging viewers to question the cost of progress. This new series invites readers to peer into the reflective surface of their screens and confront the profound impact of technology on the human condition, urging introspection and dialogue about the path we are collectively forging.
In the dying days of the American frontier, survival is earned in blood, and legacy is something far more dangerous. Cloven, the new original series from Mad Cave Studios, pulls readers into a bleak, dust-choked world where inheritance is not a gift, but a reckoning.
Written by comics’ legendary creator Dan Panosian, with art by Italian illustrator David Ferracci, colors by Lee Loughridge, and letters by Pat Brosseau, Cloven brings together a powerhouse creative team, with covers by Panosian, Jacob Phillips, Mark Chiarello, and Travis Charest.
In the dying days of the American frontier, a young woman journeys into the unknown to claim a legacy she never asked for—and may not survive.
June Buckley’s father was a monster in life. In death, he may be something worse.
Summoned alongside a group of treacherous heirs, June is forced to traverse the same brutal path that built her father’s empire. But the trail reveals more than hardship—it exposes the rot in every soul traveling beside her.
And at the center of it all is Hendido…a creature bound to her father’s past, and perhaps to something far older and much more wicked.
As the tension simmers and night closes in, June begins to understand: Her inheritance comes at a grisly price.
Cloven is a slow burn descent into violence, inheritance, and the things we carry whether we want to or not.
Cloven #1 goes on sale July 29, 2026 (FOC July 7).
