In a small town in Depression-era Oklahoma, the only thing that’s more fearsome than a raging dust storm is the freakish creatures wandering the barren landscape. That’s the story in Dust to Dust, with the second issue out this week.
The bulk of Dust to Dust #2 (written by J.G. Jones and Phil Bram with art by JG Jones) takes place during a dust storm as the locals deal with the incoming disaster.
I’ve always found The Great Depression period so fascinating, it was simultaneously one of the best and worst eras in the nation’s history, as people found strength within to press on at their lowest moment.
We learn more about Sarah Grange in this issue as she continues her sojourn in Oklahoma, desperately trying to come up with an angle for a news story she can sell to a Chicago newspaper.
It’s been said that the true nature of a person comes out during a crisis, and if that’s true, Sarah’s a pretty great gal, putting the lives of kids over protecting her own equipment and launching into action hero mode when the dust storm appears in the distance, coming towards them.
Credit: Image
We see more of her than hard-boiled Sheriff Meadows this issue and I’m totally fine with that. What makes this series so intriguing (and, yes, frustrating) is that it continues keeping its secrets close to its vest. There’s a masked figure (who looks much like the vicious killer from the film “My Bloody Valentine”) wandering the plains, creepily always seeming like they’re in the background of every scene.
This issue adds another layer to the mystery as we see a creature that looks straight out of the darkest mythology come riding out of the dust storm to attack a lost child.
So far, we’ve gotten zero answers about these malevolent things. I sense the masked killer has a history with the town. He hasn’t wandered in from some other city. Like Bigfoot, he briefly appears, and then he’s gone.
Between the horrifying scenes are some great moments with several townspeople,e and the old-fashioned hospitality of the farm community is a shocking contrast to the evil that’s going on around them.
J.G. Jones’ magnificent art magnificent throughout, super detailed and photorealistic.
The book captures the feeling of being caught in such a storm, the panic, racing to find safety when everything goes dark, and trying to breathe when millions of dust particles are whipping around you, drowning out all the oxygen. At times it feels more like watching an old but edgy film from the 1950’s and it’s a great change of pace from the prevalence of manga-inspired artwork that seems to be everywhere these days.
If you like slow-burn horror set in a nontraditional setting, check this book out. Try not to get lost in all that beautiful art!
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