I don’t discuss graphic novels as often as I would like, and rarely mention them at all here on the Drive-In, but I feel the need to discuss this one. I’ve become a fan of westerns over the past few years and this one scratches an itch that I’ve had for a while.


Back in 2023, YouTube commentator, RazörFist combined his writing talents with George Alexopoulos’ artwork to create The Ghost of the Badlands, a gothic western. The story concerns one of the most dangerous and corrupt hell on wheels towns of the old west, Canyon Diablo. Lawlessness abounds and the town is unable to keep a living sheriff for longer than a month. From the dusty horizon rides a gun-slinging phantom. He dispatches heartless killers and robbers with ease, then fades into the distance. On occasion, he recruits people to his cause, his Missionaries, who spread his gospel of unbending justice. Such is what happens to a bandit, Righty Redstone, whose fellow highwaymen turn on him when he refuses to shoot a child. He is brutally wounded and awakes in town, having lost his right hand. However, he is offered a chance at a new purpose in life, and so he enlists in the Ghost’s cause in a tale of vengeance and redemption.


The artwork is packed with gritty detail yet smoothly executed. The writing gives us a terse and compelling story. This book has the feel of the old-fashioned pulps. There are even hints at how RazörFist took notes from The Shadow in the fact that the Ghost operates with agents instead of doing everything himself, enabling him to remain a mysterious figure in the distance while we get the pathos/human connection from Righty. Also reminiscent of the Shadow are the rumors of the Ghost’s origin. Much like some of the early Shadow pulps where criminals hint at the Shadow being deformed, the Ghost’s escapades spawn rumors that he started his crusade against evil due to being horribly injured by brigands.


Aside from connections to western pulps and characters like the Shadow, the storyline is grounded with a sound appreciation of Arizona history, coupled with a brutal fire and brimstone Biblical ethos. It was done in the spirit of Clint Eastwood’s Angel of Death Trilogy (Hang ‘em High, High Plains Drifter, and Pale Rider). Overall, it is a bloody and grim story of a hero who is dark servant on the side of the angels.


This book was an independent effort and made possible by a generously backed Indiegogo campaign that ensured that readers were treated not just to the original black and white version (which I have), but also a color version (the color, from what I’ve seen is gorgeous). It is available through several online vendors. RazörFist announced on his videos that there are more stories of the Ghost in the future, depending on the success of the first book. Ghost of the Badlands has seen a lot of positive reception with numerous online reviews, and so I hope it sees some big sales. For me, I give this book a solid A+.


Written by Nicholas Montelongo

No comments

The author does not allow comments to this entry