MIDNIGHT WESTERN THEATRE: WITCH TRIAL #1, from Scout Comics on 7/12/23, brings Ortensia Thomas’s origins to light when a demon summoning turns out badly for the summoners.
The Details
- Written by: Louis Southard
- Art by: Butch Mapa
- Colors by: Sean Peacock
- Letters by: Buddy Beaudoin
- Cover art by: Julianna Griepp
- Comic Rating: Teen+
- Cover price: $4.99
- Release date: July 12th, 2023
Is It Good?
MIDNIGHT WESTERN THEATRE: WITCH TRIAL #1 picks up from Scout’s and Louis Southard’s imaginative Midnight Western Theatre series by delving into the history of Ortensia Thomas and the unusual circumstance surrounding her career as a monster hunter. It’s a bit unusual to explain how a character came to be in a follow-up series, but nothing about Midnight Western Theatre is conventional, so fans of the character will find this first issue interesting.
Louis Southard’s script centers on the origin and early years of Ortensia Southard as a monster hunter for hire. Ortensia isn’t a typical human with a predilection for supernatural prey. She has a supernatural bent to her personality, and Southard uses Ortensia’s supernatural bent to create mystery, intrigue, and a dash of prophecy when Ortensia’s mentor, Sarah Bishop, the Western Witch, gets wind of an old nemesis who wants Ortensia for himself.
If you read the original Midnight Western Theatre series, this issue will feel like a significant step up in terms of narrative flow and clarity. The original arc had episodic elements to each issue that didn’t always connect, and precious little information was revealed about Ortensia’s past. MIDNIGHT WESTERN THEATRE: WITCH TRIAL #1 feels more focused, Ortensia’s origin is explained in detail to keep nagging questions from distracting away from the central plot, and Southard’s character development is the best it’s ever been.
What’s not so great about this issue? Nothing major beyond the tiniest of nitpicks. This issue reads well and looks solid. Fans of the original series will be pleased with this issue.
How’s the art? Again, it’s solid. Butch Mapa’s character designs are distinctive, and the monster-fighting action brims with energy. The tiniest of nitpicks centers on Peacock’s coloring. The color application is excellent, but the palette lacks pop. You could argue the colors are intentionally muted to mimic an Old-timey Western B&W feel, but this is a color comic, and the veneer changes several times.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
We begin with a sacrificial ceremony in the woods where Ortensia’s lifeless body rests on a table after a group of men ended her life to summon Satan. A demon does indeed appear, but it’s not Satan. The demon, however, grants the wish of the gathered men, but the result is not what the men had in mind.
Years later, we catch up with a resurrected and older Ortensia Thomas clearing out a house infected with zombies. Before Ortensia can make a fatal mistake with a young boy who gets infected, Ortensia is saved by her mentor, the Western Witch Sarah Bishop. Sarah and Ortensia ride into town to collect their payment for clearing out the zombies.
We conclude the issue with a new prophecy, an old enemy, and a present danger.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
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MIDNIGHT WESTERN THEATRE: WITCH TRIAL #1 picks up where the previous series left off by adding new insight into Ortensia Thomas’s origins and training. The character development is outstanding, the plot is intriguing, and the art is solid.
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