MIDNIGHT WESTERN THEATRE: WITCH TRIAL #2, by Scout Comics on 10/4/23, continues Ortensia’s origin story when Sarah confronts the demon hungry for Ortensia’s soul.
The Details
- Written by: Louis Southard
- Art by: Butch Mapa
- Colors by: Sean Peacock
- Letters by: Buddy Beaudoin
- Cover art by: Julianne Griepp
- Comic Rating: Mature
- Cover price: $4.99
- Release date: October 4, 2023
Is MIDNIGHT WESTERN THEATRE: WITCH TRIAL #2 Good?
Louis Southard’s latest entry in the prequel to the Midnight Western Theatre series takes a desperate turn in MIDNIGHT WESTERN THEATRE: WITCH TRIAL #2. Southard cooks up a heartwrenching tale about a mother who goes to great lengths to stop her daughter from befalling the same fate.
When last we left Sarah and Ortensia, the young witch in training encountered a handsome and devilishly charming Governor who was eager to make her acquaintance, not realizing that the Governor was the same demon who had taken Sarah’s soul decades ago. Now, Ortensia naively falls for the demon’s charms, but can Sarah find her daughter in time?
Overall, Southard’s story is good if you like magic and demon stories mixed with the Old West, but it works better if you’re already a fan of the Midnight Western Theatre series because the developments here start to inform the kind of person Ortensia is in the future we already know. To be clear, the main series isn’t required reading to understand what’s happening, but it will give you a fuller understanding of this chapter.
What’s great about MIDNIGHT WESTERN THEATRE: WITCH TRIAL #2? Southard’s connection between the past and the present, both for Sarah and Ortensia, is incredibly well done in the number of nuanced parallels. Little turns of phrases and actions that eventually turn into motivations give readers a better picture of the monster hunter she will eventually grow up to be.
What’s not so great about MIDNIGHT WESTERN THEATRE: WITCH TRIAL #2? The issue is generally well-written, but it lacks a punch or a wow moment to keep readers hooked. The issue is good, but it’s missing the juice to make it great.
How’s the art? The art is generally good. Butch Mapa’s pencils/inks are clean, and the total presentation looks good. That said, the figure work is stiff, and Peacock’s colors are flat.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s MIDNIGHT WESTERN THEATRE: WITCH TRIAL #2 About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Check out our MIDNIGHT WESTERN THEATRE: WITCH TRIAL #1 review to learn about Sarah’s monster-hunting business.
We begin with young Sarah urgently washing a stained dress by the river when a handsome gentleman emerges from the nearby woods to say ‘hello’. The man is Jeremiah Corson, and he’s a demon who plans to take Sarah’s soul.
Years later, Sarah trains Ortensia to draw runes, cast spells, and bond with a familiar for protection. When Ortensia leaves home to go into town, she shows up at the Goevernor’s mansion by invitation. What Sarah doesn’t know is that the Governor is Jeremiah Corson, and he plans to take Ortensia’s soul as he did her mother’s many years ago.
We conclude the issue with lavish dresses, shotguns, and a running start.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
(Click this link 👇 to order this comic)
MIDNIGHT WESTERN THEATRE: WITCH TRIAL #2 escalates the threat against Sarah and Ortensia when a familiar demon comes calling. Southard’s story gives WMT fans an excellent opportunity to learn more about Ortensia, and Mapa’s art is generally good.
We hope you found this article interesting. Come back for more reviews, previews, and opinions on comics, and don’t forget to follow us on social media:
If you’re interested in this creator’s works, remember to let your Local Comic Shop know to find more of their work for you. They would appreciate the call, and so would we.
Click here to find your Local Comic Shop: www.ComicShopLocator.com
As an Amazon Associate, we earn revenue from qualifying purchases to help fund this site. Links to Blu-Rays, DVDs, Books, Movies, and more contained in this article are affiliate links. Please consider purchasing if you find something interesting, and thank you for your support.