PRAIRIE GODS #3 – New Comic Review

PRAIRIE GODS #3, by Mad Cave Studios on 12/4/24, visits an exceptionally old citizen of Broadacres on his birthday when he tells Sheriff Fred a strange story about an unusual encounter on the battlefield in his youth.

Credits:

• Writer: Shane Connery Volk
• Artist: Shane Connery Volk
• Colorist: Shane Connery Volk
• Letterer: Becca Carey
• Cover Artist: Shane Connery Volk (cover A)
• Publisher: Mad Cave Studios
• Release Date: December 4, 2024
• Comic Rating: Teen
• Cover Price: $4.99
• Page Count: 32
• Format: Single Issue

Covers:

No Caption

Analysis of PRAIRIE GODS #3:

First Impressions:

We love this series. It’s so rare to get a Twilight Zone-inspired series that creates wild and weird situations to spark the imagination and hold your attention. Whatever Shane Connery Volk has planned when this miniseries concludes in February, we hope those plans include a second volume.

Plot Analysis:

Prairie Gods #3 begins with the enigmatic Sheriff Fred of Broadacres visiting the town’s oldest resident, Bill Roberts, on his 127th birthday. As the senior men sit on Bill’s porch, Bill begins a tale he’s never told anyone because nobody but Sheriff Fred would believe it.

Shane Connery Volk hits the ground running by establishing several unexpected surprises immediately. How could a man live to be 127 years old? Why does Bill know Sheriff Fred would believe him? The answers come eventually, but this opener is a strong, smart way to begin a one-off tale.

Bill recalls his third time stationed at the German Front in WWI. His prior visits were little more than cleanup assignments, which didn’t include any combat action. This time is very different. Bill Roberts was about to kill Germans or die. During Bill’s narration, we see, hear, and smell a battlefield at night as the bullets fly and bombs drop.

Connery Volk does a commendable job at the moment by painting a vivid picture (through the art and words) of Bill’s experience in battle. Admittedly, the focus on descriptive narration does bring the pace down, and the narration wording sounds more like prose than dialog, so it’s slightly off. The narration isn’t terrible, but it is a minor weak point.

Bill soon finds himself in the heat of battle when the Germans get close, forcing Bill into hand-to-hand combat. Suddenly, a blinding explosion knocks Bill down and unconscious. When he wakes up, he hears muffled voices through his ringing ears, and he slowly crawls to the source. Behind the cover of a tree, Bill spots a figure wearing a strange environmental suit emerging from a lit doorway, hovering slightly above the ground. Terrified, Bill tries to run, but he collapses when he realizes he sustained a mortal wound in the explosion.

Bill’s descriptive narration slows down the pace initially, but it picks up like a freight train as soon as the battle escalates. Bill’s disorientation is palpable, and once he spots the visitor, the story turns into a harrowing sprint.

The issue concludes with the visitor lending a helping hand, the enemy turning the tables at a critical moment, Bill returning the favor, and Bill witnessing a sight he’ll never forget.

Overall, Prairie Gods #3 is the kind of supernatural, sci-fi storytelling that changes an ordinary human experience into something extraordinary. If you have a love for serialized properties like The Twilight Zone or Amazing Stories, this is a can’t-miss issue.

Artwork and Presentation:

Shane Connery Volk pulls double duty as writer and artist to create a comic that brings the script and visuals together in perfect concert. Connery Volk’s flair for weathered, textured figures is a class-A fit for the senior men as they reminisce about the past, and Connvery Volk’s battlefield imagery is powerfully haunting.

Art Samples:

No Caption

No Caption

No Caption

Final Thoughts:

(Click this link 👇 to order this comic)

PRAIRIE GODS #3 is another winning entry in the anthology series about a very old man with a strange tale to tell. Shane Connery Volk’s Twilight Zone-inspired story vibe is a winner, and his art style expertly presents an atmosphere of otherworldly mystery.

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.