THE BONE TRIBE, from Dead Sky Publishing on 11/29/23, follows four murderous bank robbers on a ride to Mexico when they encounter a small town that seems too good to be true.
The Details
- Written by: R.K. Latch
- Art by: Arjuna Susini
- Letters by: Apparatus Revolution
- Cover art by: Garry Brown
- Comic Rating: Mature
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: November 29, 2023
Is THE BONE TRIBE Good?
When someplace seems too good to be true, it usually is. THE BONE TRIBE from R.K. Latch proves that axiom in a gruesome way with a tale about bad men getting exactly what they deserve in the most gruesome way possible.
Latch’s script centers on the Badlands Hellraisers, a group of four bank robbers racing to make it to the Mexico border after their latest heist. When one of their band is wounded, the group stumbles upon a town that’s not on any map, with people who are impossibly accommodating. When the Hellraisers think they may have found Paradise, they soon learn outward appearances can be deceiving.
Although this issue is technically a one-shot, it’s the second in a four-part collection of Western Splatter tales from Dead Sky Publishing. As the subgenre implies, this horror story is not for the squeamish, particularly in the story’s climax, so readers with sensitive tummies should brace themselves.
What’s great about THE BONE TRIBE? Ironic twists are a common staple of the horror genre, and Latch gives you exactly what you might expect. The Hellraisers are a rough gang, so they get what’s coming to them, but Latch builds enough camaraderie among the gang to sympathize with their shock for their friends when the situation goes south. In other words, Latch gets you to care about the leads, even though they’re villains, so you feel a little bad for what’s happening to them.
What’s not so great about THE BONE TRIBE? Again, ironic twists are a common staple of the horror genre, but a twist isn’t much of a twist if you can see it coming from a mile away. The town’s otherworldly danger is telegraphed too soon, so the twist doesn’t hit as hard as it should.
How’s the art? Arjuna Susini’s B&W art style looks mostly great. Details are lacking in too many spots, especially when high detail would have made the shock of what the Hellraisers see more impactful, but the overall visuals are solid.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s THE BONE TRIBE About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
We begin with the Badlands Hellraisers racing away from the latest bank robbery in Arizona toward Mexico. The Hellraisers manage to elude the authorities, but one of their own, Jake, is shot in the chase, forcing the band to look for temporary refuge and medical attention.
The Hellraisers spot a town, Marigold, that’s not marked on any map, so they take their chances to find aid as strangers. Fortunately, everyone they meet in town is surprisingly friendly and accommodating. Jake receives full medical care from the local doctor, and the rest of the Hellraisers are offered all the hospitality they could ever want.
That night, when the church bell tolls, the Hellraisers learn the town exists under a curse placed on it by the shaman of the Bone Tribe many years ago after a small girl in the tribe died while in the doctor’s care. We conclude the issue with pleasure turned to pain, a little girl’s revenge, and a warning to greedy hearts.
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)
THE BONE TRIBE serves up an ironic tale about violent bank robbers who receive their ultimate reward for a life of greed and murder. Latch’s tale of horror is an entertaining one-shot, and Susini’s art delivers Old West gore where it counts.
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.