06/21/2023
HERE IT IS...My official review of Path of the Pale Rider comic series:
Path of the Pale Rider: by Laurie Calcaterra
(comic series review by Rick Duree)
I’m a fan of zombie stories, life and death intertwined so completely. If done right, these settings can draw me in so fully that the portrayed dystopia becomes truly believable. An alternate reality. Path of the Pale Rider is one of those stories. In the first few pages I understood the delicate balance between humanity and…the rest. The people still living in this world have palpable charisma. Surprisingly, I found myself connecting with them after just one comic panel! This is where POTPR excels. Jude St Clair, the main character, is a compelling man reminiscent of a young virile Clint Eastwood on a quest to discover the truth of why everything spiraled downward. But even though there is a prominent western feel to this civilization-collapsed dystopia, I fancy how advanced technology still exists and is accessible by the masses.
The series is adult-themed with gruesome deaths and mature language. These features fit the fallen world that the reader travails alongside St Clair. The interior panel art can be surprisingly expressive and detailed, showcasing intriguing movement and energy that brings the story off the page. At the risk of being overly critical, I’ll note that the lettering can occasionally come across inconsistent, and avid comic readers may find the panel layout to be uneconomical,
These issues, however, were forgotten quickly when I came across a QR code coupling the story to a YouTube music video. I found myself smiling in excitement as the music played in the background to a bar brawl, as well as when I found a hidden easter egg. POTPR has a lot to offer. A promising story and world-building aspects that I really enjoy. I’ll definitely be reading more as the issues are released, and I recommend all zombie and western lovers do the same.
