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By Jack Jackson (Kitchen Sink Press)
ISBN 0-87816-081-7
Comix legend Jack Jackson combined his love of historical documentary with the Lovecraftian horrors of the cosmic void for this wonderful period supernatural thriller, skilfully woven into the fabric and lore of the Southwest desert lands that we now know as Texas.
When a silvery entity crashes to Earth in a blazing fireball, it galvanises the fading dreams of Xotl, a young Faraone warrior who had lost faith in his gods. As the years pass, the natives worship the power of the thing, and when the mighty Apaches conquer them they turn to the newly arrived Europeans for help. This tragic mistake is revealed too late when the tribe finds that Priests and colonist might speak of God but only truly worship wealth. When they learn of the Cosmic Slug that fell from the stars, all they can see is the overwhelming wealth its silver mantle represents.
The decades long battle between the Apaches and the Missionaries to control the silver makes for a powerful if cynical tale, full of the superb artistry, spellbinding storytelling, and the powerful aura of authenticity that is Jackson’s most telling narrative tool. Based on the ancient Texas stories and legends of ‘Blanco’ and ‘Negro Bultos ‘(supernatural treasure mounds), this most fantastic story should be, has to be true, if only because he has drawn it.
Superb and compelling, this is a must-read item for any serious fan of both comics and horror fiction.
© 1986, 1987, 1989 Jack Jackson. All Rights Reserved.