Review – The Dirt Beneath The Devil #1 (Mad Cave Studios)

August 4, 2026

2–3 minutes

Publisher: Mad Cave Studios
Writer: Dan Panosian
Artwork: David Feracci
Colorist: Lee Loughridge
Letterer: Pat Brosseau
Release Date: 29th July 2026

Kansas City, Missouri. 1891. June Buckley is called to the Benjamin Hotel for the reading of her late father’s will. William Buckley was nothing short of a monster, and June finds herself surrounded by a menacing and enigmatic cast of characters, each there for the same reason as her and each with a strong claim to the estate of her departed father. However, it seems that in death, William Buckley is determined to make everyone’s life even more miserable, demanding that they all make a horseback journey across the brutal wilderness to Wichica before the full will can be read. Not only that, but he even hand-picked June’s horse – a terrifying, cloven-hoofed monstrosity called Hendido.

Series writer Dan Panosian uses this first issue to skilfully set the tone for this tense, menacing new series. We get to know June via what appears to be a journal entry over the course of the first few pages, outlining the tragic events of her life and painting her as a desparate woman who finds herself grudgingly willing to accept the inheritance she feels she is due, if only to make good on her late mother’s dying wish to become a doctor. The supporting cast are all intriguing enough, but it’s Hendido who promises to provide the real horror thrust of the series. Indeed, the panel sequence where the horse stops and simply looks at June is incredibly eerie and beautifully staged.

David Ferracci’s art and Lee Loughridge’s colors give the book a grounded, dusty realism. The landscapes feel vast and uncaring, with close‑ups lingering on eyes, hands, and shadows – all perfect for a story which is ostensibly about reading people and fearing what hides beneath their smiles. Everying is intentionally bleak and muted, and the closing sequence of the issue – a bout of belligerent fireside racism from June’s stepbrother August as the whisky flows and the tempers flare – sees the artistic duo fully embracing the notes of supernatural horror that have been skirting around the periphery.

A slow-burning Western horror with strong character work, sharp dialogue, and an undercurrent of supernatural dread, The Dirt Beneath The Devil is another must-read offering from Mad Cave Studios.

Rating: 4/5.

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