On Air With the Devil

by Sirius

Reverend Josiah Tucker was the richest televangelist in East Texas…until he was found dead in his studio. To protect his reputation, his final broadcast was destroyed, and with it all evidence of what could have happened that night.

But the broadcasts are coming back.

Messiah Kindell is a loyal member of the Last Chance for Faith Church. The church struggles under a lack of leadership and risks losing its megachurch status as its numbers dwindle. He’ll do anything to save it, and the answer may come in the grainy late night sermons on his grandmother’s TV. Josiah Tucker may be dead, but Messiah believes he is still leading the church from the great beyond, and that Messiah is his chosen messenger.

Yet as the broadcasts become more disturbing, a more sinister entity reveals its face. Is God speaking with the dead man’s tongue, or is the devil the one pulling the wires?

159 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 17, 2026

About the author

Max Mayeu (le vrai nom de Sirius) publie ses premiers dessins dans des revues d’étudiant, puis dans La Libre Belgique et La Dernière Heure. Il crée en 1938, pour Le Patriote illustré, Bouldaldar et Colégram, un petit garçon et une sorte de lutin, qu'il reprend dans plusieurs autres journaux: dans Bravo, en 1943, sous le titre de Polochon; puis dans La Libre Junior, Pistolin, Spirou et Bonnes Soirées. Il crée ensuite en 1942 le personnage de L'Épervier bleu dans les pages du journal de Spirou. En 1953, suite à des démêlés avec la censure, il doit interrompre cette série, qu’il ne reprendra que vingt ans plus tard, toujours dans Spirou. Il revient à la fantaisie en 1944, avec Caramel et Romulus, publié dans L’Espiègle au grand cœur, un supplément de Spirou. Puis il réalise, en 1946, une bande dessinée historique, Godefroid de Bouillon. En 1953, sur une idée de Xavier Snoeck, il commence la grande saga des Timour, qui raconte l'histoire d'une famille à travers les âges et les pays. La série s'échelonne sur trente-quatre volumes, et ne s’arrêtera que dans les années 1990. Dans Pilote, il crée en 1972, avec Gérald Forton, une série destinée à un public plus adulte : les aventures humoristiques, grinçantes et fantastiques de Pemberton, marin malchanceux. Puis Forton émigre aux États-Unis, de 1974 à 1980, Sirius continue seul la série. En 1977, à l’occasion de la création du Trombone illustré, il parodie la série dans une aventure d'un certain Penthergast qui ressemble à s'y méprendre à Pemberton. Homme réservé, dédaignant honneurs et notoriété, Sirius s’est tenu à l’écart de l’agitation orchestrée autour de la BD après le succès d’Astérix. Pour raisons de santé, il vit ses dernières années sur la Costa Blanca, dans le sud de l’Espagne, ce qui ne fait qu'accentuer la coupure avec son milieu professionnel et avec les médias.

Reviews

[Shrike · Rating 4 out of 5]

While technically a standalone, this book functions best as a Part 2 for The Devil Owns Primetime. I walked through those church doors already feeling some kind of way about a certain terrible little man.

The plot moves fast. I feel like it ends in the middle of the story, which made me excited to see what happens next. I hope I get to know Messiah a bit better in the future - Josiah sure knows how to steal the show!

Thanks so much to the author for sending an advance copy my way. I'm leaving this review of my own accord.

[Madsen Wilde · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will begin by saying this review is purely objective!
A thrilling read, with a catchy intrigue and a glamorous televisionary status quo, that captivates you into the corrupting egregore of reverend Josiah.
I do believe that some lines and appelatives were unnecessary and could be excluded, as well as sexual scenes that I believe aren't exactly relevant and can feel over the top. I also believe the choice to name the protagonist Messiah is quite a bold and a little bit on-the-nose one, and gives off a feeling of superficiality. It would have featured better as a nickname, something that Josiah calls him, in my opinion. I also felt the ending to be unsatisfactory, as it was quite abrupt and strange, and I honestly expected more and a feeling of finality. The mental and physical horror could have been explored a bit more, as well as certain aspects, such as Messiah's psyche being oppressed by Josiah's, for example.
All in all, a captivating thriller with a promising premise and development.

[Kamiye · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an e-ARC from the author. Thank you for the opportunity to read this book before its publication. This review is my own, and I'm leaving it voluntarily.
4/4.5

I really enjoyed this read. Since I first saw the cover and blurb on Insta I had this book on my most anticipated for 2026. And it's been a while now.

I like the fact that it was around 150 pages. I would have taken 50 pages or so. I was not a fan of Messiah, but Josiah, well, that's an entire beast. The darker the better.


Pick it up if you like:
- Horror, but make it super strange
- A read that feels like a dream
- Short book (150 pages ish)
- Queer-friendly / Queer characters

[Drew Huff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited to receive an ARC for this one, and it was even better than expected! It has all of the queer spice, trans rep, evil televangelists, and Southern charm that I've come to love from Sirius's Dread South books.
No spoilers, but there are a few plot events that I absolutely didn't see coming. The ending was a gut punch in the best way.

This is technically a sequel to another Dread South book, but it works equally well as a standalone. Amazing read! 5/5 stars.

[Reign Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Graphic, gruesome, and glorious! Sirius is a master of evocative prose, and ‘On Air with the Devil’ felt like I was waking up back in the mountains in the middle of the most lucid fever dream I’ve ever had! The book made me just a teeny bit antsy about mirrors and late night tv! 10/10. Only drawback is that I can’t read it again for the first time.

[Oliver Frederick · Rating 5 out of 5]

One thing I truly love about Sirius' writing is that he's so incredibly visual. I can picture everything while reading and it makes the experience that much more amazing.

The dynamic between Messiah, Josiah, and Holden was.. honestly incredible, palpable. I loved every damn minute of this novel.

[Maxwell F · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! The prose was inventive and captivating while also not being too dense or distracting. The premise was unique, and the main characters were sexy and well-developed. I will be checking out more of this series.