Devils Highway, Vol. 2

Devil's Highway #2

by Benjamin Percy, Brent Schoonover (Illustrator), Luca Pizzari (Illustrator)

A truck stacked with bodies is discovered along the US/Canada border, and Sharon Harrow and Quentin Skinner are on the case. They need to figure out how all of these corpses are connected—and when they uncover the terrifying truth, they will unearth a murder syndicate that has infiltrated the walls of the very institutions meant to protect us. Now, our heroes are on the run—hunted by law enforcement and the trucking community—framed for crimes they didn’t commit

Genres: Horror, Graphic Novels, Crime, Comics, Thriller, Mystery, Graphic Novels Comics

112 pages, Paperback

Published November 15, 2022

About the author

Benjamin Percy is the author of seven novels -- most recently The Sky Vault (William Morrow) -- three short fiction collections, and a book of essays, Thrill Me, that is widely taught in creative writing classrooms. He writes Wolverine, X-Force, and Ghost Rider for Marvel Comics. His fiction and nonfiction have been published in Esquire (where he is a contributing editor), GQ, Time, Men's Journal, Outside, the Wall Street Journal, Tin House, and the Paris Review. His honors include an NEA fellowship, the Whiting Writer's Award, the Plimpton Prize, two Pushcart Prizes, the iHeart Radio Award for Best Scripted Podcast, and inclusion in Best American Short Stories and Best American Comics.

Reviews

[Oscar · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series was pretty good.

[The Geeky Viking · Rating 2 out of 5]

Devils Highway, Volume 2 is an okay continuation to an okay first volume. It's a quick read that has a kernel of a great idea - a network of serial killers that stalk the highways - but doesn't really do much with it. The characters are stereotypical cardboard cut-outs - the tough chick, the washed up FBI agent, the evil serial killer - that spout typical b-movie dialogue while the art is passable. It's an okay time waster, but that's about all I can say about it.

[Christian Ebetino · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.2/5

“You think the snake is hungry? Feed it.”

Doubles down on the premise of the first book in all the best ways. Nice! Skinner4life.

[Michael J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here's what I had to say in my review of DEVILS HIGHWAY, VOLUME 1:
"DEVIL'S HIGHWAY is a perfect grind house movie on the comics page, a fast-paced and riveting blend of horror, crime and detection thriller. . . . . . Some readers may view the character of Sharon as an exaggeration of the heroic but mentally scarred bad-ass heroine, but I loved her. She, as well as Quinn, the disgraced FBI agent still pursuing the case are what made the story memorable for me."
DEVILS HIGHWAY VOLUME 2 is a continuation of that unlikely partnership but escalates the story, the setting, and the threat on a larger scale. Writer Benjamin Percy describes it best in the back matter of the trade paperback: "We wanted to get bigger in every way. Crank up the terror and suspense, speed up the action, elevate the stakes, and broaden the conspiracy. The murder syndicate is now international - and its dark influence has soaked into some of the institutions meant to guard us, including the Border Patrol and the FBI."
As soon as Sharon and Quinn head to the U.S./Canadian border in Minnesota to investigate an abandoned trailer stacked with dead bodies, several of them multilated and placed outdoors in an odd configuration, they have been marked. While they are pursing the snake cult once again, they become the prey as well.
I love the hard-as-stone character of Sharon even more this time. She reminds me of the Punisher. Some new and intriguing characters are introduced, which is good because this doesn't end well and not everyone we have become familiar with survives. It's an ending of sorts but the story seems to indicate that there may be more.

[Matthew Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable, though quick, read and a solid ending to this story. I enjoyed the first volume a bit more than this one. I think I would’ve preferred this story to have concluded where it left off in the first volume, but this was still a good ending for these characters after another interesting action-packed adventure.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

This circle of evil truck drivers doing the most horrific deeds is large. In the last volume, they were kidnapping and mutilating prostitutes. This volume it was human trafficking. Our main two characters, Sharon and Quentin are back on the hunt for these guys. But due to set up, they are now looking at possibly being hunted by the law. Another nice entry from this team Percy and Schoonover.

[Quentin Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

It looks as though this was the conclusion of the series. It was good, but we were still left with more questions than answers. Very well written, and the art is great, too.

[Madalino Cherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

The conclusion of this gave me chest pain and I know it shouldn’t effect me because characters aren’t real but damnit man 😭😭😭😭

[47Time · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know what was missing? Cannibalism.

Sharon and Quinton continue their investigation into the serial killer truckers. This time the news of their involvement alerts some people of great influence. The truckers have support among high-ranking FBI members. The duo of hunters have become the hunted.

They find a Russian girl orphaned by the truckers. She is being cared for by an old trucker who reveals more about the organization. Sharon takes the girl with them, but they soon lose the car to the truckers. Thankfully, they also meet a female trucker sympathetic to their runaway status.

Sharon goes her own way and gets herself a custom-built, battle-ready truck. She finds an old couple who were benefitting off a deal with the truckers. She gets several female truckers to join her fight.

Meanwhile Quinton is blackmailed with pictures that can put him away for a long time. He gets captured and offered a membership in the trucker club. When he refuses, he becomes their next victim. He fights to survive and Sharon brings her own group to help, but his wounds are fatal.

Sharon adopts the Russian girl which helps her find a purpose in life. She also finds the truckers' webmaster. It's clear he won't survive the encounter.

[Maraya21 (The Reading Dragon) · Rating 3 out of 5]

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[Kasey Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't read before a road trip

Devil's Highway vol 1 & 2 by Benjamin Percy, Brent Schoonover, Nick Filardi


Genre: horror/mystery comic


A series of unsolved murders along the nations highways lead our MCs into the clutches of a dark cult.


I don't usually read horror comics, but I was interested in the cult aspect and a tough female lead. But probably not the best choice right before going on a road trip. 😜😆


Overall, a descent read, though a bit more gruesome than I would prefer.

[Django Cassidy]

Ok

AWA has been putting out solid comics since their first published book. DH vol 2 isn't solid, but it's not as good as vol 1. It ends like there's going to be a vol 3 and I hope there is but, pun intended, vol 2 seems like a pit stop on the way to the end of the road. Pun also intended.

[Han · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sharon and Quentin deserved to be together forever and raise that little Russian girl, but that's not what happened.

I ate this one up, more than the first. I think the plot was very fast-paced and enjoyable. Where the first one took me weeks to read, I had no problem with this one.

I loved the plot and the illustrations, I also loved the ending!

[The Smoog · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, the main character is still a one-dimensional douchebag and the art still doesn’t really appeal to me, but at least the storyline has been given a little more depth since Vol. 1. I’m not really sure why there are references to the supernatural scattered around these books though, when none of them are actually followed up on.

[Cristian Marrero · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good volume ending to the story. It definitely extends to the cult of killers. Sometimes you're born into it and sometimes you are recruited. To have this in the back of your mind whenever you see a group of 18-wheelers on a highway. Scary thoughts.

[cody nofsinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always good

Another great installment of the series. It is a very good look at the thought that the majority of killings in America could happen from truckers.

[Kris Shaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

A marked improvement over Volume 1.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good conclusion, wish there was more.

[Bradley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I expected there to be in more action in this concluding volume. I wanted Sharon to just go all out Rambo on these people. The artwork in the interludes *chef kiss*

[SassieMolassie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I felt this conclusion was rushed and ridiculous. Sharon is awful. That’s really all I have to say.

[Jacob Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐'s

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was so cool.

[Ilene Walfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story

Amazing artwork and great story with a satisfying ending. This is an action packed adventure that takes you on a wild ride .

[Mark Jason · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nope, Good Premise, Silly Execution

Great premise but not for me. Just couldn’t suspend my disbelief enough to stay engaged. The main character is a female Punisher, only somehow without any of the training or background. She’s a badass chick who rides motorcycles out of the back of semis and beats up 3-5 supposed truck driving serial killers simultaneously. When she’s not doing that she’s cracking white guy heads at the convenience store for saying racist stuff to minorities. None of that is bad, just makes for a silly unbelievable story. Maybe next time Percy.

[Devon Munn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent end to a solid series. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more of Benjamin Percy

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it, but it felt so, so rushed. Really needed to be a longer running series.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review is for both volumes read consecutively

Short-run stories can be appreciated, but this felt like it needed -deserved? - a third volume.

[Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continuing where Vol. 1 left off, we follow Sharon and Quentin continue their mission to put an end to the syndicate. Vol. 1 tackled more around sex workers, whereas vol. 2 centered around human trafficking. It concluded the story, though it felt like there could have been more. It does end more open-ended, though I can see how it can serve as a conclusion. This was a graphic novel discovered when browsing at my LCS and really glad I picked it up.

I did enjoy the pacing of Vol. 2 a lot. All in all, AWA Upshot is a publisher I will be looking into much more!

I highly recommend it, but want to provide a warning that there are some disturbing themes.

[Deb Omnivorous Reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh, it was ok for a few hours entertainment.

It is pretty stereotypical "incredibly lethal yet sexy female" type storyline. The bad guys are an organisation who worship snakes and import illegal aliens (human aliens that is) to become untraceable sacrifices.

Our leading fem is typically angsty, angry and never cracks a smile. While the equally stereotypical 'loves her from afar' male lead has the burden of all the humour, good lines and human interest. It did not make any difference that it was a #2, which I did not realise until I had started it. The plots are routine enough that it did not matter.

It is what it is - a bit of undemanding fun with artwork to match.

The ending, I did not like. The only likable and relatable character dies and the fem finds 'her person' to give her life meaning, in an orphaned child (pass the bucket).

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shades of Race With the Devil, with evil snake cult members everywhere. This time around, the trucks are full of immigrants trying to get to the U.S. over the border between Canada and Minnesota. But they're not making it and being used instead for nefarious purposes. I'm not sure I buy any of it, but it's suitably fast-paced and preposterous enough to make for a halfway decent 'B' movie thriller. The art is all right, though nothing special. This reads like the end of the series, though there are lots of unanswered questions left hanging.