Desperadoes: Epidemic!

Desperadoes #2

by Jeffrey J. Mariotte, John Lucas (Illustrator), John Cassaday (Illustrator)

The heroes of Desperadoes: A Moment’s Sunlight return in an exciting Prestige Format one-shot that picks up where the original Desperadoes miniseries left off! The original Desperadoes duo of writer Jeff Mariotte (the Gen 13 : Netherwar novel) and John Cassaday (Planetary) are joined by John Lucas (Will Eisner’s The Spirit: The New Adventures) – who provides the finishes to Cassaday’s layouts – as Gideon Brood, Abby DeGrazia, Jerome Alexander Betts and former Pinkerton agent Race Kennedy ride deep into the New Mexico mountains during a heavy snowstorm to evade a bloodthirsty posse. Their journey leads to Naciemento, a town under a strict quarantine. But there’s something else trapped in the isolated town… something far more horrifying than even the deadliest disease

Genres: Comics, Westerns, Horror, Fiction, Graphic Novels

48 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1999

About the author

Also writes as Jeff Mariotte

Jeffrey J. Mariotte is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than 70 novels, including the Cody Cavanaugh western series, historical western epic Blood and Gold: The Legend of Joaquin Murrieta (with Peter Murrieta), thrillers Empty Rooms and The Devil's Bait, supernatural thrillers Season of the Wolf, Missing White Girl, River Runs Red, and Cold Black Hearts, horror epic The Slab, and the Dark Vengeance teen horror quartet. With wife and writing partner Marsheila (Marcy) Rockwell, he wrote the sf/horror/thriller 7 SYKOS and Mafia III: Plain of Jars, the authorized prequel to the bestselling video game. His most recent release is the short story collection Byrd's Luck & Other Stories, comprising five "traditional" Western tales and five horror-Western stories, two of them brand-new for this edition.

He also writes occasional nonfiction, short fiction (some of which is collected in Nine Frights), and comic books, including the long-running horror/Western comic book series Desperadoes and graphic novels Fade to Black and Zombie Cop. With Marsheila Rockwell, he has published several short stories and is working on more. He has worked in virtually every aspect of the book business, as a writer, editor, marketing executive, and bookseller.

Learn more at www.jeffmariotte.com, and follow him at https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyJMari... and @JeffMariotte on Twitter.

Also writes as Jeff Mariotte

Reviews

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a nice little story in which the titular Desperadoes are forced to seek shelter in a town that's suffering an epidemic. (The book came out in 1999, before epidemics were cool and topical.) It goes a little off-track when the local preacher raises some hell, but it's well and clearly written with art that's a notch above average.

[Richard Dominguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I saw this at my local outlet I thought of the 1999 movie Purgatory a western/supernatural movie that was quite good. So I thought I would give this a shot, only 48 pages long how bad could it be?
This is a fantastic story, with it's mix of outlaws/supernatural/horror and it's quiet moments where we actually get to know the characters.
The artwork is ok, nothing really special, but the story more than makes up for it. The ending is a bit of a surprise.
I'm very glad to have picked this one up, well worth getting

[Little Timmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's hard to combine odd story lines, like a western and supernatural, but this comic series does it very well. Very good art and great story make this an enjoyable read. Very recommended.

[tony dillard jr · Rating 1 out of 5]

Back before the pandemic shut everything down, I used to go to a few $1-only used bookstores. I'd work for a 2-4 hour shift, earn some trade credit and come home with a slew of books. That's where I got this DC/Wildstorm graphic novel. If I could get a comic book or graphic novel or trade for just a few minutes worth of organizing and shelving, I was all for it.

The pandemic is also why I held off on reading this book. Now I know that the pandemic isn't over. But in the midst of COVID being at its peak, I just didn't feel like reading a book called 'Epidemic.'

The book takes place during the time of the Old West. A quartet of fugitives on the run for a crime they didn't commit, wind up in a quiet New Mexico town. Winter storms are blowing through making it to where these desperadoes can't quite see the warning signs to stay away.

See, this town is in the midst of an influenza epidemic. Now under quarantine, the main characters of this book will have to make due until warmer weather comes and hopefully this outbreak will subside. One decides to help the local doc. Another decides to help rebuild the town church. The rest decide to help by hunting and gathering. Only, underneath all this death and attempts at normalcy, there's something sinister afoot. Something ancient. Something evil. And it's about to reawaken...

I was rather disappointed at this horror western. I enjoyed the western aspects of this Jeff Mariotte (Zombie Cop) and John Cassaday (Planetary) creation. I Was sorely put-off by the sinister horror sections towards the end of it.

Some of this is my fault, based on the green thing on the cover, I was expecting the antagonists to be aliens. Not some kind of occult evil. See, demons and devils aren't really my thing. I like horror when it's monsters or madmen. But the supernatural isn't really my bag.

I realize that I read Doctor Strange and Hellboy. I enjoy the 70s horror anthologies of DC and Marvel. But when you start getting into an area like Amityville Horror or The Exocist with demonic possession or deals with the devil, I just don't like that stuff. And that's what Desperadoes: Epidemic! morphs into. You start with a Doctor Quinn: Medicine Woman type adventures and wind up with Linda Blair and pea soup.

I think had I known that this story was not about little green men but big lime-colored demons, I probably would have passed.

Cowboys Vs. Aliens this is not!

[Lukasz · Rating 2 out of 5]

"And those enemies are still with us. Don't let down your guard..."
Mariotte reminds of the dangers of flu pandemics before it was cool. Pretty good visually if a bit loose, nice character development but the finale seems like an abbreviation of the original script. 5-10 more pages more would be perfect.

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 2 out of 5]

The artwork was impressive, and the story kept me involved...but, the profanity and blood, not to mention the anti-Christian content--especially the murderous priest--ruined this for me.