Locust Jones is a New Weird western webcomic, set in an alternate-timeline American West filled with mad science and pseudo-magical elements. I’ve been working on this on-and-off for a little over a year now, but I doubled down on development and retooled the story into a webcomic after getting really pissed about current world events and being gifted a drawing tablet for Christmas. It’s surprisingly therapeutic to write a story about big cowboys punching things, so I’m excited.
The story focuses on the travels of a mysterious six-fingered courier known as Jones, as well as a runaway arsonist named Ace Marriott. The two of them cross paths while Ace is being pursued by a bounty hunter; together, the two of them set out across the Once-Wild West, facing off against bounty hunters with laser pistols, drifter vampires, and the pantheon of government-appointed Saints that rule the West with their godlike powers. There’s also a horse at some point, if that’s your thing.
There’s also a third protagonist, but they’re currently secret because they haven’t been properly introduced yet. Stay tuned.
So this guy’s named Locust Jones?
Personal identity. Propaganda. The weaponization of religion. The demonization of the unknown. Colonialism. Conservatism. The choice between being lawful and being good. My inability to consistently draw cowboy hats. Take your pick.
Generally, you can trace a lot of this to Weird Western Tales, a comic anthology published by DC Comics decades ago. I haven’t read much of that comic though, so instead some of the biggest inspirations are things I just happen to be passionate about: American pioneer history, 1930s Superman comics, the Hellboy series, and a little bit of Star Wars/Firefly.
Is this historically accurate?
Buddy, one of the main characters is basically Franz Kafka’s personal Clint Eastwood. What do you think?
Where can I read this comic?
The comic’s on this tumblr, starting here; I’ve also got it uploaded on NamiComi for easier reading.
Is this comic gonna be woke?
It’s a cowboy story. What do you think?
