Dead Acre #2 — Cullen Bunn and Riley Brown bring the Black Badge mystery to a dusty crossroads

James Crowley’s demon-hunting duties hit a strange roadblock in Dead Acre, where missing cobblers and disturbed graves hide a darker secret. Cullen Bunn and Riley Brown adapt the hit audio series into a comic that feels both classic and urgently fresh.

There is a specific kind of quiet that settles over a town like Dead Acre, and it’s the kind that precedes a storm. James Crowley has traveled from a world of high-stakes spiritual warfare to this moldy, saloon-less outpost in the American West, seeking rest or perhaps just a break from the eternal grind. He finds neither. Instead, he finds a community unraveling at the seams, where the local cobbler has vanished into thin air and the cemetery holds more questions than answers.

The premise shifts gears nicely here, moving from the cosmic scale of the Black Badge series to a grounded, gothic mystery. With the sheriff’s office empty and the church falling into disrepair, the only authority left is a guardian angel who seems to know more than she’s letting on. Her hints about something foul lurking beneath the surface of the graveset the stage for a story that feels less like a typical superhero brawl and more like a supernatural western noir.

Riley Brown’s art is the kind of detail that makes you slow down and re-read every panel. His linework captures the grit of the dust and the uncanny stillness of the town, making the supernatural elements feel tangible and dangerous. Paired with the script from Cullen Bunn, who adapts the narrative from Rhett C. Bruno and Jaime Castle’s original audio hit, the issue balances atmospheric dread with sharp dialogue. It’s a masterclass in world-building, proving that the Black Badge universe has plenty of room for standalone-style mysteries.

If you are looking for a companion read, this issue pairs beautifully with the early audio releases of the Black Badge series. While the comic stands on its own, hearing the voices behind James and his angel adds a layer of texture to the dialogue that you might want to revisit. The adaptation does a remarkable job of translating the auditory intimacy of the podcast into visual storytelling, capturing the isolation of Crowley’s journey perfectly.

Keep an eye on the variant covers for this one; Riley Brown’s interior art is so distinct that the covers often serve as perfect introductions to the tone inside. These tend to move quickly once they hit the racks, so if you want a copy that matches the mood of the story, it’s worth grabbing it early. It’s a fantastic drop that shows just how versatile the Black Badge mythos can be.