DC’s Next Level initiative is riding out into the Old West, and it’s bringing a massive dose of folk horror along for the ride.
Announced during DC’s San Diego Comic-Con Next Level panel, acclaimed creator Michael Walsh (The Silver Coin, Universal Monsters: Frankenstein) is writing and illustrating Jonah Hex and the Shadow of Death. Launching in October, the six-issue miniseries thrusts DC’s premier bounty hunter into a terrifying, psychological horror-western that leans heavily into the supernatural.
The Premise: No Peace for the Scarred
The series picks up with Jonah Hex attempting to do the impossible: leave his bloody past behind. Settling into a quiet life in the small frontier town of Ashecott, Hex thinks he’s finally hung up his guns for good.
However, tranquility doesn’t last long on the wild frontier. An ancient, malevolent force—older than the town itself—descends upon Ashecott, targeting a young child possessing mysterious, extraordinary abilities. With terrifying entities closing in, Hex is forced to pull his revolvers back out and confront a nightmare unlike anything he’s ever faced.
Jonah Hex hasn’t headlined his own standalone title in over a decade. While the antihero has traditionally drifted between classic grit and sci-fi time travel, handing the reins over to a horror maestro like Walsh is an inspired direction.
Walsh has proven he is one of the premier atmospheric storytellers in modern comics. Letting him handle both script and art duties guarantees a moody, visceral “Weird West” tale that fits seamlessly alongside DC’s creator-driven Next Level strategy.
The Creative Breakdown
- Writer & Artist: Michael Walsh
- Format: 6-Issue Limited Series
- Release Window: October 2026
- The Vibe: Folk horror meets psychological frontier suspense
With DC’s Next Level line expanding beyond traditional superheroes to encompass books like Batwoman, Lobo, and now Jonah Hex, the publisher is proving it’s willing to lean hard into genre storytelling. If you’re a fan of The Sixth Gun or classic Vertigo horror, this October release deserves an immediate spot on your pull list.
