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Hailstone
In the isolated Montana town of Hailstone, cut off from the outside world by a brutal winter, food is running low and people are going missing. Desperate townsfolk turn to Sheriff Denton Ross, and the nearby Military factory, for help. But why is the factory here, so far from the war? And how is it able to supply the Union forces, with the town cut off by snow? In their search for answers, Sheriff Ross and his deputy Tobias will discover dark secrets about the mysterious factory, their seemingly sleepy town, and Ross' own past that will change their lives forever... If they survive.
134 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 16, 2021
194 people are currently reading
77 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
January 2, 2022
The beginning was good, but I thought the conclusion was seriously dumb.
Something in the woods is killing members of a small western town and a nearby tribe of Native Americans. And it's somehow connected to a factory run by Union soldiers.
So far, so good.
But when you find out what the factory is and what's in the woods?
No.
What? That's stupid.
None of it made sense or was the least bit scary.
However, this one is free for Amazon Prime members to download free, so if you like horror westerns you still may want to give this one a look and see if it works better for you than it did for me.
Something in the woods is killing members of a small western town and a nearby tribe of Native Americans. And it's somehow connected to a factory run by Union soldiers.
So far, so good.
But when you find out what the factory is and what's in the woods?
No.
What? That's stupid.
None of it made sense or was the least bit scary.
However, this one is free for Amazon Prime members to download free, so if you like horror westerns you still may want to give this one a look and see if it works better for you than it did for me.
December 8, 2021
This was really good. I am a sucker for horror Westerns. It takes place in an isolated Montana town where Union soldiers are running a factory to support the war. Kids have been going missing and winter has set in. Most of the animals have disappeared as well, leaving most of the town hungry.
Rafael de Latorre's period art is perfect. It gives the book a spooky wilderness setting. He's also quite capable of drawing animals (and monsters) if you are familiar with his fantastic stint on Animosity. He is on the verge of breaking big.
BTW, these ComiXology Originals are free if you have a Amazon Prime subscription.
Rafael de Latorre's period art is perfect. It gives the book a spooky wilderness setting. He's also quite capable of drawing animals (and monsters) if you are familiar with his fantastic stint on Animosity. He is on the verge of breaking big.
BTW, these ComiXology Originals are free if you have a Amazon Prime subscription.
November 20, 2022
There’s no god here…only science.
Animals have disappeared.
Humans are missing.
Something lurks.
War looms.
Stop.
Animals have disappeared.
Humans are missing.
Something lurks.
War looms.
Stop.
October 8, 2022
This is one of the first Comixology Original series I've read, and I was impressed. I'm a big fan of Weird Westerns, aka Western Horror, as I've even written a few novels in the genre myself. This was a dark story combining a classic western story with Frankenstein type horror. It wasn't what I was expecting, but in this case that was a good thing. The story was also more emotional than you'd expect from this genre.
Overall a good weird western comic, and fans of the genre should check it out.
Overall a good weird western comic, and fans of the genre should check it out.
September 7, 2024
4.5⭐️
It's good to get back to my most recent obsession, the horror Western🤠 A very enjoyable find. The artwork is exceptional, really beautiful.
It's good to get back to my most recent obsession, the horror Western🤠 A very enjoyable find. The artwork is exceptional, really beautiful.
Read
June 14, 2025Conflitos do western encontram influências do horror gótico de Mary Shelley numa história de roteiro enxuto e arte envolvente.
December 26, 2023
“How long till we get to Hellstone, Daddy?” (Location 87) In this flashback scene, Percy Denton’s mother corrects him in that the proper name of the town to which they were headed was called “Hailstone.” Yet, by the time one is halfway through with this Comixology Original graphic novel, one knows that Percy’s “error” was entirely too true. Hailstone: Volume 1 reminds me of Joe R. Lansdale’s The Steam Man or one of his Jonah Hex stories for D.C. And I don’t know if it was a typographical error for “Dear God” when faced with a monstrosity, but “Dead God” in Location 89 was, at least, Freudian for this type of story.
The narrative of Hailstone: Volume 1 begins on a forest path with a frightening disappearance. One quickly discovers that the disappearance is only the latest in a series of mysterious disappearances. Sheriff Denton is the protagonist who is both haunted by nightmares of his own missing son, as well as confusion as to why the commanding officer of the local army post/factory is so uncooperative. Slightly more than halfway through the volume, one discovers the horrific secret behind both the disappearances and the military man’s reticence to help in the town’s crisis. Woven in between the town and military outpost situation is a series of Native American scenes which seem to indicate unfinished business. But one can be assured that the unfinished business will be dealt with before the end of the graphic novel.
Despite a significant amount of violence in the resolution of the story (some of it predictable, but foreshadowed subtly and appropriately), the story ends with a marvelous sentiment regarding peace and what it takes to put an end to violence. However unattainable the ideal is (Location 118), the key to resisting those whose only goal is power and more power is certainly the only possible hope for humanity.
As is typical in many graphic novels, the back matter is filled with concept art and behind-the-scenes presentations. I particularly liked “The Making of a Comics Page” (Location 120) but I was not disappointed in the character studies/concept art (Locations 121-124) or the colorful Cover Gallery (Locations 126-132) in the least.
If I were in a comics shop (although my friendly neighborhood shop with the extremely erudite and friendly proprietor shut down several years ago), I might have picked up a physical copy of Hailstone: Volume 1 (if such were published) just on its resemblance to The Steam Man (even though it is not steampunk by any means). It certainly eliminates any sense that these Comixology Originals are inferior to Marvel, Dark Horse, Dynamite, and D.C. Fortunately, I was able to read this courtesy of an Amazon promotion, but it was as good or better than some comics I’ve purchased for download.
The narrative of Hailstone: Volume 1 begins on a forest path with a frightening disappearance. One quickly discovers that the disappearance is only the latest in a series of mysterious disappearances. Sheriff Denton is the protagonist who is both haunted by nightmares of his own missing son, as well as confusion as to why the commanding officer of the local army post/factory is so uncooperative. Slightly more than halfway through the volume, one discovers the horrific secret behind both the disappearances and the military man’s reticence to help in the town’s crisis. Woven in between the town and military outpost situation is a series of Native American scenes which seem to indicate unfinished business. But one can be assured that the unfinished business will be dealt with before the end of the graphic novel.
Despite a significant amount of violence in the resolution of the story (some of it predictable, but foreshadowed subtly and appropriately), the story ends with a marvelous sentiment regarding peace and what it takes to put an end to violence. However unattainable the ideal is (Location 118), the key to resisting those whose only goal is power and more power is certainly the only possible hope for humanity.
As is typical in many graphic novels, the back matter is filled with concept art and behind-the-scenes presentations. I particularly liked “The Making of a Comics Page” (Location 120) but I was not disappointed in the character studies/concept art (Locations 121-124) or the colorful Cover Gallery (Locations 126-132) in the least.
If I were in a comics shop (although my friendly neighborhood shop with the extremely erudite and friendly proprietor shut down several years ago), I might have picked up a physical copy of Hailstone: Volume 1 (if such were published) just on its resemblance to The Steam Man (even though it is not steampunk by any means). It certainly eliminates any sense that these Comixology Originals are inferior to Marvel, Dark Horse, Dynamite, and D.C. Fortunately, I was able to read this courtesy of an Amazon promotion, but it was as good or better than some comics I’ve purchased for download.
July 21, 2025
Hailstone Vol. 1 — 4 out of 4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Hailstone isn’t just a town buried in snow—it’s buried in secrets. This bleak, frozen slice of Montana delivers haunting ambience from the first page, where brutal winter and isolation set the stage for something far more sinister. Writer Rafael Albuquerque and artist Rafael Scavone craft a graphic novel that reads like a high-stakes historical thriller with horror undertones, where frostbite and fear intertwine.
Sheriff Denton Ross anchors the narrative with quiet grit, embodying both moral struggle and personal loss as missing townsfolk and dwindling resources push him toward the enigmatic military factory. Ross and his deputy Tobias unravel a conspiracy that turns their sleepy frontier town into a crucible of guilt, vengeance, and buried truths.
The pacing is taut—no scene wasted, no panel extraneous. Every moment feels like stepping deeper into snowdrifts you might not return from. Scavone’s artwork is stark yet atmospheric, the subdued color palette amplifying the suffocating cold while visually whispering that something is terribly wrong.
What makes Hailstone exceptional is its ability to blend mystery with moral reckoning. It’s not just about what the factory is hiding—it’s what Ross has been hiding from himself. And when those two mysteries collide, it’s explosive.
Happy reading 🤠📚
Hailstone isn’t just a town buried in snow—it’s buried in secrets. This bleak, frozen slice of Montana delivers haunting ambience from the first page, where brutal winter and isolation set the stage for something far more sinister. Writer Rafael Albuquerque and artist Rafael Scavone craft a graphic novel that reads like a high-stakes historical thriller with horror undertones, where frostbite and fear intertwine.
Sheriff Denton Ross anchors the narrative with quiet grit, embodying both moral struggle and personal loss as missing townsfolk and dwindling resources push him toward the enigmatic military factory. Ross and his deputy Tobias unravel a conspiracy that turns their sleepy frontier town into a crucible of guilt, vengeance, and buried truths.
The pacing is taut—no scene wasted, no panel extraneous. Every moment feels like stepping deeper into snowdrifts you might not return from. Scavone’s artwork is stark yet atmospheric, the subdued color palette amplifying the suffocating cold while visually whispering that something is terribly wrong.
What makes Hailstone exceptional is its ability to blend mystery with moral reckoning. It’s not just about what the factory is hiding—it’s what Ross has been hiding from himself. And when those two mysteries collide, it’s explosive.
Happy reading 🤠📚
June 22, 2022
A nice setting and premise wasted when the big reveal turned out to just be...dumb, and the sin was compounded with a dismally woke epilogue.
November 7, 2024
Me ha gustado casi todo. Genial el dibujo y el color, y muy buena ambientación.
December 17, 2021
Uma bela história. Uma mistura de Frankenstein e Revival do mestre Stephen King, com um faroeste frio, brutal e com um ponto a ser levantado sobre a importância dos povos indígenas nos EUA e no mundo. Feliz por isso ter saído em formato digital. A leitura foi ótima, as cores estão lindas e com um letreiro entorno excelente. Valeu muito a pena!
December 2, 2023
“Hailstone”, Rafael Scavone, etc
I had been looking forward to this with anticipation (how cool is that cover!) and I was not disappointed.
Set in the time of the US Civil War a small-town sheriff must hold together the anxious locals who are suffering from grief, loss and fear.
With its homage to Frankenstein (Mary [Shelley] and her late fiancé Percy [Shelley], Felix Galvani [Galvanism], and Lucy [Westenra, from Dracula]) this Western tale will grip you all the way to its stunning conclusion. ****
#1 – On Jacob’s Path – “The winter – you know how hard it is to survive in Hailstone in times like these.”
#2 – Good Night, Sheriff – “[Chief] Snowy Owl has a big heart.” – Sheriff Denton Ross
#3 – Did It Stare You Right In The Eye? – “God Almighty. What did they do to this .. animal?!” - Denton
#4 – The Method – “There’s no God, here. It’s only electricity – the hidden force of nature that moves our muscles and brains. … I presume you’re familiar with Mary Shelley’s novel, are you?” – Captain Spencer
#5 – Pishkun – “Hold on, Sheriff! I’m not leaving without you!” - Tobias
I had been looking forward to this with anticipation (how cool is that cover!) and I was not disappointed.
Set in the time of the US Civil War a small-town sheriff must hold together the anxious locals who are suffering from grief, loss and fear.
With its homage to Frankenstein (Mary [Shelley] and her late fiancé Percy [Shelley], Felix Galvani [Galvanism], and Lucy [Westenra, from Dracula]) this Western tale will grip you all the way to its stunning conclusion. ****
#1 – On Jacob’s Path – “The winter – you know how hard it is to survive in Hailstone in times like these.”
#2 – Good Night, Sheriff – “[Chief] Snowy Owl has a big heart.” – Sheriff Denton Ross
#3 – Did It Stare You Right In The Eye? – “God Almighty. What did they do to this .. animal?!” - Denton
#4 – The Method – “There’s no God, here. It’s only electricity – the hidden force of nature that moves our muscles and brains. … I presume you’re familiar with Mary Shelley’s novel, are you?” – Captain Spencer
#5 – Pishkun – “Hold on, Sheriff! I’m not leaving without you!” - Tobias
June 14, 2024
A dramatic horror derived from the roots of Frankenstein, set on western folklore. The visuals were soothing to look at and the story flowed like a streamlined river taking us along with it. The plot involves a village being overshadowed and condescended by a suspicious and mysterious military factory, blatantly run by the government. The villagers are deprived of food, animals to hunt, and even worse; some of them have been disappearing all of a sudden. The village Sherif Denton and his deputy, who has his roots from native American tribes, sets in motion an action of events to solve the mystery behind the factory. Although, this plot sounds hackneyed, the narrative through snowy sketching and iridescent coloring calms the mind of readers. It was difficult to put down and so I finished reading sooner than I had planned. I was excited to find out there are more volumes to this story and exuberantly looking forward to it.
August 1, 2023
A civil war era sf/f horror mystery set on the frozen frontier. Tensions begin to mount as the frontier town of Hailstone faces another bitter winter with residents going missing and little in the way of food. A military factory/outpost set in town looms somewhat ominously as everything seemed to start going wrong after they arrived.
The story follows the sheriff, still grieving the disappearance of his own son, investigating the abduction of his vanished son's fiancee. There's a mood of horror that hints at the possibility of the supernatural or paranormal, but at it's center becomes the theme of unethical means to an expedient end in wartime. Good art, but I felt the reveal and conclusion were underwhelming.
The story follows the sheriff, still grieving the disappearance of his own son, investigating the abduction of his vanished son's fiancee. There's a mood of horror that hints at the possibility of the supernatural or paranormal, but at it's center becomes the theme of unethical means to an expedient end in wartime. Good art, but I felt the reveal and conclusion were underwhelming.
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August 22, 2023Fabulous
This was a brilliant little series. Fantastic setting in both terms of time and place. The harsh winter in the valley was dealt with in such a way that it enhanced the oppressive atmosphere.
The writing was great, the art amazing and as I read it i thought the Acton and movement were particularly well handled. I got a real sense of pace as i read this.
The story was not ground breaking but it was fun. I guessed the baddie very early. This was a fine horror tale, one where the horror is not in your face but is there none the less. Very well written for that.
Emotions too are deftly handled I thought. The characters are strong.
Overall brilliant, If recommend this.
This was a brilliant little series. Fantastic setting in both terms of time and place. The harsh winter in the valley was dealt with in such a way that it enhanced the oppressive atmosphere.
The writing was great, the art amazing and as I read it i thought the Acton and movement were particularly well handled. I got a real sense of pace as i read this.
The story was not ground breaking but it was fun. I guessed the baddie very early. This was a fine horror tale, one where the horror is not in your face but is there none the less. Very well written for that.
Emotions too are deftly handled I thought. The characters are strong.
Overall brilliant, If recommend this.
December 20, 2021
I loved westerns
As a kid. Hopalong Cassidy, Lone Ranger, Bonanza (I loved Hoss!) This western hearkens back to such days with the people in the small town of Hailstone. The sheriff not only is loyal to his duty to protect the population; to him they are more than duty. These folks are people he cares about. They are an extension of his family.
Introducing a kind of supernatural element and a Captain in the Union Army with delusions of being a Mengele, and you have an idea of what Sheriff Denton Ross is caught up against.
The graphics are beautiful and the people are "alive". The story is engaging and hard to put aside for a break.
As a kid. Hopalong Cassidy, Lone Ranger, Bonanza (I loved Hoss!) This western hearkens back to such days with the people in the small town of Hailstone. The sheriff not only is loyal to his duty to protect the population; to him they are more than duty. These folks are people he cares about. They are an extension of his family.
Introducing a kind of supernatural element and a Captain in the Union Army with delusions of being a Mengele, and you have an idea of what Sheriff Denton Ross is caught up against.
The graphics are beautiful and the people are "alive". The story is engaging and hard to put aside for a break.
August 30, 2025
Hsilstone es un pueblo del Oeste americano (sí, el de los cowboys y demás), en el que desde hace tiempo ocurren desapareciones raras. Entre ellas, la del hijo del Sheriff o la del jefe del poblado indio no muy lejos de allí. Todo empezó a ocurrir cuando instalaron el fuerte del ejército de la Unión... Situado en plena Guerra Civil americana, este cómic brilla por su trama, su acción, sus dibujos y por la mezcla de géneros que casan muy bien. Entretenimiento asegurado.
February 26, 2022
Horror western set during the Civil War. An army factory is built outside a small town named Hailstone. They say they are creating munitions for the war, but with local animal life and townspeople going missing, the local sheriff isn’t so sure.
This was pretty good. Creepy atmosphere. I enjoyed it. Felt really short, though. The art is fantastic though.
This was pretty good. Creepy atmosphere. I enjoyed it. Felt really short, though. The art is fantastic though.
March 6, 2024
A mystery western with heart
Scavone and De la Torre build a little town story set in the old west that was a pleasant surprise. Well developed protagonist with a chip on his shoulder bite more tha he can chew when trying to uncover strange dissapearances. Great art an well balanced tone and use of colors. Recomended read
Scavone and De la Torre build a little town story set in the old west that was a pleasant surprise. Well developed protagonist with a chip on his shoulder bite more tha he can chew when trying to uncover strange dissapearances. Great art an well balanced tone and use of colors. Recomended read
February 10, 2024
Mysterious plot
Keep you engaged until the end
3 plots are running simlationous
Their one story of a mail character going to the other of the whole village & third of mysterious disappearances
Keep you engaged until the end
3 plots are running simlationous
Their one story of a mail character going to the other of the whole village & third of mysterious disappearances
April 1, 2024
What a nothing-burger. A proverbial stairway to nowhere; a hailstorm of disappointment and boredom. Gorgeous art, and the makings of a true chiller. But in the end, this book will only build you up to let you down.
July 11, 2024
Comic Book
I haven't read a comic book since Archie and the Gang, so this one was definitely an upgrade from then. I still have difficulty, though, following the action and dialogue, but that's just me. The story line was thrilling and quite a surprise.
I haven't read a comic book since Archie and the Gang, so this one was definitely an upgrade from then. I still have difficulty, though, following the action and dialogue, but that's just me. The story line was thrilling and quite a surprise.
July 31, 2022
Properly enjoyed this. Lovely artwork, great story, interesting idea. All in all, a great read! I’d be interested to see more of this setting.
June 16, 2023
It was ok
If i had paid for this I would be probably mad. But it was free so I can say it was just not good
If i had paid for this I would be probably mad. But it was free so I can say it was just not good
July 10, 2023
Frankenstein in the Wild West
An interesting take on the Frankenstein mythology transposed to civil war America. Great art work and a simple short work, nicely concluded.
An interesting take on the Frankenstein mythology transposed to civil war America. Great art work and a simple short work, nicely concluded.
August 4, 2023
edge of your seat good
I loved to flow of the story I loved the dark mystery the characters were great maybe a more detailed background on characters would have been nice
I loved to flow of the story I loved the dark mystery the characters were great maybe a more detailed background on characters would have been nice
October 4, 2023
Brutal and fun
While it isn't heavy on character, it's great on mood and setting. Fun read which makes me wish to read more.
While it isn't heavy on character, it's great on mood and setting. Fun read which makes me wish to read more.
September 23, 2024
A great little story about body experimentation during the American civil war. It’s nicely paced and the artwork is very evocative, this would make a good read for any fan of horror comics.
November 21, 2024
Interesting setup.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews