Canary
1891. A rash of strange murders plagues the American West, with seemingly ordinary folk suddenly killing their loved ones. U.S. Marshall Azrael William Holt is sent to investigate. Holt is a legendary figure, more for the dime novels inspired by his exploits and the mask he wears while executing his duties than a particularly notable career. Still, he is a good lawman, who follows orders and goes where his bosses send him.
Holt’s latest assignment sends him to the town of Canary, to act as escort to a geologist named Edison Edwards. Ed-Ed, as his colleagues call him, has a theory that the madness plaguing the West can be tied to an abandoned mine outside of Canary. One which yielded uranium before collapsing under mysterious circumstances. The locals are quick to dismiss this idea, even as they try to attach themselves to Holt’s celebrity. Ironically, the only person not fawning over Holt is saloon owner Mabel Warren, who specifically asked for Marshall Holt to join the investigation team. She’s also the daughter of Canary’s founder, presumed dead after the mine collapsed.
Holt is no scientist, but he agrees there is something evil buried under Canary. He buried it himself, eight years earlier, in a confrontation with the most wicked soul he’d ever met. It was a case that didn’t make it into the dime novels, which led to the death of his wife and child. The one thing that is certain is there are many dark secrets in Canary, and more than one person willing to kill over them.
The Weird West story is a surprisingly expansive subgenre of both horror and Westerns. There are all manner of supernatural stories pitting rough men and spirited women against nightmarish creatures in the frontiers far from civilization. Canary is notable, however, in how it subverts the tropes of both genres. Indeed, Scott Snyder goes out of his way to confront and rebut the common cliches of the time. For instance, one would expect a romance to bloom between the independent woman and the world-weary lawman. No such romance occurs. Indeed, there is never even a hint of flirtation between the two characters, as Will Holt remains loyal to the memory of his deceased wife.
Another prime example of this defiance comes when William, Ed-Ed, and Mabel are confronted by the local Native Americans. Ed-Ed, being an academic from out East, tries to assure them with simple words that “we are here to help this great land and restore to its glory.” The lead Native warrior sarcastically replies that their getting off the land would be a good start, before going on to talk about his schooling in Nebraska. He further explains how the Natives avoided the land around the Canary mine, not because of some mystic superstition, but because they figured out the water that came from it was bad long before their homes were stolen by the settlers.
The artwork by Dan Panosian is, in a word, exquisite. Panosian is better known for his fantasy work but proves to be no mean hand when it comes to depicting Western culture. There is a certain rough splendor to Panosian’s art, from his character designs to his colors. Small wonder he’s become one of the most in-demand cover artists at many American comic publishers.
Dark Horse Comics rates Canary as appropriate for readers 12+. I consider that to be a fair rating. There’s no nudity or sex, but a considerable number of strange monsters and people being ripped apart by them. There’s nothing inappropriate for a teenage audience, but the squeamish would be well advised to avoid this story. Everyone else, however, will find this to be a ripping yarn and a prime example of how comics can tell complex stories beyond simple superheroics.
Canary
By Scott Snyder
Art by Dan Panosian
Dark Horse, 2024
ISBN: 9781506728315
Publisher Age Rating: 12+
NFNT Age Recommendation: Adult (18+), Older Teen (16-18), Teen (13-16)
