2026 / Kickstarter, Southard Comics
MIDNIGHT WESTERN THEATRE:
THE COMPLETE COLLECTION
In a deadly wild west, tall tales and nervous whispers run rampant of Ortensia Thomas AKA the Woman in Black! A mysterious gunslinger on an impossible mission against the forces of evil. With otherworldly--or all too human--threats finding themselves at odds with this antihero for the ages, this is a bloody story of a serious woman with a serious job to do. Thankfully, she doesn't work alone...
Creative Team
Writer - Louis Southard
Artists - David Hahn, Butch K. Mapa, and Puré
Colorists - Ryan Cody, Sean Peacock, and Julianne Griepp
Letterer - Buddy Beaudoin
Cover Artist - Julianne Griepp
Additional Art By:
Kalman Andrasofszky, Heather Vaughan, Lizah van der Aart, Coyote Prince, and Angelo Concepcion.
History
Originally published by Scout Comics and Entertainment in 2021, Southard's sophomore book was an instant hit for the publisher.
The success of the comic led to a one-time Scout Comics partnership with Oren Segal's Management Production Entertainment (MPE) to develop Louis Southard and Hahn's Midnight Western Theatre in 2022. Kevin Carroll was attached to adapt. Scout, Segal and Carroll were set to produce. As of now, Midnight Western Theatre is not under any current multimedia adaptation.
Following the success of the first series and the development of a television show, Scout commissioned a sequel series. Southard chose to make a prequel instead, telling the origin story of Ortensia Thomas in a coming of age adventure.
This was the final Midnight Western Theatre series after several controversies forced Scout Comics out of business. In the end, Southard fortunately managed to regain the publishing rights to the MWT books. A third installment was planned but never made.
Kickstarter Campaign
In March of 2026, Louis launched a brand new compendium campaign for the series on Kickstarter. With a goal of $3500, Southard Comics nearly doubled that amount.
Breaking through many stretch goals, the trade paperback was a big success. It was also well received by its backers in terms of story, art, characters, graphic design, and printing quality.
