Eric Powell Returns to the Mountains: Hillbilly: The Treason of Twelve-Toe Maggie Announced
The wanderer is back, and he is walking straight into a trap! Dark Horse Comics has officially revealed that the critically acclaimed Appalachian fantasy series Hillbilly is returning for a brand-new, three-issue story arc this fall. Titled Hillbilly: The Treason of Twelve-Toe Maggie, this series serves as a high-stakes return for the beloved character Rondel and functions as an ideal starting point for anyone who has been waiting to dive into Eric Powell’s haunting, folklore-infused world.
If you are looking to secure your copy before it vanishes from the shelves, now is the time to visit your local shop and check out our latest New Comics listings to see when pre-orders officially open.
The Return of the Wandering Hillbilly
For the uninitiated, Hillbilly follows Rondel, a traveler roaming the Appalachian mountains in the aftermath of the Great Witch War. Known for wielding the terrifying Devil’s Cleaver, Rondel has become a fan-favorite character for his rough-around-the-edges charm and his dedication to fighting supernatural threats.
In this new three-issue arc, Rondel finds himself in a desperate spot. To protect an old friend, he is forced into the service of his former captor, the sinister Twelve-Toe Maggie. The central question of the arc is clear: can Rondel find a way to sever the magical tether that binds him to the witch, or is the owner of the Devil’s Cleaver doomed to serve her forever?
It is the kind of gritty, dark-fantasy setup that Eric Powell excels at. He has earned a reputation for combining folk horror with genuine heart, creating stories that are as funny as they are chilling. As IGN once noted, “There aren’t many characters like the Goon in comics and there aren’t many characters as unique and enjoyable as Eric Powell.”
Why This is a Great Jumping-On Point
While fans of The Goon and previous Hillbilly tales will instantly recognize the tone, this arc is designed specifically to welcome new readers. Powell’s artistic style—characterized by his signature earth tones and heavy, textured ink work—remains as sharp as ever.
Comicon recently praised Powell, noting that he is “old school in all the best ways—hand drawing and teasing out textures, often using washes and earth tones to give a weighty sense of times past to his storytelling.” For those curious about how Powell’s style has evolved or how the genre has shifted over time, you can always see what happened in history on This Day In Comics to understand why this specific style of Appalachian gothic fiction is so rare in the modern market.
Collector Information
The launch issue, Hillbilly: The Treason of Twelve-Toe Maggie #1, features a main cover by Eric Powell and a variant by the legendary Becky Cloonan. It arrives in comic shops on September 30, 2026.
Whether you want to hunt down the variants or just grab the standard edition for your reading pile, be sure to keep an eye on our daily updates. You can discover your next read with our Comic Book of the Day spot to ensure you don’t miss out on other essential indie releases hitting the stands this fall.
📢 Join the Conversation Are you a fan of Rondel’s journey through the Appalachian mountains? How do you think he will manage to escape the grasp of Twelve-Toe Maggie this time? Join the conversation on social media and let us know your thoughts!
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