Stray Bullets Vol. 2 – Somewhere Out West
📚 Genre
Crime Noir, Psychological Drama, Neo-Western, Independent Comics
🧑🎤 Main Characters
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Virginia Applejack – A young girl scarred by trauma, clinging to hope and purpose.
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Beth – A fiery spirit on the run, driven by instinct and desperation.
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Orson – A well-meaning but naive dreamer who gets in way over his head.
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Nina – A shattered soul wrestling with her demons, spiraling into self-destruction.
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Spanish Scott (mentioned) – A ruthless enforcer whose shadow looms over many lives.
✍️ Writer
David Lapham – An auteur in the truest sense, Lapham crafts every element of Stray Bullets with precision and emotional rawness.
🎨 Artist
David Lapham – Serving double duty, Lapham’s stark black-and-white linework heightens the tension and drama, immersing readers in each panel’s gritty atmosphere.
🛠️ Editor Details
While David Lapham handles most creative control himself, Stray Bullets was supported editorially by his wife, Maria Lapham, especially under El Capitan Books.
🏢 Publisher and Brand
Originally published by El Capitan Books, an independent imprint founded by David Lapham. Later reprinted under Image Comics, known for supporting creator-owned works.
📅 Release Year
1997
🧵 Brief Plot Summary
Stray Bullets Vol. 2 – Somewhere Out West takes readers into a forgotten desert town inhabited by misfits, runaways, and lost souls. Among them are Beth and Orson, young lovers escaping the brutal grip of the Mob. As they seek refuge, their relationship is tested by betrayal, violence, and the lingering specters of their pasts.
Meanwhile, Virginia Applejack, a child caught in a world she can’t understand, finds herself pushed to make a harrowing choice that will define her path forever. In parallel, we witness Nina’s slow collapse into addiction and madness—a stark reminder of how fragile redemption can be. Each story is a thread in a larger tapestry of suffering, survival, and the irreversible choices that shape our lives.
📖 Notable Arcs or Storylines
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Beth and Orson's Flight from the Mob – A love story tangled in bloodshed and regret.
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Virginia’s First Major Moral Crossroads – Her decision to help someone in need leaves emotional scars that define her trajectory across future volumes.
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Nina’s Tragedy – A bleak and unforgettable look at the depths of mental decay and personal ruin.
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Orson’s Moment of Glory (and Loss) – His brief flirtation with stardom quickly collapses under the weight of his own flaws.
🧠 Fan Theories or Interpretations
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Virginia as the Emotional Core of the Series – Many readers view Virginia as a stand-in for innocence lost, with some theorizing that her descent mirrors Lapham’s own commentary on childhood resilience in a brutal world.
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The Desert Town as Purgatory – Some fans interpret the isolated setting as symbolic limbo, where each character is forced to confront their sins before either escaping or succumbing.
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Beth and Orson as Tragic Mirrors – Their doomed romance reflects the illusion of freedom when shackled by past choices.
🌟 Review Summary
Stray Bullets Vol. 2 – Somewhere Out West is a haunting, emotionally rich continuation of Lapham’s noir epic. The artwork—stark and unapologetically raw—intensifies every gut-punch of emotion, while the interwoven narratives create a powerful sense of dread and empathy. Each character feels tragically real, with their motivations, breakdowns, and fleeting triumphs etched into the black-and-white panels like bruises on the soul. Lapham doesn’t just tell stories—he bleeds them onto the page. 💔🖤
Prepare yourself for a searing ride into a lawless heartland where love kills, dreams burn, and bullets never miss their mark.
Comic Resource / Read Online (External Source)
