- Local resident Johnny Wideman has released the first issue of Black Tract, a new graphic comic series, with plans for 12 to 15 issues.
- Set in an alternate Northern Ontario between 1890 and 1912, the story imagines a world powered by a mysterious mineral called Shadow Rock instead of coal or oil.
- The plot follows two young men who travel to a remote mining town, where they must survive harsh conditions and resist a growing supernatural curse tied to Shadow Rock.
- Wideman says the series blends speculative fiction, magic realism, horror, and adventure while exploring themes of friendship, teamwork, community, and resilience.
- The comic also serves as a commentary on resource extraction, consumerism, and the modern “rat race.”
A local writer is bringing a dark slice of speculative fiction to readers with the release of Black Tract, the first issue in what he hopes will become a graphic comic series.
Johnny Wideman has spent the past two years developing the story and working alongside illustrator Ryan James Webb of Bradford to bring the project to life. The pair recently completed and published 300 copies of the debut issue and have already begun work on the second installment.
While the first issue stands on its own, Wideman said it is intended to be part of a much larger narrative.
“It is a comic book, but it will eventually be a larger graphic novel,” Wideman explained. “We’re working towards creating about three to four trade paperbacks, so about 12 to 15 individual issues.”
The story is set in an alternate version of Northern Ontario between 1890 and 1912. Rather than coal or oil powering the Industrial Revolution, a mysterious mineral known as “Shadow Rock” fuels society’s growth.
In Wideman’s imagined world, Shadow Rock is far more than a valuable resource. It is the physical manifestation of a malevolent force that grows stronger as more people depend on it.
“The more people that become reliant on Shadow Rock, the stronger this evil force gets,” he said.
The plot follows two young men who leave their rural community and travel to a large mining operation in search of work and opportunity. Once there, they find themselves struggling not only to survive harsh conditions, but also to resist the influence of the curse connected to the mineral.
Wideman describes the series as a blend of speculative fiction, magic realism, horror, and historical adventure. Alongside supernatural elements, the story explores friendship, teamwork, and the communities that emerge in difficult environments.
“There’s a lot of camaraderie and friendship stories,” he said. “It’s about these ragtag groups of people who come together and find community in a very inhospitable climate.”
Beyond the fantasy setting, Wideman acknowledges that Black Tract contains themes that resonate with the modern world.
“It is definitely a comment on resource extraction and mineral extraction, and also this mentality of using things up for our own gain,” he said.
The curse at the heart of the story functions as a metaphor for systems that drain people and communities.
“You could call that the rat race. You could call that hustle and bustle, or capitalism,” Wideman said. “It’s looking at the idea of trying to protect your energy, your passion, and your life amid an otherwise exhausting day-to-day pattern.”
Wideman hopes the comic will eventually be available through local retailers, including Foxglove Books inside Redefined Finds and potentially Blue Heron Books, although those arrangements have not yet been finalized.
For now, readers can learn more about the project through the Black Tract Comic Instagram page or its Kickstarter campaign, which offers special edition versions of the comic, stickers, bundles of related work, and even opportunities for supporters to have their likenesses incorporated into future issues.
With the first issue complete and the second already underway, Wideman said the team is committed to building the story over the long term.
“We’re basically just going to keep working at this for a very long time,” he said.
