"STORIES FROM THE WILD WEST": A STRIKING NEW COMIC BOOK BY NIKOLA VIDAČKOVIĆ

Published by Deveta dimenzija, Stories from The Wild West is a newly released comic book album that brings together a collection of gripping Western tales, written by talented Banja Luka-based scriptwriter Nikola Vidačković.

PHOTO: Glas Srpske

This anthology of short comics is thematically centered around the Wild West and was brought to life with the help of 11 exceptional artists from across the region. The book features stories such as Last Dance (art by Vladimir Davidenka), Last Whiskey (Slobodan Aksić), Soul Eating Hunter (Ivan Avramovski), Pine Box For The Lady (Željko Ivančić), Dreams of Gold (Hrvoje Ružić), Wacky Factory (Mimi Cortazar), Bloodlust (Dragan Pavasović), Coward Of The Country (Milan Mladić), Mustang Princess (Geza Šetet), Vengeance (Jovan Bratić), and Back To The Past (Igor Jovčevski).

According to the author, the album is a product of a lifelong fascination with Western themes and a tribute to a lost space and time.

“This book is, above all, my personal homage to an era and a place which, although geographically and historically distant, still carry the weight of powerful universal themes: freedom, justice, revenge, honor, betrayal, man versus man, and man versus himself,” says Vidačković.

“I chose this topic purely out of a passion for adventure, but also a deep nostalgia for times I’ve never actually lived through. To me, the Wild West is a mythical space where a man confronts his limits, where laws often fail, and one’s inner morality becomes the only compass.”

The collection skillfully blends genres and visual styles—ranging from emotionally charged homages to Native Americans (Last Dance, Mustang Princess), to humorous twists in Wacky Factory, classic revenge tales in Coward Of The Country and Vengeance, and even elements of fantasy in Back To The Past.

Creating such a diverse book was no small feat. Vidačković brought together 11 illustrators from five countries—many of them well-established names in the comic book world.

“At first, I wanted to include 13 stories for symbolic reasons, but not everyone I approached agreed to participate. Still, I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved. Either I’m very charming, or they recognized something valuable in the scripts—or maybe it’s something else entirely,” he says with a smile.

The stories are inspired by both personal reflection and various cultural influences.

“These tales arose from contemplating the human spirit within a ruthless environment. I didn’t try to romanticize that world—just portray it authentically. Inspirations came from classic Western films by Sergio Leone, the darker Westerns of the Coen brothers, Tarantino’s dialogues, and music ranging from American folk and blues to outlaw country,” he explains.

“I’ve left many subtle references for readers—whether in character design, names, or scene composition.”

Although Deveta dimenzija typically publishes in Cyrillic, Vidačković insisted this release be in English and Latin script.

“Given the geographical and thematic setting, I felt English was the right choice. I hope Stories from The Wild West finds its audience—those who love comics not just for visuals, but for stories that don’t offer easy answers, but invite personal reflection.”

The cover art is by Dejan Šijuk, with an alternate cover by Mihajlo Miljanović. The album comes in a hardcover B5 format, includes 120 black-and-white pages, and is priced at 20 KM.

Acclaimed Serbian comic artist Stevan Subić, who wrote the foreword, praised the collection as “a series of intimate and loud reflections on a bygone era, with a strong narrative voice and a deep dive into genre storytelling.”