Kelpie of the Badlands: A Comic Horse Emerges

A bold comic-book style illustration of a kelpie, the water-horse of folklore, bursting from a shimmering pool in a desolate badlands landscape. Thick black ink outlines, high-contrast lighting, and halftone textures give it a classic panel-ready look. The red-orange badlands rise in jagged hoodoos and layered rock formations under a dramatic sunset sky. The kelpie's mane and tail flow like living water, blue-green ribbons spraying into the air as it rears and charges, droplets turning into jagged splash lines. Dynamic perspective with foreground dust, cracked earth, and wind-swept heat haze. Onomatopoeic sound effects like SPLASH or THRASH in bold comic lettering, and a sense of mythic power and speed suitable for a comic book cover.