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Comic Book Wednesday: ‘East of West’

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East-of-West-1On the cover of “East of West” No. 1, it reads, “This is the world. It’s not the one we were supposed to have, but it’s the one we made.

“We did this. We did it with open eyes and willing hands. We broke it, and there is no putting it back together.”

It is really hard to describe this new comic by Jonathan Hickman and Nick Dragotta. The main overall story arc centers around the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, but this only scratches the surface of everything going on, especially in the first issue. It is about a dystopian future of the United States and the world, which includes an alternative history lesson. There are different facts, different events, different important characters and new folklore.

It might seem like an information dump, as Hickman moves us from the Civil War to the “present” in 2064, where we have the Seven Nations of America.

And, unknown to the world, three of the four horsemen have arrived: Famine, Conquest and War. Death just isn’t cooperating with the crew, and is on a quest to pursue his own vendetta.

The story is set in what seems like the old wild West, but technology is more advanced than we can dream right now. To warn you, the comic is gruesome, with piles of bloody bodies every few pages. There also are religious undertones, some Christian, some pagan and Native American.

This comic is a multitude of themes and ideas, and somehow Hickman eloquently wraps it all into one.

I will say that I do think it is a massive amount of information for a first issue, which might overwhelm readers. However, it is still enticing and seems like a story idea that would also work well in a novel, TV show or movie. It is one-of-a-kind and original. If developed correctly, it can be on par with Suzanne Collins’ “The Hunger Games” or George R.R. Martin’s “A Tale of Fire and Ice.”

The artwork is equally amazing. It takes the comic to the next level and pushes the action from one page to the next. Dragotta knew when to add drama with just a look, or when a massive pile of dead bodies does the job better.

I have high hopes for “East of West,” and I hope it won’t disappoint. With how popular the title seems right now, I don’t think I — or you — will be.


Comic Book Wednesday showcases a variety of visually based books that fit into this wide category, to give a taste of this other form of reading.


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