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East of West

East of West, Vol. 2: We Are All One

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The second volume of the most exciting new book in the industry is here! We Are All One follows our cast around the fractured future-scape of America as we learn more about a world that's rapidly coming to a end.

Collecting: East Of West 6-10

144 pages, Paperback

First published April 9, 2014

118 people are currently reading
1516 people want to read

About the author

Jonathan Hickman

1,221 books2,028 followers
Jonathan Hickman is an American comic book writer and artist. He is known for creating the Image Comics series The Nightly News, The Manhattan Projects and East of West, as well as working on Marvel Comics' Fantastic Four, FF, and S.H.I.E.L.D. titles. In 2012, Hickman ended his run on the Fantastic Four titles to write The Avengers and The New Avengers, as part the "Marvel NOW!" relaunch. In 2013, Hickman wrote a six-part miniseries, Infinity, plus Avengers tie-ins for Marvel Comics. In 2015, he wrote the crossover event Secret Wars. - Wikipedia

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5 stars
2,882 (35%)
4 stars
3,449 (42%)
3 stars
1,457 (17%)
2 stars
280 (3%)
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75 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 495 reviews
Profile Image for Baba.
4,069 reviews1,515 followers
November 19, 2022
Like a chess match the pieces in this game are now making their early (mostly extremely violent and/or callous) moves now New Shanghai has shaken the board! These moves are portrayed alongside some pretty impressive world building for the past as well as the present in this alternate reality.

Dragotta's sparse art is visually pleasing but it feels like almost at odds with the lack of clarity of both the supernatural side of this reality and the character building; although I would concede that character's are being (too?) slowly revealed, but we... I... need to know a bit more about them to have empathy and indeed care about them enough to care about any of them! 8 out of 12 mostly for the superb world building and original art concepts. 8 out of 12, Four Star read.

2021 read, 2019 read
Profile Image for Anne.
4,739 reviews71.2k followers
August 26, 2025
Not sure where this is going but it's still early in the game and an interesting enough concept with the sci-fi western take on the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse theme, that I'm willing to ride it out for a while.

description

I will say, in the past, Hickman hasn't been my jam because he tends to wander all around these big ideas of his without ever really getting to anything concrete. And I'm one of those readers that likes to know exactly what the hell is happening. I don't get off on deciphering what the author might mean. <--A lot of readers lovelovelove this kind of writing and there's nothing wrong with that.

description

Ok, so this has a bit more of an introduction to some of the major players and their backstories. It's interesting stuff. There's a lot of cowboy weirdness and dystopian landscape mixed in with a bit of strange technology. Which makes for a cool look art-wise.

description

Looking forward to volume 3.
Profile Image for Matthew.
1,223 reviews10.3k followers
July 10, 2019
How is East of West going? Good . . . I think!?!?



A few times I had no idea what was happening. A few pages later I was enthralled with the story. It is a wild ride between western lore and sci-fi mayhem. I think lots of people will really dig this series, as long as they are okay with losing touch with reality every so often.



The art continues to be phenomenal. From soft Western landscapes to severe, technological, Geiger-esque cities; you will constantly be fighting with your grasp on what time period this story is supposed to be in. Also, there are some particularly creepy creatures that were fun to see. All in all, a feast for the eyes!



At the end of this volume I was even more interested in seeing what happens next than I was at the end of volume one. So, if you are thinking of trying this one, I suggest giving it a couple volumes. This is especially good advice if in the middle of it you find yourself completely lost. Just buckle down and push through – it will all make sense (maybe) in a few pages! At least it should keep you interested in the midst of your confusion. 🙂


Profile Image for Riley.
462 reviews24.1k followers
March 25, 2016
That ending was so crazy!! I'm so glad I have volume 3
Profile Image for Maxwell.
1,441 reviews12.4k followers
June 21, 2015
There was really great character development in this volume. At times the story is a bit confusing and takes some intense focus and thinking to sort out. But it's so worth it. There are a ton of threads going on at once, and the pacing is so well-timed, that by the time you get farther along something from earlier pops up to surprise you (even though you should be expecting it). I love that about this series. It's also combatting historical and social stereotypes and assumptions in a really interesting and provocative way!
Profile Image for Urbon Adamsson.
1,938 reviews99 followers
August 15, 2025
PT Jonathan Hickman conseguiu, com esta série, criar um universo verdadeiramente fabuloso.

Ainda me faltam vários volumes por ler e já começo a sentir pena por saber que esta obra deliciosa acabará um dia.

Vamos ver como se desenvolve, mas, para já, é um forte candidato a figurar entre as minhas séries favoritas de sempre!

--

EN With this series, Jonathan Hickman has created a truly fabulous universe.

I still have several volumes left to read, and I’m already feeling sorry that this delightful work will eventually come to an end.

Let’s see how it unfolds, but for now, it’s a strong contender to rank among my all-time favourite series!
Profile Image for James DeSantis.
Author 17 books1,205 followers
March 2, 2020
Geez is it just me or are all the horseman fucked up? Even Death, the one we're rooting for.

SO death is on the hunt to find his son. He will do anything to do so and he visits a old friend. That old friend was...done wrong by the 4 horsemen, so it might not go as well for Death as he hoped. On the flipside we see more world building and how the other 3 are using their newly apointed public figure to basically calm the world before the end.

Really, this is getting insainly good. The political angle is awesome enough but having the story about a father wanting his son back is always interesting. On top of that we have the son's story which isn't what I expected and really good. The other 3 horsemen are pieces of shit but man oh man are they entertaining.

This series could be one of the best in the end for me. A 4.5 out of 5.
Profile Image for CS.
1,213 reviews
February 24, 2015
Bullet Review:

Lord have mercy, is Hickman full of himself! How the flying frak does he keep track of his whatever-izing?

Still easier to follow than Avengers; coworker was nice to share, and if he donates vol 3, yes, I'll bite. Otherwise, no way.
Profile Image for Gavin.
1,264 reviews89 followers
November 26, 2014
description

W.H.A.T.

T.H.E.

F.U.C.K.

Pretty much sums it up.


SO: Death and his wife had a kid. The Kid ain't dead. He's on a quest to save the kid. He'll take down everyone on the way.
The 7 States of the US and their alliance is falling apart, everyone turns on everyone. The Message is a crock of shit. The interesting part will be to see how they rip each other apart.
We get some more background on the Texas people, this includes a BRUTALLY OBVIOUS ripoff of Judge Dredd. Like I'm serious, how is this not Copyright infringement???

Anyhoo...then there's a creature with no eyes in the bottom of the ocean, which opens because Death said so. Then the creature steal's Death's eye as payback. Then gives him no real info.

I thought Death would be smarter than this.

There's some more side story about the Kingdom of New Orleans, the United section, the Republic, and the Oracle type dude who's the head of the Message religion.
Oh and the stupid 3 Horsemen of the Apocalypse kids are still doing stuff.

WHERE THE FUCK IS THIS GOING? Or is this just proof that Hickman drops more acid than Grant Morrison? Seriously. I wonder.

The colours sure are pretty. Especially when high.

It wasn't boring.

Take it with a grain of salt and a handful of pills...

I think I liked Vol. 1 more.

Get this review and more at:
Profile Image for Subham.
3,070 reviews104 followers
October 29, 2021
Reread: 29/10/21

It still reads the same but its better on a 2nd read and I love the exploration they do with the origins of Ezra Orion and John Freeman and like their pasts and how they become what they are and the struggles of Death is pretty good. Like the way he is searching for his son and fights the creature Chevejo its pretty awesome and on one read it can be frustrating and confusing but they're building towards something and its kinda cool plus the evolution of his son was awesome to see and next up the big battle!

_________________________________________________________________________

The series continues to explore the world that is as we follow death whose looking for his child and we meet the oracle who knows the location of the child, but the price will be big. Later on we have Death follow with his two companions to Chevejo who might know the location of his son and its an interesting face off. In another area of the union since the house of Mao has asked for debt recovery, other nations are collapsing, particularly the union (think USA reference) its upto well the new president maintain the order, meanwhile lawlessness run amok and more things are happening in the background like some nation of oil/black people is also shown and stuff happening there. Its an intriguing start but yeah there are more questions, less answers and can be a frustrating read but Hickman pays off in the long term. The art is heavenly and each panel so detailed just wow.
Profile Image for Paz.
549 reviews216 followers
December 10, 2020
This graphic novel is so weird, I like it.
Much easier to follow than the first volume. The storylines changed without an easy transition, but I like knowing more about different characters that I didn't even remember from the first volume. It just looks promising, even if I always feel a bit lost.
The artwork is great, it makes the blend of the fantasy elements with old west vibes alive and rich. I'm so glad I picked up volume 2.
Profile Image for Jedi JC Daquis.
926 reviews47 followers
August 17, 2015
Something is fundamentally wrong with East of West. This alternate-universe story of the end of times may be full of awe with its grandiose artwork worthy of reverence, rivaling Vaughan's Saga and Y: The Last Man. Unfortunately, East of West messes up with one rudimentary element in a what would have been an excellent material: character personality.

Critically-acclaimed graphic novel runs like Aaron's Scalped, Gaiman's Sandman and Koike's Lone Wolf and Cub have characters having the most interesting personalities and unique voices. No matter how much you hate or love what they do, you'd instantly know that they are acting according to their persona. Now, East of West has all the interesting characters but somehow, Hickman fails to give his characters that required distinctness. For example, badass as he may be, Death doesn't have a unique voice. It felt that Death as the story's protagonist could be replaced by one of the three cringeworthingly lame Horsemen (I hate these guys!). That is the fundamental flaw in East of West: the set pieces and amazing plot paves the writer to create colorful characters but fails to do so. I mean John Freeman I may be very different from the other Chosen, but he is too shallow to be unique at the level of becoming interesting. Crow and Wolf are two more badasses in the story but they could have been replaced by two equally badass characters. A unique character voice made Sandman's endless and Narutos's Jinchurikis unforgettable.

To be fair, plot advances in this second volume gets more steam than the previous one. The flashbacks and back stories are entertaining to read. Death's action sequences are way more satisfying in this volume than the previous one.

On a more personal point of view, I hate "Oh yes, I know the future but not all of it, so figure it yourself" cliche. This plot advancement device has been used over and over whenever there is a prophecy involved. Could someone (aside from Alan Moore, because he masterfully wrote an omniscient Dr. Manhattan) write a story with an efficient Oracle, please?

I'll keep on reading East of West.
Profile Image for Chad.
10.3k reviews1,060 followers
August 18, 2025
This series is just the best. An alt-history look at a future U.S., one heavily influenced by the Civil War. But now there are those trying to end the world. There's also Death searching for his son. The other three horsemen are out there as well. Everyone has their own agenda. I love how they all cross over and intersect. Dracotta's art is top notch. The best of his career. Frank Martin's colors makes everything pop off the page.
Profile Image for Hassan.
113 reviews63 followers
August 18, 2015
4.5 stars
This series went to another level with this volume, it was way more better than the first one, more coherent, it introduced us to the characters properly, we got flashes from the past, it's just amazing.

the writing is fantastic, it's very poetic, very quotable, the concept is just so Original.

i'm definitely continuing on with this series.
Profile Image for Venus Maneater.
604 reviews34 followers
February 8, 2019
That ending is so incredibly awesome and how can you even be this bad-ass?! I love it.
Profile Image for Taylor Ramirez.
488 reviews25 followers
June 3, 2017
I really liked this installment of East of West. The art was on point just like in the last volume but the writing was amazing. There were a few really great lines. Also there was a lot more world-building we got to see some of the different nations which I liked. It was amazing and I can’t wait to continue on with this series.

~Spoilers~

“I swear is there no one that keeps a hold of their extremities these days? Yes, yes…I see now. You have two bloody hands, therefore a traitor must be among us…How could I have missed such definitive an undeniable logic?”

Chamberlin is probably my favorite character. He’s so slick, quick witted, silver tongued and yet so evil.

“Chaos, Bel. Best by the wind—your end…is nigh.”

Mostly evil.

“True as any true thing ever spoken, back then there was a saying: The only thing more corrupt than a politician was a judge. This of course had nothing to do with judges being weaker men and women…No, in fact, measure them closely, and you would clearly see that they were almost exactly the same. Both had long lost their souls. Both were totally corrupt. And both were always for sale. Judges were just cheaper.”

The writing was good in the last one but this volume has really stepped up its game. There are some just really great quotes in here.

So a bunch of lawmen kill judges and politicians for being corrupt. That’s…one way to do it. Of course it happens in Texas. They were the Rangers and they retired after killing all the judges and politicians. Now the leader is going after the Chosen.

I love how evil the President of the Union is. Like I would be rioting too if I had Female-Senator Palpatine as a president.

Death lost an eye…sucks.

Aw and the Ranger just fucking killed the Native Chosen before Death could discover where his kid is. Son of a bitch.
Profile Image for Riju Ganguly.
Author 37 books1,864 followers
January 3, 2024
This was excellent read, supplanted by gorgeous art. The story is acquiring greater complexity as well. I am engrossed and would have to move to the next volume.
Highly recommended.
Profile Image for Bonnie.
405 reviews8 followers
June 4, 2021
I am enjoying the expansion of the universe. Compelling story and characters! Fantastic artwork! I am definitely looking forward to the next volume.
Profile Image for Unai.
975 reviews55 followers
June 3, 2014
No he podido resistirme a seguir leyendo esta historia después de leer hace pocos días el tomo español, así que han caído los números que completan el segundo tomo americano y tengo que decir que la historia se asienta, una vez asumida la locura de géneros. Y no solo Hickman ya está mas suelto a la hora de poder empezar a contar mas cosas, sino que el dibujo de Dragotta alcanza cotas épicas por momentos, y no solo en sus paginas completas de un solo dibujo. Nota tambien para esa diferenciación de colores de Frank Martin cuando lo que cuenta es el pasado.

Por un lado conocemos mas de algunas de las 7 naciones y de los problemas internos y extrañezas de cada uno, sino que vemos como va gestándose un caldo de cultivo para futuros problemas. Ademas conocemos a otros personajes, con especial deleite en la de los Rangers de la república de Texas y como se convierten casi en jueces a lo megacity para sobreponerse a la corrupción política y judicial.

Por otro lado, Muerte sigue en su búsqueda, ya no del amor perdido y encontrado, sino de lo que este le revela al acabar el primer tomo y esa búsqueda le llevara a lugares bastante épico-extraños acompañado de Cuervo y Lobo, ese par de indios del pueblo eterno. También veremos momentos del pasado cuando Muerte aun cabalgaba con los otros 3 jinetes. Y sabremos mas de lo que hacen los 3 jinetes restantes con eso que Muerte busca.

Muy fresco y sorprendente todo. Una historia que va creciendo junto con la complejidad de este mundo tan extraño y con personajes de lo mas pintorescos y disfrutables, en parte por como los imagina Hickman y en parte por como los muestra Dragotta. Una agradable sorpresa esta colección, a la que puede costar entrar quizás por la atrevida y arriesgada mezcla de géneros (no es mi caso), pero que recompensa con su lectura.
Profile Image for Dakota Morgan.
3,390 reviews53 followers
March 8, 2022
This second East of West volume is an extended introduction to the setting and backstory with limited progress on the tale of Death finding his lost child. I'm fine with that, though, since the setting and backstory are some of the most appealing parts of East of West for me.

Even if the first volume's open questions aren't really answered, we do meet a skilled ranger, the prince of New Orleans, and a very gross Oracle. Do I need all these additional characters? Probably not, but they seem awfully cool in their deadly skills. Nick Dragotta's artwork continues to be a huge asset to the series. The second volume, like the first, is appealingly intriguing. Hickman has really nailed the sparse storytelling style of classic Westerns.
Profile Image for Adam.
1,021 reviews
August 21, 2020
As three of The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse continue their journey to locate their fourth cohort, Death, who is continuing their journey to locate, what we can only call The Beast at this point, the world expands and explores further into the politics of the future America that is East of West. As there are numerous of storylines happening at once, this series can require a great deal of focus at times. However, that does not shy away from the fact that this is an amazing series with incredibly detailed and violent artwork. Another fantastic reread.
Profile Image for Stewart Tame.
2,475 reviews120 followers
August 29, 2015
I'm still kind of on the fence about this one. It's an interesting world, and the plot is thickening nicely. But it feels just a little overly bombastic. The characters all seem to be hamming it up, and the book just takes itself so seriously. Minor characters die in droves, and everybody seems to be scowling. It doesn't need jokes or rainbows or anything, but it just doesn't seem to actually possess the weight it's trying to throw around, if that makes any sense. I'm liking it, but it feels hollow. I'm not sure what's lacking. Perhaps it's just me.
Profile Image for Sonic.
2,379 reviews67 followers
January 25, 2015
At the beginning of the first book I did not care for this artist, ... ~ ... but by the end of the second book, I must confess, I like this illustrator's style quite a bit!
This is a twisted story.
Fun!
Profile Image for Koen Claeys.
1,349 reviews26 followers
April 14, 2020
AMAZING !!!! I’ve been following Jonathan Hickman since the publication of his debut in comics, ‘The Nightly News’, and I haven’t been disappointed since. This second volume is a confirmation of the brilliance I saw in the first.
Profile Image for Sara ➽ Ink Is My Sword.
621 reviews484 followers
November 21, 2016
4 Not as exciting as the first one Stars

Oh well, I don't know I wanted more, perhaps Xiaolin, more of her, please.
But still intrigued as f* is just so captivating!
Profile Image for RG.
3,084 reviews
November 11, 2018
Ive just recently re read this and have become obsessed with Hickman!!
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