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East of West
East of West Vol. 1: The Promise
This is the world. It is not the one we wanted, but it is the one we deserved. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse roam the Earth, signaling the End Times for humanity, and our best hope for life, lies in DEATH. Collects EAST OF WEST #1 - #5.
154 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
430 people are currently reading
10579 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Hickman
1,224 books2,048 followersJonathan 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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,349 reviews
August 30, 2025
2025
Re-read this again as part of a buddy read. I know how it all turns out, but I have to say that this first volume is incredibly confusing. Lots of bread crumbs left scattered about, so I can see why my initial review of this wasn't glowing. This is one of those storylines that you need to make a commitment to if you want to find out what's happening because the first volume just isn't really going to cut the mustard much for you.
The art is very cool and superfans of Hickman will enjoy it, but the average reader will need to be looking for a dystopian cowboy story about the 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse's family problems that takes place in an alternate version of the United States.
Re-read 2020
Hmm. Not sure why, but this time around Hickman's Cowboy Apocalypse seemed a lot more interesting. I'm moving it up to a full 4 stars and starting in on volume 2 next.
Read in 2015
I'm kinda intrigued.
And I don't know what this has to do with anything, but every time the pasty dude got all angry and stabby, I kept hearing Kurt Russell in my head.
Only not. Because the pasty guy is Death...of the Four Horsemen variety.
He'd broken off from the other Horsemen, fallen in love, and then had it all snatched away from him. Now he's out for revenge.
Cowboy style!
This is an alternate reality story, set in a dystopian future with the Wild West as the backdrop. There's some prophecy about the End of Days, and a whole bunch of world leaders running around trying to actively bring on the Apocalypse.
Which makes very little sense to me, because that doesn't seem to be in anyone's best interest.
And then there's Death...running around trying to avenge his lady love.
Anyway. I'm a bit on the fence about the whole apocalypse storyline, but there was a nice twist towards the end that makes me think I want to come back and find out more. If nothing else, I finished this quickly, so it's definitely not a story you have to slog through.
Recommended.
Re-read this again as part of a buddy read. I know how it all turns out, but I have to say that this first volume is incredibly confusing. Lots of bread crumbs left scattered about, so I can see why my initial review of this wasn't glowing. This is one of those storylines that you need to make a commitment to if you want to find out what's happening because the first volume just isn't really going to cut the mustard much for you.
The art is very cool and superfans of Hickman will enjoy it, but the average reader will need to be looking for a dystopian cowboy story about the 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse's family problems that takes place in an alternate version of the United States.
Re-read 2020
Hmm. Not sure why, but this time around Hickman's Cowboy Apocalypse seemed a lot more interesting. I'm moving it up to a full 4 stars and starting in on volume 2 next.
Read in 2015
I'm kinda intrigued.
And I don't know what this has to do with anything, but every time the pasty dude got all angry and stabby, I kept hearing Kurt Russell in my head.
Only not. Because the pasty guy is Death...of the Four Horsemen variety.
He'd broken off from the other Horsemen, fallen in love, and then had it all snatched away from him. Now he's out for revenge.
Cowboy style!
This is an alternate reality story, set in a dystopian future with the Wild West as the backdrop. There's some prophecy about the End of Days, and a whole bunch of world leaders running around trying to actively bring on the Apocalypse.
Which makes very little sense to me, because that doesn't seem to be in anyone's best interest.
And then there's Death...running around trying to avenge his lady love.
Anyway. I'm a bit on the fence about the whole apocalypse storyline, but there was a nice twist towards the end that makes me think I want to come back and find out more. If nothing else, I finished this quickly, so it's definitely not a story you have to slog through.
Recommended.
June 15, 2022
What if the Europeans didn't conquer and savage Americas, and a peace treaty was signed? Jonathan Hickman and Nick Dragotta create a visually sparse, but interesting alternate reality 'New World' (America) fractured into 7 nation states mostly built of sole races and/or religions; then they throw in carnage, mysticism, carnage, politics, carnage, apocalypse worshipers, oh and there's a lot of carnage; just to make it all the more intense the Horsemen of the Apocalypse are back... but where's Death? This first volume as well as a overall reality scene and story setter, centres around the story of why Death is not (reborn) with them and the reason why, and what his real goal has been.
Thought provoking, dark, very violent, busy, but also at times not enough detail is provided, is best how I can describe this. The lack of detail maybe intentional as the book becomes clearer as the story progresses and back stories begin to emerge. So far it feels a lot like Hickman's Avengers or The Manhattan Projects - so much work in building such an interesting reality, and I know there's some intricate and clever storytelling going on... I just can't seem to truly grasp it, it always feels like there's something missing. 7 out of 12.
2021 read
Thought provoking, dark, very violent, busy, but also at times not enough detail is provided, is best how I can describe this. The lack of detail maybe intentional as the book becomes clearer as the story progresses and back stories begin to emerge. So far it feels a lot like Hickman's Avengers or The Manhattan Projects - so much work in building such an interesting reality, and I know there's some intricate and clever storytelling going on... I just can't seem to truly grasp it, it always feels like there's something missing. 7 out of 12.
2021 read
July 22, 2014
Oh, dystopian sci-fi! Crap like this is why I don’t read you that often!
Let’s see: the American Civil War lasted a lot longer because Native Americans got involved. Mystical stuff happened and the world (or was it just this country) was divided up into different parts. The Four Horseman of the Apocalyse are embodied as little kids but they’re one short. It seems that Death is a colorless (as in, drawn all white) adult cowboy, who’s accompanied by two witches (spirits, ghosts?). And he’s angry because some important people did something mean to him a bunch of years ago. And the three remaining kids/horseman are angry so they’re gonna hunt Death down and um, kill him.
Look, I’m not an idiot and I don’t mind being spoon fed important plot information, here and there, but man this was a truly difficult read. I was happy that each comic issue had blank white pages separating them. This meant I able to quickly turn the pages but didn’t have to read the actual comic.
Characters kept talking about something vague and all powerful called the “The Message”. “Message” received loud and clear - don’t read anymore of this series.
Let’s see: the American Civil War lasted a lot longer because Native Americans got involved. Mystical stuff happened and the world (or was it just this country) was divided up into different parts. The Four Horseman of the Apocalyse are embodied as little kids but they’re one short. It seems that Death is a colorless (as in, drawn all white) adult cowboy, who’s accompanied by two witches (spirits, ghosts?). And he’s angry because some important people did something mean to him a bunch of years ago. And the three remaining kids/horseman are angry so they’re gonna hunt Death down and um, kill him.
Look, I’m not an idiot and I don’t mind being spoon fed important plot information, here and there, but man this was a truly difficult read. I was happy that each comic issue had blank white pages separating them. This meant I able to quickly turn the pages but didn’t have to read the actual comic.
Characters kept talking about something vague and all powerful called the “The Message”. “Message” received loud and clear - don’t read anymore of this series.
June 25, 2019
This might be the most “That-was-not-what-I-was-expecting-at-all” experience I have ever had with a graphic novel. I have seen it listed on Hoopla before and always wanted to give it a try. Fate brought it my way sooner than expected when my Father-In-Law handed me the first three volumes and said, “These were weird, want to read them?” . . . . Well, of course I do!
The premise is a futuristic America where we never quite got past the Wild West. I guess you could call it a Cowboy-Punk story (does that work as a genre???) And, on top of that, the world is in the middle of the biblical apocalypse. But, the apocalypse cannot go quite according to plan when not all the horsemen are on board.
So, yes, it was weird, a bit hard to follow, and it took a half to two thirds for me to really get into what was a going on. But, I was quite fascinated by the story and I look forward to seeing where it goes. The minds behind this are twisted and creative – I cannot imagine how they came up with this craziness!
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Art wise, I am enjoying it so far. Sometimes the faces felt a little bit off to me, but overall, it is pleasing to the eye. I thought it was cool how in any of the flashbacks the art was the same, but had a washed out quality. Another thing that this book incorporated in the art that I have seen in several other graphic novels is very precise artistic panels combined with more impressionistic panels to give just a general feeling for the atmosphere, landscape, etc. It all works together very nicely.
If weird, futuristic sci-fi with a western feel sounds like your thing, try it out. Just remember that I warned you that it is really weird!
The premise is a futuristic America where we never quite got past the Wild West. I guess you could call it a Cowboy-Punk story (does that work as a genre???) And, on top of that, the world is in the middle of the biblical apocalypse. But, the apocalypse cannot go quite according to plan when not all the horsemen are on board.
So, yes, it was weird, a bit hard to follow, and it took a half to two thirds for me to really get into what was a going on. But, I was quite fascinated by the story and I look forward to seeing where it goes. The minds behind this are twisted and creative – I cannot imagine how they came up with this craziness!
[image error]
Art wise, I am enjoying it so far. Sometimes the faces felt a little bit off to me, but overall, it is pleasing to the eye. I thought it was cool how in any of the flashbacks the art was the same, but had a washed out quality. Another thing that this book incorporated in the art that I have seen in several other graphic novels is very precise artistic panels combined with more impressionistic panels to give just a general feeling for the atmosphere, landscape, etc. It all works together very nicely.
If weird, futuristic sci-fi with a western feel sounds like your thing, try it out. Just remember that I warned you that it is really weird!
July 25, 2014
I know the refrain from reviewers for Jonathan Hickman is that his Image, creator-owned stuff is better than his work-for-hire Marvel material but I have to say he’s very much up and down on both sides of the comic fence. For every great FF and Architects of Forever series you get a baffling title like his Avengers and New Avengers, and for every brilliant title like God Is Dead and Manhattan Projects you get an utterly dismal Nightly News and East of West.
I disliked East of West for so many reasons - it’s not much of a story and full of cliches, there aren’t many ideas and the ones Hickman uses have been done before and better in other media, the characters are moronic, and the entire concept of yet another end of world scenario from Hickman is just laboured and boring.
In East of West, an alternate world where an extra long American Civil War led to the creation of seven separate states that make up America. For some reason the four horsemen of the Apocalypse, in kid form, have shown up minus Death who is for some reason a pure white adult gunslinger looking for his wife(!). The three horsemen set out to find Death to complete their group and bring about Armageddon. Or something like that. It’s Old West meets Star Wars meets Far East meets boring.
This is comic where I was constantly made aware of other media like movies, TV shows, and comics, I’d seen before being mined for material to make up this book. First off the four horsemen of the Apocalypse thing has been done to death since forever - making them kids is hardly a game changer, nor is making Death a pure white gunslinger (and I don’t mean racially, I mean every facet of this dude from his boots to his hat to his long white hair is alabaster white).
Then we have the whole divided states of America thing which is something hack writers like Harry Turtledove have made a career out of writing about plus there’s been this board game called Risk which has been around for decades which takes a similar premise. Death has these flashbacks from a time when he - Death - was somehow “killed”, or something, by a group of people whom he is now hunting down. That entire sequence and setup looks and feels just like The Bride’s story from Kill Bill. Then we have the look and feel of the world which by turns looks like that 80s kids TV show Bravestarr, Star Wars’ Coruscant, and 2000AD’s Missionary Man. Nothing about artist Nick Dragotta’s treatment of this comic looks at all original.
I just didn’t get the story at all - who Death is, whether he really is Death, ie. the natural state of living beings’ conclusion to life, or not. If he is, why are the other horsemen kids, and why is he at odds with them? Also why is he hunting down these men who wronged him physically when, seeing he is an anthropomorphic personification, he can simply emerge anywhere? He doesn’t need guns does he? And why does he need a wife? Death got married and had a kid? WTF!!! Oh and another thing that Death’s wife, Xiaolian, reminded me of was Talia Al-Ghul from Batman. And of course, being Asian, she spends her time tending to her lotuses in a zen garden called Tranquility (golf clap, Hickman).
Somehow the people of this world accept that the President and his entire cabinet have been systematically murdered (decapitated in nearly every instance) and have no objections to someone called Antonia LeVay who also looks like Maleficent from Disney’s Sleeping Beauty, becoming the new President. Antonia LeVay - another golf clap, Hickman. “I need a villainess’ name… how about I take the famous Satanist Anton LeVay’s name and feminise it? Brilliant!”.
And if you can take all of this nonsense seriously, then the finale will really lose you. See, stories are interesting when there are stakes and our heroes have vulnerabilities - the first gives us narrative tension, the second also does this but also adds the creative element to creative writing. The writer has to figure out how the hero or heroes will overcome obstacles in the story. Well, when you have Death as the hero and his two ghost Indian shape-changing buddies, none of whom can be killed, and are ridiculously powerful that nothing can get in their way, then you’ve failed on both counts. Death and his two companions face an ENTIRE ARMY and take it out in a few pages without blinking. Using six shooters and magic animals, they decimate an entire army who’re shooting lasers, bullets, and all kinds of explosives at them and they’re barely scratched. Oh, now I’m really on the edge of my seat. If literally nothing can harm them and they’re invincible, then why should I care about this climactic battle when said battle will be so one-sided?
One final thing - this whole story is about the end of the world brought about by the Beast of the Apocalypse. Maybe it’s because I’ve read too many Hickman books where this has been the case, but I’m getting pretty tired of reading a Hickman comic where the story is about the end of the world. Hickman’s used this plot element so much, it’s become a joke. His Avengers books are about the Avengers stopping the end of the world - the same goes for his FF books, his Infinity mini-series, the Manhattan Projects, Architects of Forever, God Is Dead and now East of West, all of which are about the end of the world. Hearing about the end of the world is not interesting when every single book has the end of the world as the stake - it feels lazy and uninspired, like shorthand for saying “this story is important”. What must it be like to live in Jonathan Hickman’s mind where every single story has to be about the end of the world?
So that’s East of West, at least as I experienced it: dull story, cliched characters, and not a single original element in the entire five issues. Nick Dragotta’s art is the only good thing about it but I think I’m about done with Jonathan Hickman for a while - there are only so many comics where doomsday is de rigeur that I can read and East of West pushed me past that limit. This is one seriously overrated and dreary comic.
I disliked East of West for so many reasons - it’s not much of a story and full of cliches, there aren’t many ideas and the ones Hickman uses have been done before and better in other media, the characters are moronic, and the entire concept of yet another end of world scenario from Hickman is just laboured and boring.
In East of West, an alternate world where an extra long American Civil War led to the creation of seven separate states that make up America. For some reason the four horsemen of the Apocalypse, in kid form, have shown up minus Death who is for some reason a pure white adult gunslinger looking for his wife(!). The three horsemen set out to find Death to complete their group and bring about Armageddon. Or something like that. It’s Old West meets Star Wars meets Far East meets boring.
This is comic where I was constantly made aware of other media like movies, TV shows, and comics, I’d seen before being mined for material to make up this book. First off the four horsemen of the Apocalypse thing has been done to death since forever - making them kids is hardly a game changer, nor is making Death a pure white gunslinger (and I don’t mean racially, I mean every facet of this dude from his boots to his hat to his long white hair is alabaster white).
Then we have the whole divided states of America thing which is something hack writers like Harry Turtledove have made a career out of writing about plus there’s been this board game called Risk which has been around for decades which takes a similar premise. Death has these flashbacks from a time when he - Death - was somehow “killed”, or something, by a group of people whom he is now hunting down. That entire sequence and setup looks and feels just like The Bride’s story from Kill Bill. Then we have the look and feel of the world which by turns looks like that 80s kids TV show Bravestarr, Star Wars’ Coruscant, and 2000AD’s Missionary Man. Nothing about artist Nick Dragotta’s treatment of this comic looks at all original.
I just didn’t get the story at all - who Death is, whether he really is Death, ie. the natural state of living beings’ conclusion to life, or not. If he is, why are the other horsemen kids, and why is he at odds with them? Also why is he hunting down these men who wronged him physically when, seeing he is an anthropomorphic personification, he can simply emerge anywhere? He doesn’t need guns does he? And why does he need a wife? Death got married and had a kid? WTF!!! Oh and another thing that Death’s wife, Xiaolian, reminded me of was Talia Al-Ghul from Batman. And of course, being Asian, she spends her time tending to her lotuses in a zen garden called Tranquility (golf clap, Hickman).
Somehow the people of this world accept that the President and his entire cabinet have been systematically murdered (decapitated in nearly every instance) and have no objections to someone called Antonia LeVay who also looks like Maleficent from Disney’s Sleeping Beauty, becoming the new President. Antonia LeVay - another golf clap, Hickman. “I need a villainess’ name… how about I take the famous Satanist Anton LeVay’s name and feminise it? Brilliant!”.
And if you can take all of this nonsense seriously, then the finale will really lose you. See, stories are interesting when there are stakes and our heroes have vulnerabilities - the first gives us narrative tension, the second also does this but also adds the creative element to creative writing. The writer has to figure out how the hero or heroes will overcome obstacles in the story. Well, when you have Death as the hero and his two ghost Indian shape-changing buddies, none of whom can be killed, and are ridiculously powerful that nothing can get in their way, then you’ve failed on both counts. Death and his two companions face an ENTIRE ARMY and take it out in a few pages without blinking. Using six shooters and magic animals, they decimate an entire army who’re shooting lasers, bullets, and all kinds of explosives at them and they’re barely scratched. Oh, now I’m really on the edge of my seat. If literally nothing can harm them and they’re invincible, then why should I care about this climactic battle when said battle will be so one-sided?
One final thing - this whole story is about the end of the world brought about by the Beast of the Apocalypse. Maybe it’s because I’ve read too many Hickman books where this has been the case, but I’m getting pretty tired of reading a Hickman comic where the story is about the end of the world. Hickman’s used this plot element so much, it’s become a joke. His Avengers books are about the Avengers stopping the end of the world - the same goes for his FF books, his Infinity mini-series, the Manhattan Projects, Architects of Forever, God Is Dead and now East of West, all of which are about the end of the world. Hearing about the end of the world is not interesting when every single book has the end of the world as the stake - it feels lazy and uninspired, like shorthand for saying “this story is important”. What must it be like to live in Jonathan Hickman’s mind where every single story has to be about the end of the world?
So that’s East of West, at least as I experienced it: dull story, cliched characters, and not a single original element in the entire five issues. Nick Dragotta’s art is the only good thing about it but I think I’m about done with Jonathan Hickman for a while - there are only so many comics where doomsday is de rigeur that I can read and East of West pushed me past that limit. This is one seriously overrated and dreary comic.
February 10, 2016
This was even better the second time I read it!
Reread: February 2016
First read: January 2015
Reread: February 2016
First read: January 2015
August 10, 2016
This is a good graphic novel about the apocalypse. I tend to hate novels/graphic novels about the apocalypse because they tend to be repetitive and unsatisfactory. East of West has an interesting plot and great characters.
It's forgivable for the first volume to have a confusing plot. What made it confusing for this one is the terrible introduction. The writer should have done it better. The world is poorly introduced, thus it made the plot a bit confusing. What made up for that would be the ending and the characters. I really enjoyed the characters that the author created.
The plot is filled with violence. I really enjoy it when a western is violent, and all the head cutting just added to the positive aspects.
4/5 stars. Not the best graphic novel out there, but I'm intrigued as to how the plot will develop. I'm hoping the ending of this one isn't just a gimmick. Can't wait to read the next volume.
It's forgivable for the first volume to have a confusing plot. What made it confusing for this one is the terrible introduction. The writer should have done it better. The world is poorly introduced, thus it made the plot a bit confusing. What made up for that would be the ending and the characters. I really enjoyed the characters that the author created.
The plot is filled with violence. I really enjoy it when a western is violent, and all the head cutting just added to the positive aspects.
4/5 stars. Not the best graphic novel out there, but I'm intrigued as to how the plot will develop. I'm hoping the ending of this one isn't just a gimmick. Can't wait to read the next volume.
April 30, 2024
Didn't really work for me.
Though I liked the art and got into it in the end, I was confused for the first half of it and felt like it was overall just a long instalment who can't really stand on its own.
Volume 2 might be a better fit but I'm not sure I will read it.
Though I liked the art and got into it in the end, I was confused for the first half of it and felt like it was overall just a long instalment who can't really stand on its own.
Volume 2 might be a better fit but I'm not sure I will read it.
August 20, 2025
PT Cometi um grande erro com este. Peguei nele já a altas horas da noite, com a intenção de ler apenas umas páginas, mas não consegui largá-lo até o terminar — à custa de várias preciosas horas de sono.
Tinha começado a ler esta série quando foi lançada pela primeira vez, mas nunca cheguei a concluí-la. Agora, pretendo mesmo levá-la até ao fim.
Esta série combina temas de western, ficção científica e religião. Na minha opinião, é provavelmente o melhor trabalho de Jonathan Hickman e uma pérola subestimada — mas vou reservar o juízo final até a terminar por completo.
Por agora, só posso dizer que este primeiro volume é fantástico e que mal posso esperar para devorar o próximo.
--
EN I made a big mistake with this one. I picked it up late at night intending to read just a few pages, but I couldn’t put it down until I had finished it—at the cost of several precious hours of sleep.
I had started reading this series when it was first released but never actually finished it. Now, I fully intend to see it through.
This series blends Western, sci-fi, and religious themes. In my opinion, it’s probably Jonathan Hickman’s best work and an underrated gem—but I’ll hold back final judgment until I’ve truly finished it.
All I can say for now is that this first volume is fantastic, and I’m eager to dive straight into the next one.
Tinha começado a ler esta série quando foi lançada pela primeira vez, mas nunca cheguei a concluí-la. Agora, pretendo mesmo levá-la até ao fim.
Esta série combina temas de western, ficção científica e religião. Na minha opinião, é provavelmente o melhor trabalho de Jonathan Hickman e uma pérola subestimada — mas vou reservar o juízo final até a terminar por completo.
Por agora, só posso dizer que este primeiro volume é fantástico e que mal posso esperar para devorar o próximo.
--
EN I made a big mistake with this one. I picked it up late at night intending to read just a few pages, but I couldn’t put it down until I had finished it—at the cost of several precious hours of sleep.
I had started reading this series when it was first released but never actually finished it. Now, I fully intend to see it through.
This series blends Western, sci-fi, and religious themes. In my opinion, it’s probably Jonathan Hickman’s best work and an underrated gem—but I’ll hold back final judgment until I’ve truly finished it.
All I can say for now is that this first volume is fantastic, and I’m eager to dive straight into the next one.
February 13, 2016
East of West: The Promise promises lots of interesting stuff, based on this first volume, and I took my time with it, but still am not sure what I think of it. I like the art. The story is basically a Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse story where they are kids, and the central character is one of them, Death, who is looking for someone. Okay, it's his wife. Wife? Wife. So he's not a kid. He's a cowboy. Once the image of good guys in comics, now the bad guy vs Native Americans, at least.
Oh, and that Apocalypse aspect of the Four Horsemen is the basic premise here, we are at the End of Time. And it's also a Western, pro-Native American. And with lots of violence in it. Oh, and it's sci fi, too, with some futuristic high tech. And Mao, or one of them. And the murder of the POTUS (not the present one). And none of these threads come together in the first volume! It's all Confusing-First-Volume, I promise it will all come together in the end, says Hickman, I guess. Promises, promises. Somebody tell me it is all worth it and and at least some of it comes together?
Personally, I got a little intrigued about this because I had just read the non fiction study of the end of Arctic ice in The End of the Ice, and the end-of-times The Dark Mountain Manifesto, and I often read some dystopian work of various kinds. There's a lot of it out there, eh? So this had me going because I had just read that stuff, but see the last paragraph for why this is a bit of work.
So the setting is the American West and Death is a ghostly white (not all black, right) gunslinger, who has been killed? but is back to find his wife. The US seems to be divided into 7 different areas, sub-countries? and one of them is Native American, which accounts for some mystical ideas running through it. Ideas abound in this one, not all of them original, not sure if they are coherent, cohesive. Now I need to read other reviews to see what I missed. And read the next one.
Oh, and that Apocalypse aspect of the Four Horsemen is the basic premise here, we are at the End of Time. And it's also a Western, pro-Native American. And with lots of violence in it. Oh, and it's sci fi, too, with some futuristic high tech. And Mao, or one of them. And the murder of the POTUS (not the present one). And none of these threads come together in the first volume! It's all Confusing-First-Volume, I promise it will all come together in the end, says Hickman, I guess. Promises, promises. Somebody tell me it is all worth it and and at least some of it comes together?
Personally, I got a little intrigued about this because I had just read the non fiction study of the end of Arctic ice in The End of the Ice, and the end-of-times The Dark Mountain Manifesto, and I often read some dystopian work of various kinds. There's a lot of it out there, eh? So this had me going because I had just read that stuff, but see the last paragraph for why this is a bit of work.
So the setting is the American West and Death is a ghostly white (not all black, right) gunslinger, who has been killed? but is back to find his wife. The US seems to be divided into 7 different areas, sub-countries? and one of them is Native American, which accounts for some mystical ideas running through it. Ideas abound in this one, not all of them original, not sure if they are coherent, cohesive. Now I need to read other reviews to see what I missed. And read the next one.
August 11, 2025
I liked this so much better this go around as opposed to the first time I read it. It's an alternate future where the U.S. broke off into 7 factions after the Civil War. It's now too years later and the 4 Horseman of the Apocalypse have returned. However, Death is on his own and looking for revenge while the other 3 are looking to kill him. Every time I saw Death, all I could think of is the scene in Tombstone where Wyatt Earp tells Ike Clanton "You tell 'em I'm coming... and hell's coming with me, you hear?"
There's so much to like about this. The art by Nick Dragotta is just terrific. It's only supplemented by Frank Martin's perfect colors that pop off the page.
There's so much to like about this. The art by Nick Dragotta is just terrific. It's only supplemented by Frank Martin's perfect colors that pop off the page.
December 3, 2018
4 stars! This was fun, I was kinda confused to start off with since the art style is a bit confusing as there’s so much going on in one frame but then I got used to it the further I read.
The art is very cool, it reminds me a lot of the X-Men comics and it’s humour is very ‘Saga’ like.
Would recommend you try it out if you like the Saga series. Can’t wait to pick up the next volume!
The art is very cool, it reminds me a lot of the X-Men comics and it’s humour is very ‘Saga’ like.
Would recommend you try it out if you like the Saga series. Can’t wait to pick up the next volume!
December 11, 2014
Bullet Review:
This is so Hickman, it's not even funny.
I think the biggest reason I'm giving it 3 stars is because I actually have half an idea of what is going on - more than I ever did with that stupid Avengers White Event crap.
Coworker lent me volume 2, so here goes nuthin'!!!
This is so Hickman, it's not even funny.
I think the biggest reason I'm giving it 3 stars is because I actually have half an idea of what is going on - more than I ever did with that stupid Avengers White Event crap.
Coworker lent me volume 2, so here goes nuthin'!!!
March 1, 2015
I found this kind of confusing, but overall very enjoyable. I will be picking up the next volume!
April 8, 2021
"The things that divide us are stronger than the things that unite us."
I'll tell you why this is so great: simplicity. It isn't as much vague as it is sparse, large as it is empty space, complex as it is connected. It's really straight forward actually. And it is beautifully illustrated.
All right, but why is it great? And because of what? The magic of Hickman is his ability to go from subtle to blatant and the use of the dramatic, with downright impressive writing. This is pretty quiet, overall, not unlike a western, with occasional (sometimes literal) raging cannon bursts that rip across the page with color and sound. And I'll admit, I'm a pretty naïve reader when it comes to westerns. So maybe this is cliché, maybe it isn't. It doesn't strike me as cliché. I've never read a comic about the Four Horseman, about a white rider that is death, about The Message, about a post-apoc America split into factions (apart from Snyder's Wake mini-series, now that I think about it). So it's all shiny and new. Maybe it's just me, but I don't think so. It wouldn't rate this well if it were just me. It doesn't strike me as recycled. All art begets all art but this didn't feel like anything else.
What's it about? We can all read the back cover. What it's actually about is love, and that may surprise you. The Four Horseman split up because Xiaolian, a New Shangai warrior, once conquered Death with love. And Death abandoned the Apocalypse. There. There's your Why. Don't dig deeper, that's it at its core.
"You come face to face with love, and before the sun sets, you've become someone you didn't used to be. It makes the old new. Makes dead things live. Love makes you into something better."
(Talking about Xiaolian) "A lotus, the death and resurrection of love." Reading this, I thought a better way of saying it is 'the death of death and the resurrection of love.' So that's why Death is doing what he's doing. Fighting against the Horseman because it's against his very nature. Destroying The Message. Destroying all that stands in the path of love. But isn't that hypocritical? Isn't death for love still death? Isn't he kidding himself? Am I ever going to answer these questions? They don't need answering. We are all hypocrites. It's where his heart lies that matters.
May 2, 2014
East of West is the quintessential Jonathan Hickman book. It starts out confusing and comprehension can only be earned by rereads. A Hickman book is also heavy in alternate history and pseudosciences which this title has in spades.
This book is definitely unlike any other in the market right now. It's different from his Marvel books where in Avengers he may be trying to erase the concept of hero, they are still heroes, in East of West, there's no hero, but an anti-hero, similar in vein to Clint Eastwood's Man with No Name archtype. I mean, the Horseman of Death could harld be considered a hero if he is the clear protagonist in this book.
This book is definitely unlike any other in the market right now. It's different from his Marvel books where in Avengers he may be trying to erase the concept of hero, they are still heroes, in East of West, there's no hero, but an anti-hero, similar in vein to Clint Eastwood's Man with No Name archtype. I mean, the Horseman of Death could harld be considered a hero if he is the clear protagonist in this book.
March 14, 2016
Super enjoyed this one! Cool premise, executed well. One of the best I've read in awhile.
February 24, 2020
Update - 2/24/20 - Well I enjoyed this one a lot more this read too, so bumping this one up to a 4 as well. It is still confusing at first, and gathering who everyone is, and going back and forth between time periods. But, once you get settled in, it's extremely interesting world. Now that the series is done I plan on reading it all!
I didn't love the first half of this book. Needlessly complicated at first, back and forth feel of characters, nothing connecting. However, when it slows down and gets to the meat of it all, it really does becoming engrossing to read. I especially enjoyed Death at the end of this comic and you can feel his pain. Overall interesting take on the four horsemen. I'll be reading more of this series now.
I didn't love the first half of this book. Needlessly complicated at first, back and forth feel of characters, nothing connecting. However, when it slows down and gets to the meat of it all, it really does becoming engrossing to read. I especially enjoyed Death at the end of this comic and you can feel his pain. Overall interesting take on the four horsemen. I'll be reading more of this series now.
April 8, 2018
Don't read many graphic novels or comics, but this is a reminder of why I should read more.
I really liked this book. It was a ton of fun and quite suspenseful. It had a cool twist on the normal western as well.
The art is here really was fantastic, and the action scenes were pretty awesome.
The character of Death was really great, and the book was just an entertaining ride.
It was really confusing though, and some of the other characters were pretty one-dimensional, but I'm sure if I read on these issues would be corrected.
3.5/5
I really liked this book. It was a ton of fun and quite suspenseful. It had a cool twist on the normal western as well.
The art is here really was fantastic, and the action scenes were pretty awesome.
The character of Death was really great, and the book was just an entertaining ride.
It was really confusing though, and some of the other characters were pretty one-dimensional, but I'm sure if I read on these issues would be corrected.
3.5/5
October 29, 2021
Reread: 29/10/21
My thoughts on the book remain the same but what I love about the rereadings is the way you come to know about the world and the war that happened that led to the world as it is now and the apocalypse yet to come, the child of death will be the one to bring it and I love the way Hickman focuses on Xiaolin and Death and shows their love story in a brilliant way and also whatever is going on with the other horsemen and the chosen is intriguing. Plus Dragotta's art is always a pleasure to look at so always a high recommend!
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Reread: 03/04/21
The book is mostly about this guy death looking to take revenger on the chosen who kind of took his wife and killed his son and this apocalyptic world is the one where civil war never ended and a comet struck this place and the 7 nations were born and the representatives signed a treaty and they are the chosen who are to bring about the apocalypse and thats what this message is and for that the four horsemen were born but death fell in love with a girl named Xiaolin in 2054 and then these things happen in 2064. This first volume was mostly about death dealing with this and taking out the names on the list and reuniting with his love and embarking on a new mission, because their son may not be dead. And we also learn of what the Chosen's plan for their son is. Its fascinating read and can be a confusing read but well done by the author. Also the artwork is gorgeous.
____________________________________________________________
This was quite good! We pick up in an apocalyptic land and death is looking for his wife and he takes down all those who tried to stop him. There is something called "The message" written in Apocrypha (apocalypse like holy book)? And from there we are introduced to other horsemen- war, famine, conquest and the chosen who want to stop death. We learn about Xiaolin and the house of mao and how she conquered death and their child and how he will be the great beast and then we have Death promising his wife he will look for their children. Interesting book, premise. The art is gorgeous and there are so many mysteries.
My thoughts on the book remain the same but what I love about the rereadings is the way you come to know about the world and the war that happened that led to the world as it is now and the apocalypse yet to come, the child of death will be the one to bring it and I love the way Hickman focuses on Xiaolin and Death and shows their love story in a brilliant way and also whatever is going on with the other horsemen and the chosen is intriguing. Plus Dragotta's art is always a pleasure to look at so always a high recommend!
____________________________________________________________________________________
Reread: 03/04/21
The book is mostly about this guy death looking to take revenger on the chosen who kind of took his wife and killed his son and this apocalyptic world is the one where civil war never ended and a comet struck this place and the 7 nations were born and the representatives signed a treaty and they are the chosen who are to bring about the apocalypse and thats what this message is and for that the four horsemen were born but death fell in love with a girl named Xiaolin in 2054 and then these things happen in 2064. This first volume was mostly about death dealing with this and taking out the names on the list and reuniting with his love and embarking on a new mission, because their son may not be dead. And we also learn of what the Chosen's plan for their son is. Its fascinating read and can be a confusing read but well done by the author. Also the artwork is gorgeous.
____________________________________________________________
This was quite good! We pick up in an apocalyptic land and death is looking for his wife and he takes down all those who tried to stop him. There is something called "The message" written in Apocrypha (apocalypse like holy book)? And from there we are introduced to other horsemen- war, famine, conquest and the chosen who want to stop death. We learn about Xiaolin and the house of mao and how she conquered death and their child and how he will be the great beast and then we have Death promising his wife he will look for their children. Interesting book, premise. The art is gorgeous and there are so many mysteries.
November 8, 2022
Jonathan Hickman's epic scifi take on alternatitve history-future America begins. It is epic indeed, full of intense violent moments as only this man can write... But it also suffers from a usual problem with this writer: Who do we root for? There are a bunch of evil dictators and the horsemen of the apocalypse divying up the land. It looks cool, but which side are we on and why do we care?
It becomes harder to follow for much of that reason as the series progresses, but this was definitely a powerful start. Overall though, I still have to say I prefer it when Hickman writers mainstream superheroes (Avengers et. al X-Men) and at least the characters and sides are established for that reason.
It becomes harder to follow for much of that reason as the series progresses, but this was definitely a powerful start. Overall though, I still have to say I prefer it when Hickman writers mainstream superheroes (Avengers et. al X-Men) and at least the characters and sides are established for that reason.
January 26, 2015
I'm honestly not entirely sure how I feel about this book. There are some interesting and clever concepts, and the art is fantastic. But there's a lot being thrown out all at once. Too much, I think. Yes, the story is obviously on a grand scale. One of the characters is Death, and the Apocalypse is at stake. So there has to be a lot going on, but it doesn't all need to happen at once. This could end up being a grand story, but I don't know if I'm up for it.
February 8, 2015
I read this last night, followed right after by Vol. 2...I must disclose this to you my loyal followers and Shallows...I was high as fuck on Percs.
Therefore, I'm not sure, but I think this made it far more interesting to me than it had any right to be.
I woke up this afternoon to explain the basic plot to my wife, and afterwards, even I thought I was a raving lunatic...
In a parallel Earth, the American Civil War had an entirely different outcome. There were then 7 sectors that the US was divided into (Texas, New Shanghai, New Orleans, Dead Lands (Native) and some other shit.) The 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse came to Earth minus Death, who didn't show up. They're reincarnated as Children this time...and all different colours...ya. So they're actually the figureheads of a Religion called "The Message".
Death is like the Clint Eastwood character, from Josey Wales/Unforgiven. Going around and revenging for being killed...wait...Death was killed? Umm...huh?
Turns out the heads of the 7 families/sections of US didn't like him. He's Tarantinoing them. With the help of his 2 trusty Native helpers, Wolf and Crow (these characters are black and white.) Death is all White instead of black, so we know with the cowboy hat, he's the good guy...I think...
Then we discover he's super pissed because they took his wife...Death had a wife...yup.
She's this Asian girl, who's the daughter of MAO V, the 5th descendant of Mao Zedong...ya.
Then he gets info, and goes and with his 2 helpers, destroys the ENTIRE New Shanghai army.
She's not happy to see him, because she blames him for the death of their child...ya...Death has a kid!
Then he reveals something, and goes on a quest...
Ya. Me too Slim. Me too...
If I hadn't been high this might have hurt my head. Instead, it's like when you're super exhausted but you stay up to watch a shitty B-movie on late night TV, and are very amused by it.
I was amused, I smirked, and was like...OK sure why not.
However...this is a derivative piece of writing which I'm amazed hasn't got Hickman sued 10 ways til Tuesday. It's a ripoff of just about EVERYTHING.
So I'm very conflicted, because I see that, but yet, my altered state found it amusing, but not enjoyable...I mean, it was better than Justice League Trinity War...(sorry Anne!) but still...I'm not going to say it was good. It wasn't bad. It just was.
I read part 2 as well...because I got high.
I don't feel like I should recommend this, but I also feel like it's a trip...Kinda like watching The Wall movie...same rules: DON'T DO IT SOBER!
Get this review and more at:
Therefore, I'm not sure, but I think this made it far more interesting to me than it had any right to be.
I woke up this afternoon to explain the basic plot to my wife, and afterwards, even I thought I was a raving lunatic...
In a parallel Earth, the American Civil War had an entirely different outcome. There were then 7 sectors that the US was divided into (Texas, New Shanghai, New Orleans, Dead Lands (Native) and some other shit.) The 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse came to Earth minus Death, who didn't show up. They're reincarnated as Children this time...and all different colours...ya. So they're actually the figureheads of a Religion called "The Message".
Death is like the Clint Eastwood character, from Josey Wales/Unforgiven. Going around and revenging for being killed...wait...Death was killed? Umm...huh?
Turns out the heads of the 7 families/sections of US didn't like him. He's Tarantinoing them. With the help of his 2 trusty Native helpers, Wolf and Crow (these characters are black and white.) Death is all White instead of black, so we know with the cowboy hat, he's the good guy...I think...
Then we discover he's super pissed because they took his wife...Death had a wife...yup.
She's this Asian girl, who's the daughter of MAO V, the 5th descendant of Mao Zedong...ya.
Then he gets info, and goes and with his 2 helpers, destroys the ENTIRE New Shanghai army.
She's not happy to see him, because she blames him for the death of their child...ya...Death has a kid!
Then he reveals something, and goes on a quest...
Ya. Me too Slim. Me too...
If I hadn't been high this might have hurt my head. Instead, it's like when you're super exhausted but you stay up to watch a shitty B-movie on late night TV, and are very amused by it.
I was amused, I smirked, and was like...OK sure why not.
However...this is a derivative piece of writing which I'm amazed hasn't got Hickman sued 10 ways til Tuesday. It's a ripoff of just about EVERYTHING.
So I'm very conflicted, because I see that, but yet, my altered state found it amusing, but not enjoyable...I mean, it was better than Justice League Trinity War...(sorry Anne!) but still...I'm not going to say it was good. It wasn't bad. It just was.
I read part 2 as well...because I got high.
I don't feel like I should recommend this, but I also feel like it's a trip...Kinda like watching The Wall movie...same rules: DON'T DO IT SOBER!
Get this review and more at:
October 24, 2019
THE FOUR HORSEMEN OF THE APOCALYPSE? DEATH AS HUMANITY'S SAVIOUR? CREEPY CHILDREN?
This is one of those that requires a few re-reads to truly comprehend what the hell is going on.
5 More Comic Book Series Everyone Should Read
This is one of those that requires a few re-reads to truly comprehend what the hell is going on.
5 More Comic Book Series Everyone Should Read
January 21, 2016
You can find my review of this trade paperback at:
https://bookidote.wordpress.com/2016/...
Yours truly,
Lashaan
Lashaan & Trang | Bloggers and Book Reviewers
Official blog: http://bookidote.wordpress.com
______________________________
Fairly interesting take on the Four Horsemen. Might have stumbled a little in setting the table for future volumes. Still going to check out what volume 2 has in store for me. :D
P.S. A full review of this will come soon enough !
Yours truly,
Lashaan
Lashaan & Trang | Bloggers and Book Reviewers
Official blog: http://bookidote.wordpress.com
https://bookidote.wordpress.com/2016/...
Yours truly,
Lashaan
Lashaan & Trang | Bloggers and Book Reviewers
Official blog: http://bookidote.wordpress.com
______________________________
Fairly interesting take on the Four Horsemen. Might have stumbled a little in setting the table for future volumes. Still going to check out what volume 2 has in store for me. :D
P.S. A full review of this will come soon enough !
Yours truly,
Lashaan
Lashaan & Trang | Bloggers and Book Reviewers
Official blog: http://bookidote.wordpress.com
June 23, 2025
A post-Apocalyptic Western that involves the four horsemen of the Apocalypse. It's a little more reserved than Manhattan Projects, probably because it's a different genre and Hickman can't play with all the science fiction tropes he does in MP. It's good though, largely because it's so pretty to look at. I wasn't always a fan of some of Dragotta's Marvel work, but he really comes into his own when he's free from drawing corporate owned characters.
April 12, 2018
A somewhat cliched concept. Starts off confusing but gets a bit comprehensible after a while. The first arc is not sufficient to decide how the story fares. Character development was an issue, which I hope the later volumes remedy. Liked Nick Dragotta's art, especially the minimalist covers.
August 9, 2015
The first volume of East of West is a serviceable introduction to a dull Apocalypse story set in a rather interesting alternate reality. What I enjoyed the most is the artwork. The story itself (so far) is not as interesting as I thought it would be after reading the first few pages.
There are some genuinely solid events in the book but they are all just bits and pieces, muddled in so many cliche end-of-times plot elements like the Chosen ones whose actual role is unclear and a vague prophecy called the Message.
What this volume also lacks is focus. I particularly hoped to read more of the action-carnage scenes (you'd know what I'm talking about when you read the material) but what I got more are dialogues and the three Horsemen trying to find Death. Curse these three horsemen. Why? Famine, Conquest and War are abysmally generic and annoyingly dull! Death is a tad better but generally unlikeable too. While a certified badass, I seriously don't buy his "I will do everything for love" motivation. It just felt cheesy and forced. The way Thanos did it (with a female Death) in Infinity Gauntlet is more acceptable.
There are some characters which show potential though. President Chamberlain is worth reading for and the Crown Prince of Orleans looks cool.
There are some genuinely solid events in the book but they are all just bits and pieces, muddled in so many cliche end-of-times plot elements like the Chosen ones whose actual role is unclear and a vague prophecy called the Message.
What this volume also lacks is focus. I particularly hoped to read more of the action-carnage scenes (you'd know what I'm talking about when you read the material) but what I got more are dialogues and the three Horsemen trying to find Death. Curse these three horsemen. Why? Famine, Conquest and War are abysmally generic and annoyingly dull! Death is a tad better but generally unlikeable too. While a certified badass, I seriously don't buy his "I will do everything for love" motivation. It just felt cheesy and forced. The way Thanos did it (with a female Death) in Infinity Gauntlet is more acceptable.
There are some characters which show potential though. President Chamberlain is worth reading for and the Crown Prince of Orleans looks cool.
April 23, 2014
I weeble-wobble when it comes to Hickman's work. He has written some incredible stuff, and on the flip side he has written some stuff that just leaves me scratching my head.
After reading this first trade, I can confidently say that this is my favorite work from him to date. Going through some of the reviews on here, I just don't get how there are some that are giving it the stink eye. There wasn't anything in this comic, at all, that I didn't enjoy. The story was easy enough to follow, I liked the cast of characters - Death's side kicks were freaking awesome - and that old dude (one of the chosen) with the mustache was cool as a cucumber!
There were panels in almost every single issue of this trade that made me mumble under my breath how fucking cool they were to look at!
I dunno - I never really thought I was going to be able to call myself a Hickman fan. I felt like the kid that gets left out of all the cool parties. Now, however, I've got this under my belt, and I can finally jump on the bandwagon!
Part western...part sci-fi...kick ass battles...and a very mysterious story line!
I say, Hell-Yeah!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,349 reviews