The Sixth Gun, Vol. 8: Hell and High Water

The Sixth Gun #8

by Cullen Bunn, Brian Hurtt (Illustrator), Bill Crabtree (Colorist)

The Six - the cursed pistols that can destroy the world - have fallen into the wrong hands. Griselda the Grey Witch and her henchman Jesup Sutter now control the weapons. As they prepare to use the guns to throw open the gates of Perdition and condemn the world to darkness, they are opposed only by a ragtag group of desperate heroes. But Drake Sinclair, Becky Montcrief, and Screaming Crow have a few surprises in store for the ageless witch. As the apocalypse dawns, a vicious gunfight rages in the streets of a nameless city!

Collects issues #42-47

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Westerns, Fantasy, Horror, Graphic Novels Comics, Supernatural

152 pages, Paperback

First published July 22, 2015

About the author

Cullen grew up in rural North Carolina, but now lives in the St. Louis area with his wife Cindy and his son Jackson. His noir/horror comic (and first collaboration with Brian Hurtt), The Damned, was published in 2007 by Oni Press. The follow-up, The Damned: Prodigal Sons, was released in 2008. In addition to The Sixth Gun, his current projects include Crooked Hills, a middle reader horror prose series from Evileye Books; The Tooth, an original graphic novel from Oni Press; and various work for Marvel and DC. Somewhere along the way, Cullen founded Undaunted Press and edited the critically acclaimed small press horror magazine, Whispers from the Shattered Forum.

All writers must pay their dues, and Cullen has worked various odd jobs, including Alien Autopsy Specialist, Rodeo Clown, Professional Wrestler Manager, and Sasquatch Wrangler.

And, yes, he has fought for his life against mountain lions and he did perform on stage as the World's Youngest Hypnotist. Buy him a drink sometime, and he'll tell you all about it.

Visit his website at www.cullenbunn.com.

Reviews

[Sam Quixote · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Sixth Gun Volume 8 sees The Grey Witch Griselda finally unite the six guns and open the seal to bring about Armageddon. So it’s the end of the series? Nope! It’s the end of… er… the first “season”? Because the main cast are still around and have moved on to the next level or something. Well, Hell and High Water was such a crap finale I think this might be the end of The Sixth Gun for me at any rate.

The first half of the book isn’t interesting at all as we’re forced to wait for our heroes to fight Griselda who’s hanging fire on opening the seal for some reason. The second half is the unexciting battle between the two sides.

What’s worse is that when the fighting begins the narration is completely detached from what’s happening on the page. It’s such a bad choice by Cullen Bunn because it takes the reader out of the present, boring us with information we already know like the six guns’ powers (how many times must we be reminded?!) and the various characters’ stories thus far. And it goes on and on for the entire battle!

Brian Hurtt’s art is as top-notch as it’s been throughout the series and I liked the design of the King of Secrets even if he was an entirely needless character. His vision for the apocalypse is so mundane though – Biblical flooding? Snore.

The Sixth Gun is a good series but it (sort of) ends on such a disappointingly dull note. Rather than having me anticipating the next stage of the series, I’m happy to hang up these six shooters instead.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars. So I would say this has been the weakest volume. Luckily, it’s decent. The Grey Witch has all 6 guns now and Drake and Becky feel like there’s not much they can do now. But the native, Nidawi, has one more play up her sleeve, to summon the great Thunderbirds to help wit one last attack on the Grey Witch. This volume felt a little bit like it was spinning it’s wheels in place, dragging things on a bit waiting for the final volume. Hopefully they next/final volume goes out on top.

[Michael J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been following this series since Volume One and have become quite attached to Drake, Becky and company. It was a shocker to see things take such an unpleasant turn in Volume 7. You can’t help but root for these characters, and suffer with them when they are defeated. As if that wasn’t enough, the bad times continue in Volume 8.

There have been more battle scenes and action panels with dialogue or text in the last two volumes and the story has presented a showcase for Hurtt to display his distinctive expressive art style.

The Knights of Solomon (another ancient order also interested in possessing the artifacts and securing them from use) decide to step in since Sinclair’s band have failed and are hiding out. Before things play out, they also take a beating. Seems like sacrifices are the order of the day, as the Grey Witch unlocks the seal and descends into the underworld to plunge the world into eternal darkness and start anew. After enduring more battles and an apocalyptic storm and flood, Becky comes to the conclusion that the only way to win may be to stand back and watch it happen. An old friend shows up (in a new role) and provides a gateway for them to enter the gates of Hell for a final confrontation.
This was an intense reading/viewing experience as Bunn and Hurtt are rapidly tying the various plot threads together for the concluding volume.
This has been a great and consistent series, often taking things in directions that were far from predictable.

[Sesana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Getting close to the end now. I'm liking how things are coming together, and I'm excited about seeing the end.

[Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, etc. Just about as perfect a collection as I've ever read. Can't wait for the concluding volume...

[Václav · Rating 4 out of 5]

(4,4 of 5 for cataclysmic escalation)
This book is even more action-filled than before. Super thrilling, can't stop reading.

[Koen Claeys · Rating 4 out of 5]

One final volume to go for this amazing fantasy/western epic. With the ending so close, it's wonderful to see how tightly Cullen Bunn has planned the story-arcs in advance . If you like westerns, Lord of the Rings or the books of Mignola's universe (Hellboy, BPRD,... ), then this might just be a comic book to your liking.

[Kris · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.
Please, please, please. If you're going to have a really cool fight scene, please do not put a bunch of really important text in boxes throughout the scene. It decreases the excitement of the scene, and honestly, your reader is not likely to remember the text.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is the best. One of my all time favorites. I can't wait to read the conclusion.

[Diz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Volume 8 of this series fails to deliver a fitting ending. I have two big complaints. First, there is a deus ex machina in the form of cartoonish fantasy creatures that serve to protect the protagonists from any real danger, but fail to advance the plot in the favor of the heroes. This is a big letdown, especially after the danger to the protagonists was really ratcheted up in volume 7. Second, most of the battle action was narrated and depicted in small postage stamp sized panels. This took away the little bit of excitement that may have been present. As for the development of the story, basically the can was kicked down the road, so don't look for any resolution in this volume.

[Doctor Action · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some good in here but most of it felt padded, pointless and like they were struggling to fill issues. There was a huge fight in it that was so random and arbitrary that it didn't tickle me in the delightful way many earlier volumes have. It's not a deep comic, this, but the tone and fun factor has been the pull, but this one fell flat for me. Here's hoping the concluding volume wraps it up in the way this series deserves.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

This volume roars along bringing the story to the heart of its essence. We bid farewell to several characters for the final time The essential players first day themselves at the apex of the final confrontation. This volume makes me really anticipate the ninth, and final, volume in this extraordinary series.

[Francesca · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was quite an underwhelming volume if compared to the rest of the series: it was a bit confusing, and nothing really happened throughout it. Anyway, the art and the world is very dear to me, and I'm still interested to read the next installment.

[Sonic · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though I still enjoy this series, it does feel like it has been drifting for awhile...

[47Time · Rating 5 out of 5]

With the Six in Jesup's possession the Knights of Solomon are worried for their order's existence. They strike at the Sword of Solomon to wipe it out completely. Griselda the Grey Witch is preparing a massive sacrifice to have the Six open the vault that will destroy the world. More than any other, this volume makes saving the world look impossible with the guns being in Jesup's hand, a man working for Griselda. Drake, Becky and Nidawi are the only ones left who can fight her.

Screaming Crow convinces the Thunderbirds to aid them in attacking Griselda's town. Even though the battle goes in their favor they may be too late because Griselda's sacrifice is finished and the vault is ready to be opened. Griselda is only being delayed by the presence of Screaming Crow whom she wants removed before the world is remade. Her attack kills the spirit, releasing its hold on Nidawi and the Thunderbirds, the latter of which go mad and attack each other. She and Jesup then open the vault and begin the long climb down to the Devil's Workshop that will rebuild the world.

The rebuilding is slow, like disease spreading across the world. Griselda frees her son Hume to help in shaping the world. Meanwhile Drake seeks out a crossroads where Gord, returned as a spirit after having made a deal with Kalfu, opens up a portal to Griselda.

[Nate]

This may be my favorite volume. Which is weird, because it’s only the first half of the finale and features some set up. But it’s executed so well. Every panel is perfectly placed with measured dialogue and narration, the tension rising from one page to the next. And amid the doomsday throwdown, Bunn and Hurtt squeeze in some truly beautiful moments.

Issue 44, told entirely in narration and featuring (roughly) symmetrical paneling, is the high point of this volume and possibly the entire series. The type of storytelling in this issue can only be done in comics. It’s why I love the medium.

[Sean · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I did think this volume was somewhat treading water, waiting to get to next volume's epic conclusion, it was still extremely entertaining. Readers get a look into who and how the Grey Witch came to be and what her plans actually are. There were a couple touching moments as friends say goodbye. Brian Hurtt did some excellent work, especially in his rainy scenes. Overall, Cullen Bunn has delivered another very good book.

[Phoenix Scientist · Rating 4 out of 5]

READING THE SERIES, GOOD LOW/MEDIUM FANTASY WESTERN. LIKABLE CHARACTERS THAT GROW ON YOU AND BECOME DEEPER. SEVERAL GOOD TWISTS AND TURNS IN THE STORY. I LIKE THE SETTING, MORE THAN JUST A WESTARN, AS IF ALL THE WIVE'S TALES AND STORIES WERE TRUE. AND ALL THE PROBLEMS THEREIN. GRITTY AND INTERESTING, AND WITH AN ART STYLE TO MATCH.

[Fraser Sherman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The apocalypse begins as Becky and Sinclair storm the Grey Witch's little town, which requires going up against her crazy cultists as well as the Six Guns. The good news is, the real final battle will take place in the netherworld where the actual remaking of reality takes place. Effectively grim and absorbing, so I hope Vol. 9 is a satisfactory finish

[Miguel Ángel Alonso Pulido · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tras los acontecimientos del volumen anterior las Seis han caído en manos de la Bruja Gris y los aliados de Becky y Drake han muerto o sufrido un destino peor. Pero aunque el fin del mundo esté próximo, ninguno de los dos tiene intención de rendirse, aunque todo parezca perdido. La saga de las Seis se acerca a su majestuosa conclusión y nada volverá a ser lo mismo.

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's down to Becky, Drake and Screaming Crow to stop the Griselda from remaking the world. So this volume mainly becomes one big battle and one without their magical weapons. There's still some great moments and Hurtt is really good at crafting action sequences. I was never bored but it was clear they wanted to pad this out to get to 50 issues.

[The Geeky Viking · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finally got around to finishing this one as I took some time away from it. It's good, but I'm finding myself wanting to get to the end now. It seems to be dragging on a lot longer than it needs to.

[Jake Kilroy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hell of a showdown to precede the big showdown in Hell. Comes with a lot of meditation on what it all means to live, die, and take the world for what it is or could be, all draped over some wild, colorful visuals. A final volume has never shaped up more definitive.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

All hell breaks loose and familiar faces come back in satisfying ways and OMG it's super exciting. I really need to know how this all shakes out!

[Paxton Holley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now that the series is complete with issue #50, I'm doing a page 1 re-read of the series to the finish. Love this book so much.

[Kris Ritchie · Rating 3 out of 5]

this entire volume felt like someone just revving an engine, not as good as the last few, but here is hoping it goes out with a bang.

[Adrian Bloxham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Getting close to the end now..

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

[Al Capwned · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This is the weakest volume so far and it's a pity it's the one before the last. Some things are resolved in a lazy way but it still was fun enough.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

The penultimate volume, and it reads as such.