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Shot All to Hell: A Graphic Novel
Discover the incredible true story behind the most famous bank robbery of all time in this thrilling graphic novel adaptation of Mark Lee Gardner’s award-winning book Shot All to Jesse James, The Northfield Raid, and the Wild West’s Greatest Escape .
Mark Lee Gardner’s award-winning book Shot All to Hell follows Jesse James and his notorious gang of outlaws as they plan, carry out—and ultimately bungle—the most famous bank robbery in Western history. Now fans of the James brothers and history buffs can experience the bloody true story like never before with this deluxe hardcover graphic novel adapted from the original book.
In September 1876, the James-Younger Gang forced their way into Northfield, Minnesota’s First National Bank—only to find themselves in a deadly battle against a horde of heroic citizens intent on defending their town from the Missourian marauders. Featuring stunning artwork and an exciting, faithful-to-the-novel script from Nate Olson and Gardner himself, Shot All to The Graphic Novel offers comics fans a thrilling Western adventure featuring the most famous American outlaw of all time.
Mark Lee Gardner’s award-winning book Shot All to Hell follows Jesse James and his notorious gang of outlaws as they plan, carry out—and ultimately bungle—the most famous bank robbery in Western history. Now fans of the James brothers and history buffs can experience the bloody true story like never before with this deluxe hardcover graphic novel adapted from the original book.
In September 1876, the James-Younger Gang forced their way into Northfield, Minnesota’s First National Bank—only to find themselves in a deadly battle against a horde of heroic citizens intent on defending their town from the Missourian marauders. Featuring stunning artwork and an exciting, faithful-to-the-novel script from Nate Olson and Gardner himself, Shot All to The Graphic Novel offers comics fans a thrilling Western adventure featuring the most famous American outlaw of all time.
136 pages, Hardcover
Published September 4, 2018
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61 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 2, 2020
Set in 1870s this shows the filthy, rat infested smelly hell hole and not John Wayne style of lovely America. Set around the Jesse James gang we see the 'real' Pickertons the bad evil murders who kill in the name of justice.
I could hear the shots, smell gun fire ,see the 8y old die but most of all I could know that the authors had resurched this period
I could hear the shots, smell gun fire ,see the 8y old die but most of all I could know that the authors had resurched this period
November 10, 2018
Wow! What else can I say, this book is so good. A true narrative of the bungled bank robbery that Jesse James, his clan and the Younger gang undertook in the heady days of the american wild west. The artwork is great, the narrative flows seamlessly, and it’s just a really good story and a fascinating slice of history. Loved it.
December 10, 2024
Man, this was a chore. I picked this up because I love a good outlaw story full of action and suspense. What I got was what felt like Grandpa's history blog cut up and pasted over illustrations.
This is a narrative account of the fall of Jesse James- the gang's last job that went fantastically wrong. It follows the gang from when they were chased out of Kansas City to each of the gang members' deaths.
I WILL say- the art and illustrations were very good. The awesome action drawings and excellently done horses were why I picked the book up in the first place!
Another positive- this was obviously a very well researched book. There are a ton of details that sound like they came from first hand sources with details you would hear more from someone casually relaying to you while storytelling than what you write in a scholarly article. There was way more historical detail than I ever expected from this book.
That being said- this was NOT finished like a graphic novel. In a graphic novel, the dialogue and illustrations push the story. There was hardly any dialogue in this story, and if there was, it was only for what I will call "scene flavor". It could've been removed completely and nothing would've changed story-wise. The illustrations themselves are really good, but they are just that- illustrations. They are offering nothing story-wise that isn't already given through the text.
The writing was odd because it was too detailed and descriptive in narration to be a graphic novel, but it was too casual to be a book. When I said "grandpa's history blog," that really is the vibe I get. It is clearly for entertainment, but historical accuracy is paid attention to. This book was WAY too narration heavy. I didn't want to just be told the story through words. This is a graphic novel. I wanted to CONNECT with these characters through the storytelling methods unique to this medium- hearing their voice, seeing them move, watching their expressions. The characters just never came to life for me in this book because they were "just pictures." I couldn't tell one character from the other because they were usually obscured by shadow and they all just wore dusters. They rarely spoke so they had no "voice".
This short 130 page book took me like a month to read because every time I opened it, I'd read a page or two and my eyes would just glaze over and I'd get distracted by something else.
Honestly, maybe it was the marketing. I grabbed this from the graphic novel fiction section. If it had been in the nonfiction graphic novel section, I might have been more receptive to it because I would have been prepared for the tone a little better.
I recommend this book to history buffs and people who like looking at good illustrations of horses.
This is a narrative account of the fall of Jesse James- the gang's last job that went fantastically wrong. It follows the gang from when they were chased out of Kansas City to each of the gang members' deaths.
I WILL say- the art and illustrations were very good. The awesome action drawings and excellently done horses were why I picked the book up in the first place!
Another positive- this was obviously a very well researched book. There are a ton of details that sound like they came from first hand sources with details you would hear more from someone casually relaying to you while storytelling than what you write in a scholarly article. There was way more historical detail than I ever expected from this book.
That being said- this was NOT finished like a graphic novel. In a graphic novel, the dialogue and illustrations push the story. There was hardly any dialogue in this story, and if there was, it was only for what I will call "scene flavor". It could've been removed completely and nothing would've changed story-wise. The illustrations themselves are really good, but they are just that- illustrations. They are offering nothing story-wise that isn't already given through the text.
The writing was odd because it was too detailed and descriptive in narration to be a graphic novel, but it was too casual to be a book. When I said "grandpa's history blog," that really is the vibe I get. It is clearly for entertainment, but historical accuracy is paid attention to. This book was WAY too narration heavy. I didn't want to just be told the story through words. This is a graphic novel. I wanted to CONNECT with these characters through the storytelling methods unique to this medium- hearing their voice, seeing them move, watching their expressions. The characters just never came to life for me in this book because they were "just pictures." I couldn't tell one character from the other because they were usually obscured by shadow and they all just wore dusters. They rarely spoke so they had no "voice".
This short 130 page book took me like a month to read because every time I opened it, I'd read a page or two and my eyes would just glaze over and I'd get distracted by something else.
Honestly, maybe it was the marketing. I grabbed this from the graphic novel fiction section. If it had been in the nonfiction graphic novel section, I might have been more receptive to it because I would have been prepared for the tone a little better.
I recommend this book to history buffs and people who like looking at good illustrations of horses.
October 12, 2021
Although a solid read about events I’m genuinely interested in, Shot All to Hell’s storyline is little more than a timeline of events with minimal character interaction, and therefore lacks some of the narrative dynamics I enjoy seeing in graphic novels. I also found the art to be quite stiff and overly simplistic on too many pages, resulting in spreads that rarely had me enjoying the visual style and content long after I’d finished reading – something that good comic art regularly achieves.
Despite these disappointments, I still consider this book to have been a worthwhile investment, and will continue to support comics and graphic novels featuring western themes as it's a genre that deserves more attention. A greater focus on descriptive storytelling through dialogue would’ve pleased me, however, other readers may not be bothered by such an omission and will simply enjoy this tale of ‘robbery gone wrong’ for what it is.
Despite these disappointments, I still consider this book to have been a worthwhile investment, and will continue to support comics and graphic novels featuring western themes as it's a genre that deserves more attention. A greater focus on descriptive storytelling through dialogue would’ve pleased me, however, other readers may not be bothered by such an omission and will simply enjoy this tale of ‘robbery gone wrong’ for what it is.
April 25, 2019
This was a great shoot 'em up western! I enjoyed how the book went detail for detail during the bank robbery in Minnesota. At first I thought it was going to be a little tedious but the action and narration flows well. If you like this I think you'll also like some of Jack Jackson's work, in particular Lost Cause.
March 3, 2023
Tells the story lean and fast.
I'm not a huge graphic novel reader. But once in a while I will pick up a historic account or a special read such as The Long Halloween which is a Batman story. If done correctly these stories with well done scene setting art can draw me in. This one works.
I'm not a huge graphic novel reader. But once in a while I will pick up a historic account or a special read such as The Long Halloween which is a Batman story. If done correctly these stories with well done scene setting art can draw me in. This one works.
January 14, 2020
I selected this for the illustrations thinking I could swipe an image or two to make cards for Patrick. Great art but way to dark and odd-sized panels make it wrong for that purpose. Good old cowboy wrangle with creepy subplot.
July 12, 2021
Exciting and quick read about a historical bank robbery involving Jesse James. Ideally I would have read the nonfiction book that this graphic novel was based on but, what can I say... it's the summer and graphic novels make for fine, short-term reads!
January 5, 2022
Rating 2022: 3.5/5
I thought this graphic novel was an intriguing way to show the life of crime of Missouri’s most famous outlaw, Jesse James as well as his gang. I enjoyed the depicted illustrations of their story because it really brought the story to life.
I thought this graphic novel was an intriguing way to show the life of crime of Missouri’s most famous outlaw, Jesse James as well as his gang. I enjoyed the depicted illustrations of their story because it really brought the story to life.
July 31, 2023
Meh...at best
A Boring read. Far too long with a thousand tiny panels. The artwork has a few good moments, but not throughout.
A Boring read. Far too long with a thousand tiny panels. The artwork has a few good moments, but not throughout.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews