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Cowboys and Aliens
1873. Arizona.
An era when all a man could count on was his horse and his six-gun, and Indians fought a losing battle with European settlers.
Until somebody else entered the fight—an invader who saw all humans as slaves, and was determined to conquer our world.
103 pages, Hardcover
First published December 1, 2006
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270 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 218 reviews
January 15, 2019
B.R.A.CE. 2019
Διασκεδαστικό! Πρωτότυπο!
January 7, 2012
I don't say this often, but besides it's premise (title), this book literally has nothing to offer. It has mediocre art and completely nonsensical plotting as if it were written by a five-year-old. I can overlook the usual sci-fi silliness like translators and such, but things just get so stupid that you can't overlook them:
1. The first alien device the protagonist comes across looks exactly like a gun, and he immediately figures out how to use it. Amazing!
2. The 1870s blacksmith takes one look at the alien's flying carts and immediately figures out how they work--and how to make his own version! Amazing!
3. When they invariably go to an abandoned mine, it's full of lava. You know, from all of those active volcanoes in the middle of the U.S.
4. The aliens need to attack the town to put their radar dish at a high point, despite the fact that it repeatedly shows that the town is surrounded by hills and buttes. This is where it crosses the border into madness, since this sort of drives the whole plot.
I disliked this book so much that I'm tempted to dig through and find all of the other ridiculous things, but I think that's enough. But in terms of the characters, there are also serious problems:
5. The book wants to make an analogy between the aliens' attack and the Europeans' move westward, but it does it so un-subtly that it's grating.
6. Every character is completely stereotypical. This isn't so bad for the cowboys, but it bothered me when it came to the Native Americans. It seemed borderline offensive.
All of this leads me to wonder how this abomination came to be, but the answer is found in the creators' biographies, in the back of the book. The writers and artists each get the usual three-sentence treatment, but the "creator," Scott Mitchell Rosenberg, has most of a page about him, and it's the most pompous, wind-bagged thing I've ever read, going on about how his comics company has the "business model of the future, where properties are developed simultaneously for multiple distribution models, maximizing profitability, visibility, and availability..." I kid you not. After reading this, not only am I completely turned off by Rosenberg and Platinum Studios, but it suddenly becomes clear how this graphic novel came into being--it's one of those soulless, Hollywood constructs. I imagine SMR is the "creator" because he said one day, "People like aliens....and cowboys...and movies made from comics. Quick! Someone make a comic about aliens and cowboys so I can turn it into a movie." Geez.......
1. The first alien device the protagonist comes across looks exactly like a gun, and he immediately figures out how to use it. Amazing!
2. The 1870s blacksmith takes one look at the alien's flying carts and immediately figures out how they work--and how to make his own version! Amazing!
3. When they invariably go to an abandoned mine, it's full of lava. You know, from all of those active volcanoes in the middle of the U.S.
4. The aliens need to attack the town to put their radar dish at a high point, despite the fact that it repeatedly shows that the town is surrounded by hills and buttes. This is where it crosses the border into madness, since this sort of drives the whole plot.
I disliked this book so much that I'm tempted to dig through and find all of the other ridiculous things, but I think that's enough. But in terms of the characters, there are also serious problems:
5. The book wants to make an analogy between the aliens' attack and the Europeans' move westward, but it does it so un-subtly that it's grating.
6. Every character is completely stereotypical. This isn't so bad for the cowboys, but it bothered me when it came to the Native Americans. It seemed borderline offensive.
All of this leads me to wonder how this abomination came to be, but the answer is found in the creators' biographies, in the back of the book. The writers and artists each get the usual three-sentence treatment, but the "creator," Scott Mitchell Rosenberg, has most of a page about him, and it's the most pompous, wind-bagged thing I've ever read, going on about how his comics company has the "business model of the future, where properties are developed simultaneously for multiple distribution models, maximizing profitability, visibility, and availability..." I kid you not. After reading this, not only am I completely turned off by Rosenberg and Platinum Studios, but it suddenly becomes clear how this graphic novel came into being--it's one of those soulless, Hollywood constructs. I imagine SMR is the "creator" because he said one day, "People like aliens....and cowboys...and movies made from comics. Quick! Someone make a comic about aliens and cowboys so I can turn it into a movie." Geez.......
May 16, 2025
Not sure if this graphic novel inspired the movie, or if this was a follow up to the movie. In either case it disappoints.
The Apaches here play as big a role as anyone else but are not in the title. Did every native warrior have physiques like modern bodybuilders? Just wondering.
It's a fast read, but not that rewarding. The point is made about an alien race with superior weapons invading, and taking over, but that is about it.
The Apaches here play as big a role as anyone else but are not in the title. Did every native warrior have physiques like modern bodybuilders? Just wondering.
It's a fast read, but not that rewarding. The point is made about an alien race with superior weapons invading, and taking over, but that is about it.
March 19, 2019
No suelo leer demasiadas novelas gráficas, pero ninguna me había decepcionado tanto como ésta. Yo no he visto la película, así que no sé hasta qué punto se parece, pero espero que sea menos simple.
Lo mejor fueron las primeras páginas, pues se ve una comparativa entre la conquista de Norteamérica y una supuesta conquista de los aliens. Lo que los colonos le hicieron a los indios y lo que le harían los supuestos alienígenas a los humanos parece muy similar, así que vi original esa parte.
Luego mi interés fue decayendo cada vez más debido a la falta de variedad en las ilustraciones y al ritmo monótono de la historia. No sé si pretende ser graciosa o no, pero las frases de “humor” me parecieron ridículas. Que los indios vean a unos aliens verdes y monstruosos y digan que dudan de que hablen apache… pues no sé yo, creo que el idioma es lo de menos teniendo en cuenta su aspecto. Y las luchas con los aliens no eran mucho mejores, no los vi temibles y hasta las muertes que provocaban parecían anécdotas.
En cuanto a las ilustraciones, considero que el principal fallo es que no se usen más tonalidades que ayuden a distinguir diferentes momentos de la historia y distintos tipos de personajes. Siempre predomina un estilo marcado por colores oscuros que le dan una apariencia igual de siniestra o inquietante tanto a los aliens como a los humanos. En muy pocas viñetas se aprecia un cambio y es una pena.
No le doy un 1/5 porque, aunque no me moría de ganas de saber qué iba a ir ocurriendo, tampoco es que me costara horrores avanzar. Desde mi punto de vista, es una novela gráfica que tenía potencial para dar más de sí.
Lo mejor fueron las primeras páginas, pues se ve una comparativa entre la conquista de Norteamérica y una supuesta conquista de los aliens. Lo que los colonos le hicieron a los indios y lo que le harían los supuestos alienígenas a los humanos parece muy similar, así que vi original esa parte.
Luego mi interés fue decayendo cada vez más debido a la falta de variedad en las ilustraciones y al ritmo monótono de la historia. No sé si pretende ser graciosa o no, pero las frases de “humor” me parecieron ridículas. Que los indios vean a unos aliens verdes y monstruosos y digan que dudan de que hablen apache… pues no sé yo, creo que el idioma es lo de menos teniendo en cuenta su aspecto. Y las luchas con los aliens no eran mucho mejores, no los vi temibles y hasta las muertes que provocaban parecían anécdotas.
En cuanto a las ilustraciones, considero que el principal fallo es que no se usen más tonalidades que ayuden a distinguir diferentes momentos de la historia y distintos tipos de personajes. Siempre predomina un estilo marcado por colores oscuros que le dan una apariencia igual de siniestra o inquietante tanto a los aliens como a los humanos. En muy pocas viñetas se aprecia un cambio y es una pena.
No le doy un 1/5 porque, aunque no me moría de ganas de saber qué iba a ir ocurriendo, tampoco es que me costara horrores avanzar. Desde mi punto de vista, es una novela gráfica que tenía potencial para dar más de sí.
July 15, 2011
Wow, I'm amazed you have to pay for this book, I've read free comics that had better art and writing than this wreck.
The concept is minimal - cowboys from the frontier days, late 19th century, encounter aggressive aliens who decide to bring death and destruction to the world. Cowboys fight back.
Done right, this could've been a fantastic book. Unfortunately it's "created" by Scott Rosenberg, the man whose only idea in life is humans vs aliens, like his previous work "Men in Black". The only difference here is that he's gone back in time.
Rosenberg hands over scribe duties to two writers you've never heard of who supply the most basic of dialogue that lends zero personality to the already threadbare characters.
The artwork is appalling. I've seen better work scrawled onto concrete with chalk by pre-schoolers. Seriously, this is the laziest "art" I've seen in a "professional" comic book. There's no sense of depth or consistency and the aliens look utterly ridiculous.
Like most people I only picked up this book because of the upcoming film "Cowboys & Aliens" which, judging from the trailers, already differs greatly from this sad excuse of a comic book and it's better for it. This might be one of the few instances where the film is better than the book.
Don't waste your money on this trash, there are so many better comics out there it's a shame anyone looking to get into comics would pick this up and come away with a poorer impression of the medium as a result. Here's some far, far better comics that you would do well to buy instead of this:
What I Did by Jason
Paying For it by Chester Brown
The Rime of the Modern Mariner by Nick Hayes
Chew, Volume 1: Taster's Choice by John Layman
America: God, Gold and Golems by James Sturm
Frankenstein's Womb by Warren Ellis
The concept is minimal - cowboys from the frontier days, late 19th century, encounter aggressive aliens who decide to bring death and destruction to the world. Cowboys fight back.
Done right, this could've been a fantastic book. Unfortunately it's "created" by Scott Rosenberg, the man whose only idea in life is humans vs aliens, like his previous work "Men in Black". The only difference here is that he's gone back in time.
Rosenberg hands over scribe duties to two writers you've never heard of who supply the most basic of dialogue that lends zero personality to the already threadbare characters.
The artwork is appalling. I've seen better work scrawled onto concrete with chalk by pre-schoolers. Seriously, this is the laziest "art" I've seen in a "professional" comic book. There's no sense of depth or consistency and the aliens look utterly ridiculous.
Like most people I only picked up this book because of the upcoming film "Cowboys & Aliens" which, judging from the trailers, already differs greatly from this sad excuse of a comic book and it's better for it. This might be one of the few instances where the film is better than the book.
Don't waste your money on this trash, there are so many better comics out there it's a shame anyone looking to get into comics would pick this up and come away with a poorer impression of the medium as a result. Here's some far, far better comics that you would do well to buy instead of this:
What I Did by Jason
Paying For it by Chester Brown
The Rime of the Modern Mariner by Nick Hayes
Chew, Volume 1: Taster's Choice by John Layman
America: God, Gold and Golems by James Sturm
Frankenstein's Womb by Warren Ellis
August 12, 2017
I read this because a lot of my friends were hyping up the movie. I think only because they have a hard-on for Mr.Indiana Bladerunner Solo, and the idea of him playing a cowboy is pretty cool.
The book was horrible, and what I saw of the movie was just as bad.
I despised 'the White people hurt the Indians' and 'aliens hurt the White people' parallel. Especially when the aboriginal (is that what you call them? They must be the only ethnic group that has a thousand different terms and not one of them are correct, and many are apparently racist, but only in certain areas. Like, in America Indian is an accepted term by most 'Indians', but in Canada the term Indian is a bit racists even though in the law books we have to use the term Indian because that's how they're legally represented.) play the good guys, and even though the White people have hurt them, they play the 'bigger person' (as a father to a gradeschooler would say) and help the White people out.
The book seems orientated towards young teens, but I'd hardly recommend it.
The book was horrible, and what I saw of the movie was just as bad.
I despised 'the White people hurt the Indians' and 'aliens hurt the White people' parallel. Especially when the aboriginal (is that what you call them? They must be the only ethnic group that has a thousand different terms and not one of them are correct, and many are apparently racist, but only in certain areas. Like, in America Indian is an accepted term by most 'Indians', but in Canada the term Indian is a bit racists even though in the law books we have to use the term Indian because that's how they're legally represented.) play the good guys, and even though the White people have hurt them, they play the 'bigger person' (as a father to a gradeschooler would say) and help the White people out.
The book seems orientated towards young teens, but I'd hardly recommend it.
July 3, 2011
So I was challenged by my friend to explain my 4 star rating for this graphic novel. I thought about it and no, I'll stick to my 4 stars. Aside from the prologue which draws the inevitable parallel between the colonization of Americas by Europeans powers with the colonization of an alien world by a hostile alien force, this book doesn't pretend to be a running political or social commentary. Rather, this is a quick read that just pure fun and entertainment. I love the fact that the natives did not "bow" down to the aliens and went on the aggressive and even demonstrated their ingenuity at times. While the action was good, the romance was so-so but then again, if I wanted romance, I would have picked a romance novel. In other words, this is a perfect read for a hot summer night when you want to read something light and fluffy and don't want to watch TV. The extra star was given because of the ending and the desire to read the sequel.
June 14, 2025
About as good as the film
April 25, 2016
In the year 1874, Westward Expansion is in full effect in the state of Arizona. White settlers are purging the land of Indian tribes and claiming the territories as their own. In the middle of this conquest, a race of extra-terrestrial aliens crash lands in the desert and begins wiping out every human in their path, white or Indian. The only way for this new threat to be confronted is if the warring humans can put aside their differences and work together for the common good. They’ve already gotten a hold of some alien technology during the crash, so they might as well put it to good use and save the world from invasion.
My favorite part about this graphic novel has to be the blatant use of irony. White settlers were invading Indian territories only to have their world invaded by aliens. Maybe that’s what we need to solve the “immigration crisis” in this country: an alien invasion carried out by slimy green creatures with superior weaponry and technology. Maybe we just need to shown what kind of hypocrites we really are. This graphic novel is a good first step into exposing our beastly nature. Then again, some people like to shrug off hypocrisy claims with nationalistic or religious justifications. There’s just no reaching some people.
And here I thought the irony would be easier to swallow for those people considering how action-packed and violent this graphic novel is. If you’re going to be taught a lesson in getting along with your neighbors for a greater good, then it should at least be entertaining, which “Cowboys and Aliens” is. We’re Americans; we love violent entertainment. We like gunfights, martial arts, and science-fiction energy slinging. This graphic novel not only has all of that in their choreography, but the fight scenes are so frequent that it’s like riding a rollercoaster. The breaks are few and far between, so buckle up and get ready for the adrenaline rush your American blood so desperately craves.
As long as you’re going to read a graphic novel with violence and irony, you might as well read one with as many genres blended into it as possible. In addition to being bloodthirsty, we also have a nerdy side to us, though some people don’t like to admit it. Our nerdy sides get tickled whenever we read a book about genre mixing. In this case, it’s a combination of spaghetti westerns, hardcore action, and soft science fiction. UFC commentators say all the time that styles make fights. Gun-slinging cowboys and brawling Indians vs. hulking aliens with even better guns? That’s the kind of fight you’d want to see on pay-per-view. Maybe that’s why “Cowboys and Aliens” was adopted into a movie.
A quick read, deadly violence, and a bold political statement are all things you can expect from this graphic novel. Yes, it’s short. Yes, it ends too quickly (even though it is technically a complete story). So if you’re going to enjoy the ride, you’d better savor the adrenaline boost. In the words of heavy metal band In This Moment, “Welcome to the gun show!” A passing grade for a wonderful piece of graphic fiction. I don’t care what other readers say, because I loved the hell out of this book!
My favorite part about this graphic novel has to be the blatant use of irony. White settlers were invading Indian territories only to have their world invaded by aliens. Maybe that’s what we need to solve the “immigration crisis” in this country: an alien invasion carried out by slimy green creatures with superior weaponry and technology. Maybe we just need to shown what kind of hypocrites we really are. This graphic novel is a good first step into exposing our beastly nature. Then again, some people like to shrug off hypocrisy claims with nationalistic or religious justifications. There’s just no reaching some people.
And here I thought the irony would be easier to swallow for those people considering how action-packed and violent this graphic novel is. If you’re going to be taught a lesson in getting along with your neighbors for a greater good, then it should at least be entertaining, which “Cowboys and Aliens” is. We’re Americans; we love violent entertainment. We like gunfights, martial arts, and science-fiction energy slinging. This graphic novel not only has all of that in their choreography, but the fight scenes are so frequent that it’s like riding a rollercoaster. The breaks are few and far between, so buckle up and get ready for the adrenaline rush your American blood so desperately craves.
As long as you’re going to read a graphic novel with violence and irony, you might as well read one with as many genres blended into it as possible. In addition to being bloodthirsty, we also have a nerdy side to us, though some people don’t like to admit it. Our nerdy sides get tickled whenever we read a book about genre mixing. In this case, it’s a combination of spaghetti westerns, hardcore action, and soft science fiction. UFC commentators say all the time that styles make fights. Gun-slinging cowboys and brawling Indians vs. hulking aliens with even better guns? That’s the kind of fight you’d want to see on pay-per-view. Maybe that’s why “Cowboys and Aliens” was adopted into a movie.
A quick read, deadly violence, and a bold political statement are all things you can expect from this graphic novel. Yes, it’s short. Yes, it ends too quickly (even though it is technically a complete story). So if you’re going to enjoy the ride, you’d better savor the adrenaline boost. In the words of heavy metal band In This Moment, “Welcome to the gun show!” A passing grade for a wonderful piece of graphic fiction. I don’t care what other readers say, because I loved the hell out of this book!
April 25, 2011
umm...nah, no need to review. i mean, the concept is super cool but the aliens in this were just weird looking human beings. * SPOILER ALERT!* and the native american guy does the "'she's soooooo beautiful', while gazing at the white woman" thing...dude, come on! and the white guy makes out with an ALIEN! no hesitation there. i guess all it takes is looking "humanoid sexy". do aliens kiss? show affection? just like humans? why's she wearing fishnets? wtf is going on here.just lazy. lol, but i'll still see the film. ;-). i give it 3 stars because it was entertaining and regardless of its issues, a lot of fun to read.
December 30, 2023
Both the movie and the eponymous graphic novel introduce an intriguing premise: What if aliens visited earth in the past? When you think about the slew of alien invader movies and books, it’s strange that the high-tech aliens only show up after mankind has harnessed the power of the atomic bomb, leading to the oft-repeated climax of “to nuke or not to nuke?”
That being said, both movie and graphic novel don’t explore all the nooks and crannies the premise provides. (Like how would the arrival of other-worlders affect long-held faiths and traditions? Everyone, from the Christian preacher to the Apache chief, is quickly okay with the concept of invaders from the sky.)
Focusing entirely on the graphic novel: the hyper-buff Apache warriors (uncomfortably stereotyped and identical), the gorgeous, kickbutt cowgirl, and the immediate romance between characters who have barely exchanged words put me in mind of a cheap pulp comic from the 1940s.
That being said, both movie and graphic novel don’t explore all the nooks and crannies the premise provides. (Like how would the arrival of other-worlders affect long-held faiths and traditions? Everyone, from the Christian preacher to the Apache chief, is quickly okay with the concept of invaders from the sky.)
Focusing entirely on the graphic novel: the hyper-buff Apache warriors (uncomfortably stereotyped and identical), the gorgeous, kickbutt cowgirl, and the immediate romance between characters who have barely exchanged words put me in mind of a cheap pulp comic from the 1940s.
October 23, 2019
One of the worst graphic novels ever written. A waste of paper, or mb if you prefer, that produced a very bad big screen adaptation too.
March 31, 2023
Fast-paced, full of unbridled heroics, adventure and action! :D
December 8, 2024
This is not at all similar to the movie except for the inclusion of cowboys, Native Americans, and an alien species. The plot is a joke and there was one part that make me scoff out loud. Stereotypes were borderline offensive. Skippable.
April 16, 2014
Cowboys & Aliens is a 105-page Platinum Studios 2006 graphic novel created by Scott Mitchell Rosenberg and written by Fred Van Lente and Andrew Foley, with art by Dennis Calero and Luciano Lima.
The ultimate show down between Cowboys and Indians is going down when the are interrupted by the aliens. I found this book very intriguing ,because the Cowboys and Indians became "partners" when they were just fighting not even an hour ago.
Some can say this is a boyish read, but I disagree. It’s a read to everyone who likes art and history, to the ones that have a geek side and to the ones that like adventure. I think that we all have a geek side, unlock your inner geek. I did and I am a very sporty person I am currently a member of lhs football wrestling and tennis ,so now don't say you have a geek side because you do.
Not to give away any of the book but the plot is In 1873, gunslingers Zeke Jackson and Verity Jones are hired to protect a caravan that is heading to Silver City, Arizona, to work at a silver mine. They are ambushed by Apache Indians in the desert and the two groups witness the crash-landing of an alien spaceship. Its inhabitants, led by Commander Rado Dar, exterminate some of the Indians, allowing Zeke and Verity to escape, as the aliens set out to conquer the planet Earth. While the aliens regroup and destroy a nearby fort, Zeke and Verity arrive at Silver City with the settlers, only to discover that, aside from a handyman named Alan Cross (the original founder and mayor of the city), most of the town's inhabitants left after it was discovered that the silver mines were empty.
The cowboys are attacked by aliens riding in flying motorcycle-like vehicles and are chased to a cliff, where they are rescued by Apache Indians led by Chief Medicine Crow and the warrior Warhawk, who ambush the aliens. The two groups decide to join forces in order to defeat the aliens, and scavenge the fallen ones for weapons. Zeke steals a microwave-emitting pistol, Verity steals an energy whip, Warhawk steals X-Ray goggles and the other Indians steal explosives that they attach to their arrows. A blacksmith uses the scraps of the motorcycles to forge anti-gravity horseshoes that allow the Indians to ride on flying horses.
The humans also receive the assistance of Commander Dar's assistant, Ra Chak Kai, who has switched sides and falls in love with Zeke. She reveals that the aliens (who call themselves The Caste) have taken over Silver City and are building a communication device that will allow them to call in troops from their homeworld to enslave the entire Earth. Verity and Warhawk also fall in love. Cross offers to lead a decoy group on a frontal attack against the aliens, allowing a second group led by Zeke to infiltrate the city through the empty silver mines and attack. Cross betrays them, in hopes of being spared by the aliens. The humans are captured, including Cross, who, despite his treachery, is thrown in with the other human prisoners and is killed by Verity. The captured humans are set for execution at dawn, just as the beacon is about to send its transmission, but the rest of the Indians arrive on their flying horses and defeat most of the aliens. Zeke and Kai kill Commander Dar while Verity and Warhawk deal with his second-in-command and destroying the aliens' communications tower. As the humans celebrate their victory, Kai is secretly revealed to be part of a race of shapeshifting aliens that have organized a resistance against the Caste warlords. For their bravery, the humans are added to the list of races with the strength needed to stand against the Caste.
Thank you for reading my post on Cowboys and Aliens.
The ultimate show down between Cowboys and Indians is going down when the are interrupted by the aliens. I found this book very intriguing ,because the Cowboys and Indians became "partners" when they were just fighting not even an hour ago.
Some can say this is a boyish read, but I disagree. It’s a read to everyone who likes art and history, to the ones that have a geek side and to the ones that like adventure. I think that we all have a geek side, unlock your inner geek. I did and I am a very sporty person I am currently a member of lhs football wrestling and tennis ,so now don't say you have a geek side because you do.
Not to give away any of the book but the plot is In 1873, gunslingers Zeke Jackson and Verity Jones are hired to protect a caravan that is heading to Silver City, Arizona, to work at a silver mine. They are ambushed by Apache Indians in the desert and the two groups witness the crash-landing of an alien spaceship. Its inhabitants, led by Commander Rado Dar, exterminate some of the Indians, allowing Zeke and Verity to escape, as the aliens set out to conquer the planet Earth. While the aliens regroup and destroy a nearby fort, Zeke and Verity arrive at Silver City with the settlers, only to discover that, aside from a handyman named Alan Cross (the original founder and mayor of the city), most of the town's inhabitants left after it was discovered that the silver mines were empty.
The cowboys are attacked by aliens riding in flying motorcycle-like vehicles and are chased to a cliff, where they are rescued by Apache Indians led by Chief Medicine Crow and the warrior Warhawk, who ambush the aliens. The two groups decide to join forces in order to defeat the aliens, and scavenge the fallen ones for weapons. Zeke steals a microwave-emitting pistol, Verity steals an energy whip, Warhawk steals X-Ray goggles and the other Indians steal explosives that they attach to their arrows. A blacksmith uses the scraps of the motorcycles to forge anti-gravity horseshoes that allow the Indians to ride on flying horses.
The humans also receive the assistance of Commander Dar's assistant, Ra Chak Kai, who has switched sides and falls in love with Zeke. She reveals that the aliens (who call themselves The Caste) have taken over Silver City and are building a communication device that will allow them to call in troops from their homeworld to enslave the entire Earth. Verity and Warhawk also fall in love. Cross offers to lead a decoy group on a frontal attack against the aliens, allowing a second group led by Zeke to infiltrate the city through the empty silver mines and attack. Cross betrays them, in hopes of being spared by the aliens. The humans are captured, including Cross, who, despite his treachery, is thrown in with the other human prisoners and is killed by Verity. The captured humans are set for execution at dawn, just as the beacon is about to send its transmission, but the rest of the Indians arrive on their flying horses and defeat most of the aliens. Zeke and Kai kill Commander Dar while Verity and Warhawk deal with his second-in-command and destroying the aliens' communications tower. As the humans celebrate their victory, Kai is secretly revealed to be part of a race of shapeshifting aliens that have organized a resistance against the Caste warlords. For their bravery, the humans are added to the list of races with the strength needed to stand against the Caste.
Thank you for reading my post on Cowboys and Aliens.
May 19, 2011
Reason for Reading: I'd heard about the upcoming summer movie starring {sigh} Harrison Ford so thought I'd read the original comic book the movie is based on first.
This is a rather unusual tale as one could guess from the title. We join a group of settlers led by a priest who are traveling west to claim some land they have bought to start a new life. They are attacked by Indians and one of their two guides goes off to get help from the nearby Fort. Indian attacks end up being the least of his worries when he finds the fort under attack by intergalactic space invaders who see all other life forms as slaves and they have arrived to to take humankind into slavery and take over our world.
The book is full of action and low on actual story. Characters have relationships with each other but the reader never gets close enough to care about any of them. There is action, though. Did I mention that? Lots of it. Starting off with the brief Indian attack, then going full out as the Indians and white men join forces against the bigger threat of the aliens who have awesome cool weapons compared to their arrows and gunshot rifles. Obviously comparisons between how the Indians were treated by European explorers and settlers and the alien threat to mankind are made several times. An entertaining hour's read but nothing that especially grabbed me. I think this has great potential to make a better movie than book. But by all means read it before the movie though as it looks like there are certainly going to be changes afoot. Such as: I see no priest in the list of characters and Harrison Ford's character does not exist in the book.
This is a rather unusual tale as one could guess from the title. We join a group of settlers led by a priest who are traveling west to claim some land they have bought to start a new life. They are attacked by Indians and one of their two guides goes off to get help from the nearby Fort. Indian attacks end up being the least of his worries when he finds the fort under attack by intergalactic space invaders who see all other life forms as slaves and they have arrived to to take humankind into slavery and take over our world.
The book is full of action and low on actual story. Characters have relationships with each other but the reader never gets close enough to care about any of them. There is action, though. Did I mention that? Lots of it. Starting off with the brief Indian attack, then going full out as the Indians and white men join forces against the bigger threat of the aliens who have awesome cool weapons compared to their arrows and gunshot rifles. Obviously comparisons between how the Indians were treated by European explorers and settlers and the alien threat to mankind are made several times. An entertaining hour's read but nothing that especially grabbed me. I think this has great potential to make a better movie than book. But by all means read it before the movie though as it looks like there are certainly going to be changes afoot. Such as: I see no priest in the list of characters and Harrison Ford's character does not exist in the book.
July 27, 2016
I didn't like the film and I thought the novel might have been butchered on the way to the screen. This is a case where the book is just a waste of time and shouldn't be read. My first reaction to this book was, how the hell did this become a massive budgeted film? This had no characters, the artwork was uninspired and the story was flat the whole book. I had been interested in MIB but that is another series I'll probably skip, I have since checked out reviews of the RIP division, that book series also received poor reviews. I can't understand why these poorly created concepts are getting mega budgeted films based on them. This book was bland the entire way through, it wasn't even funny or clever or tried to be serious. The plot is half baked, not a single character interesting enough to warrant the length and the dialogue is horrible. I hope Rosenberg made money from this book and film adaption as I pray he stays well away from the graphic art form. I cannot describe my shock at this book, the simple fact someone read this and thought it was good enough to be a film has me baffled. The villains are like some poor 60s designed comic strip, they are suppose to be menacing instead of comical, and where the hell was the central villain? The book couldn't even give the audience a simplistic 3 act structure to follow. Don't read this, I made the mistake of picking it up and taking it home, one quick check on Goodreads would've saved me the time. Believe the reviews.
August 10, 2017
1 Star - Horrible book, It was so bad I stopped reading it. I have not read the whole book and wont
2 Star - Bad book, I forced myself to finish it and do NOT recommend. I can't believe I read it once
3 Star - Average book, Was entertaining but nothing special. No plans to ever re-read
4 Star - Good Book, Was a really good book and I would recommend. I am Likely to re-read this book
5 Star - GREAT book, A great story and well written. I can't wait for the next book. I Will Re-Read this one or more times.
Number of times read: 1
The ok, they made a movie about this and the book isn't even worth reading. I have no interest in ever finishing this book or seeing the movie.
Characters - The characters are terrible, you really don't care if any of them dies. Actually I was hoping all of them would.
Story - It is a story with Cowboys and Aliens. What was this author thinking? I guess he was thinking better than me, since they made a movie out of it and he made quite a bit of money. I personally wouldn't buy this book during a zombie outbreak for toilet paper.
Overall - This is a terrible book and there was no way I would have been able to finish this book, unless I wanted to really punish myself.
2 Star - Bad book, I forced myself to finish it and do NOT recommend. I can't believe I read it once
3 Star - Average book, Was entertaining but nothing special. No plans to ever re-read
4 Star - Good Book, Was a really good book and I would recommend. I am Likely to re-read this book
5 Star - GREAT book, A great story and well written. I can't wait for the next book. I Will Re-Read this one or more times.
Number of times read: 1
The ok, they made a movie about this and the book isn't even worth reading. I have no interest in ever finishing this book or seeing the movie.
Characters - The characters are terrible, you really don't care if any of them dies. Actually I was hoping all of them would.
Story - It is a story with Cowboys and Aliens. What was this author thinking? I guess he was thinking better than me, since they made a movie out of it and he made quite a bit of money. I personally wouldn't buy this book during a zombie outbreak for toilet paper.
Overall - This is a terrible book and there was no way I would have been able to finish this book, unless I wanted to really punish myself.
May 5, 2011
Okay, I was browsing in the bookstore and saw this on the table. I know that there is a movie coming, based on this story, so I thought I'd check it out.
At first blush, I like the concept. If aliens have been coming to Earth for a long time, they should have come during the 1800's. There have been plenty of films of us fighting aliens with our relatively primitive weapons. Imagine trying to fight aliens with 19th century weapons!
Well, that's all well and good, but the actual execution of the concept in this book fell far short of my imagination.
I can suspend disbelief so far, but this book pushed me beyond my limit. For example, the aliens attack, while riding these flying motorcycle-like vehicles. No one seems surprised, awed or overwhelmed by this. Not the cowboys and not the Indians! Come on! Someone should have said, "Holy sh*t! They're flying!" But they didn't. There were other moments that were made for a Disney movie that had me rolling my eyes. I won't "spoil" it, if anyone really wants to read this book.
I only give this two stars based on basic concept and artwork. If the movie is anything like this book, I don't know if I'd even watch it on cable.
At first blush, I like the concept. If aliens have been coming to Earth for a long time, they should have come during the 1800's. There have been plenty of films of us fighting aliens with our relatively primitive weapons. Imagine trying to fight aliens with 19th century weapons!
Well, that's all well and good, but the actual execution of the concept in this book fell far short of my imagination.
I can suspend disbelief so far, but this book pushed me beyond my limit. For example, the aliens attack, while riding these flying motorcycle-like vehicles. No one seems surprised, awed or overwhelmed by this. Not the cowboys and not the Indians! Come on! Someone should have said, "Holy sh*t! They're flying!" But they didn't. There were other moments that were made for a Disney movie that had me rolling my eyes. I won't "spoil" it, if anyone really wants to read this book.
I only give this two stars based on basic concept and artwork. If the movie is anything like this book, I don't know if I'd even watch it on cable.
April 13, 2016
Well, that was short, sweet, and to the point. It moved rather fast for me. It could have been a bit longer and not felt as rushed. I didn't hate it, but it isn't making me jump for joy in any way either. Though I only saw the movie once, I think I might prefer it. The story was more complex in the movie, and this was just ... bare bones. We didn't really get to know any of the characters. There was only one which developed at all throughout the story, and that was Kai.
All in all, I'd say it was alright. No regrets on the forty or so minutes I spent reading it. I'll give it to my nibblings, and they'll just love this kind of weird combination.
December 10, 2011
Quick, fun read! Now, I want to see the movie. Love getting graphic novels from the library.
May 21, 2012
This is the graphic novel the movie is based on. It goes into a lot more detail regarding the aliens and makes a much more explicit comparison between alien and white-man colonization. Good stuff.
March 15, 2016
Such an interesting premise, but none of the characters were really fleshed out. I give it a "meh."
August 17, 2017
Read this book after watching the movie.
The book did not create the same level of excitement or suspense.
In other words, the story is a big disappointment in comparison to such an awesome title.
The book did not create the same level of excitement or suspense.
In other words, the story is a big disappointment in comparison to such an awesome title.
August 29, 2020
Very choppy story/images.
August 23, 2023
[8/23/23 - The following is a review I wrote in July 2011 in anticipation of the film adaption for StuffWeLike, an entertainment blog that I was briefly a part of. Source link: http://www.stuffwelike.com/2011/07/28...]
In light of the feature film hitting theaters tonight, I thought I’d check out the original Cowboys & Aliens graphic novel. While at Comic Con, I picked up a copy, a nice hard cover edition that was signed by the book’s creator, Scott Mitchell Rosenberg. Cowboys & Aliens opens on a westbound wagon train surrounded by an attacking tribe of Indians. Just as the natives are about to deal the cowboys a deadly blow, an alien craft suddenly rips through the sky, crashing not too far away. The crash puts the Indians’ attack on hold. Now the settlers and Indians must team up to fight off a race of technologically advanced alien beings. Sounds pretty awesome, right? Not necessarily.
Unfortunately, with all grace of a bad 90s Saturday morning cartoon, Cowboys & Aliens misses expectations. The fun B-movie concept of frontiersmen battling extra terrestrials is the only thing this book has got going for it, apart from that, the story is rather dry and airheaded. The book seems it was constructed to be suitable for audiences young and old alike, an admirable thing to shoot for, but the story’s lack of depth makes its audience spectrum zero in somewhere in the pre-teen crowd. The art is just okay. It is a little sloppy, which suggests it was rushed. The pencillers for Cowboys & Aliens may have not been industry specialists, but even so, they could have done a better job. The color work was decent, but the use of textures was not handled well at all; the result looks unprofessional. Besides the open, “question mark” ending leaving room for possible sequels, a positive element is that the book is a complete 100-page story, no real cliff hangers in sight. I do like the concept of the old West mixed together with space aliens, like A Fistful of Dollars meets Independence Day, but the execution left much to be desired. I actually feel proud of Rosenberg and Platinum Studios for all their success even though their graphic novel is not even close to spectacular. Altogether, Cowboys & Aliens is an okay read, but it is missing the “wow” factor and the imagination that this breed of story should have.
Seeing that the Cowboys & Aliens graphic novel was such a disappointment, should that dampen expectations for the film adaption? No. On the contrary, it is clear that the movie is going to be different. Just by viewing the trailers, it would seem the filmmakers have gutted the book’s premise and shaped it into a completely new story, most likely for the better. The movie is bursting at the seams with talent like Jon Favreau, Daniel Craig, and Harrison Ford. I trust the film is in good hands. Though I am not crazy about the book, I am still looking forward to the motion picture it inspired.
In light of the feature film hitting theaters tonight, I thought I’d check out the original Cowboys & Aliens graphic novel. While at Comic Con, I picked up a copy, a nice hard cover edition that was signed by the book’s creator, Scott Mitchell Rosenberg. Cowboys & Aliens opens on a westbound wagon train surrounded by an attacking tribe of Indians. Just as the natives are about to deal the cowboys a deadly blow, an alien craft suddenly rips through the sky, crashing not too far away. The crash puts the Indians’ attack on hold. Now the settlers and Indians must team up to fight off a race of technologically advanced alien beings. Sounds pretty awesome, right? Not necessarily.
Unfortunately, with all grace of a bad 90s Saturday morning cartoon, Cowboys & Aliens misses expectations. The fun B-movie concept of frontiersmen battling extra terrestrials is the only thing this book has got going for it, apart from that, the story is rather dry and airheaded. The book seems it was constructed to be suitable for audiences young and old alike, an admirable thing to shoot for, but the story’s lack of depth makes its audience spectrum zero in somewhere in the pre-teen crowd. The art is just okay. It is a little sloppy, which suggests it was rushed. The pencillers for Cowboys & Aliens may have not been industry specialists, but even so, they could have done a better job. The color work was decent, but the use of textures was not handled well at all; the result looks unprofessional. Besides the open, “question mark” ending leaving room for possible sequels, a positive element is that the book is a complete 100-page story, no real cliff hangers in sight. I do like the concept of the old West mixed together with space aliens, like A Fistful of Dollars meets Independence Day, but the execution left much to be desired. I actually feel proud of Rosenberg and Platinum Studios for all their success even though their graphic novel is not even close to spectacular. Altogether, Cowboys & Aliens is an okay read, but it is missing the “wow” factor and the imagination that this breed of story should have.
Seeing that the Cowboys & Aliens graphic novel was such a disappointment, should that dampen expectations for the film adaption? No. On the contrary, it is clear that the movie is going to be different. Just by viewing the trailers, it would seem the filmmakers have gutted the book’s premise and shaped it into a completely new story, most likely for the better. The movie is bursting at the seams with talent like Jon Favreau, Daniel Craig, and Harrison Ford. I trust the film is in good hands. Though I am not crazy about the book, I am still looking forward to the motion picture it inspired.
July 28, 2018
L'ho comprato al Libraccio di Vicenza perché l'ho trovato lì. Avevo visto il film e mi era piaciuto. Tra Daniel Craig e Harrison Ford, come ci si poteva lamentare?! ^__^
Ma è una porcheria! Davvero, perfino il film è meglio! Complimenti agli sceneggiatori che son riusciti a trarvi un film con un minimo di senso.
Cowboy e cowgirl aiutano un gruppo di persone a raggiungere un terreno da colonizzare. Vengono sorpresi dagli Apache che a loro volta vengono sorpresi dagli alieni. La navicella si è rotta, bisogna chiamare aiuto e allora gli alieni costruiscono un mega-satelline sui tetti del paese. Indiani e cowboy si alleano per sconfiggere gli alieni.
La trama non ha senso. I personaggi son macchiette di inchiostro sulla carta e si innamorano nel giro di tre tavole. I disegni son malfatti. L'unica cosa positiva son gli occhiali che uno degli Apache trova.
Bah... Mi stupisco che ci abbiano fatto un film. Almeno son stata fortunata che l'ho preso di seconda mano.
Ma è una porcheria! Davvero, perfino il film è meglio! Complimenti agli sceneggiatori che son riusciti a trarvi un film con un minimo di senso.
Cowboy e cowgirl aiutano un gruppo di persone a raggiungere un terreno da colonizzare. Vengono sorpresi dagli Apache che a loro volta vengono sorpresi dagli alieni. La navicella si è rotta, bisogna chiamare aiuto e allora gli alieni costruiscono un mega-satelline sui tetti del paese. Indiani e cowboy si alleano per sconfiggere gli alieni.
La trama non ha senso. I personaggi son macchiette di inchiostro sulla carta e si innamorano nel giro di tre tavole. I disegni son malfatti. L'unica cosa positiva son gli occhiali che uno degli Apache trova.
Bah... Mi stupisco che ci abbiano fatto un film. Almeno son stata fortunata che l'ho preso di seconda mano.
May 11, 2021
Every conqueror believes himself moved by a higher power. The imperialist's actions are always justified, by necessity, compassion, or divine providence. For those who believed in it, manifest destiny was a noble endeavour -- a God-given duty to spread the principles of the United States throughout the world in general...
This was the very definition of okay. I didn't expect much, given how naff the film was, and it lived up to my low expectations. The story is a forced view on imperialism with a alien invasion background. The pioneers of the Wild West, who murders millions and stole the land of the native inhabitants ironically find themselves on the end of the same treatment from alien invaders....
The story is rushed, manages to hit ever cliché possible, and shoves its message right in your face. I wouldn't recommend it nor would I discourage it. It is what it is. 2 stars.
This was the very definition of okay. I didn't expect much, given how naff the film was, and it lived up to my low expectations. The story is a forced view on imperialism with a alien invasion background. The pioneers of the Wild West, who murders millions and stole the land of the native inhabitants ironically find themselves on the end of the same treatment from alien invaders....
The story is rushed, manages to hit ever cliché possible, and shoves its message right in your face. I wouldn't recommend it nor would I discourage it. It is what it is. 2 stars.
September 6, 2017
I have to confess I read this novel because I watched the movie that came out a while ago. I told myself that while it was a horrible movie, it was an interesting concept and surely the book could not be as bad as the movie... I was wrong, the book was worse than the movie. It started by drawing "Might makes Right" parallels between American and alien history. Then almost dismissing the concept for a more palatable ingenuity and persistent can conquer a more advanced adversary. The book also can not decide how to interact with women it be-bops between potentially strong female characters and having those same characters be little more than sex objects. Overall, a very disappointing execution of a potentially great concept.
November 20, 2023
I really like this story: Rosenberg does a great job of fable-izing the colonization of Native Americans by bringing it right back to the newly acquired doorstep of the white man. It could easily have come off as gimmicky or trite, but Rosenberg moralizes without being preachy. And, while his characters aren't the most developed in graphic novel-dom, they aren't simple caricatures either.
Still, I would have liked to see a little more development of the story and the characters (the latter of which is something I think the movie does well, actually). But the biggest reason for the 3-star evaluation is for the art. It's fine... that's about all that can be said about it.
Still, I'm glad I picked it up!
Still, I would have liked to see a little more development of the story and the characters (the latter of which is something I think the movie does well, actually). But the biggest reason for the 3-star evaluation is for the art. It's fine... that's about all that can be said about it.
Still, I'm glad I picked it up!
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