Written by: Jonathan Hickman
Art by: Nick Dragotta
Publisher: Image
If you bought one comic book this New Years Eve, it should have been East of West #16.
East of West #16 marks the return of Jonathan Hickman and Nick Dragotta’s acclaimed Sci-Fi series from Image following a brief hiatus and a one shot guide-book for the series. Even though this marks the third arc of this series following said hiatus, one thing remains clear: Hickman and Dragotta are two creators at the top of their game in style and execution. Issue #16 feels like it never misses a beat, using every one of it’s pages to fill with important dialogue, memorable action scenes between the myriad of characters (including the horsemen of the apocalypse), and beautifully desolate vistas of the western sci-fi atmosphere that embodies this series.While many may be a little foggy on some of the intricacies that packs this series (and this is a series that is full of them), both creators do their best to treat this issue as a simultaneously step forward and refresher course on the state of East of West.
Out of all the series I read from Image, East of West remains one of my top favorites for it constantly rewards the reader. Some readers may prefer to trade-wait for this series due to the density of it’s plots and characters and while that remains perfectly fine, I believe that this series is one of the best bangs for your buck any wednesday it comes out. I never feel let down by any issue of East of West and issue #16 remains no exception. Our central focuses this issue remain some of the tertiary characters and factions that are present within the series while Death takes a back seat. We get to learn a little bit more about the Endless Nation as they wage war against some of the groups present while simultaneously forming alliances with others. The political complexity explore in these dynamics this issue remain endlessly fascinating while albeit slightly pedantic.
Dragotta remains an artist of the highest caliber and this issue only seeks to further prove that. Whether he’s depicting cold, futuristic, architecture or the scary, fierce, pre-pubescent designs of the three horsemen of the apocalypse, his pencils never waiver in quality. Hickman’s writing continues to play for the long game, setting up constant threads upon threads and wheels within wheels. For a mere $3.50, East of West remains one of the most rewarding experiences on the stands in any local comic book shop and issues like #16 demand to be read (and re-read ).
