Written by: Brian Hurtt
Art by: A.C. Zamudio
Publisher: Oni Press
The Hunting Party is in deep trouble.
Confused? Don’t worry, Brian Hurtt has your back. The author of The Sixth Gun has created some very entertaining stories in this universe, including the main series and side stories. Valley of Death is the prequel to an epic story, and issue #3 follows a group of warriors out to prevent total destruction. This group is known as the Hunting Party.
Shortly after experiencing tragedy in the Realm of Death, the Hunting Party—led by Screaming Crow, Kalfu, and the Buzzard Wife—frantically raced to escape back to the real world. Unfortunately, the House of Death’s minions were in hot pursuit. These mindless Disciples only had one mission: kill the Hunting Party and reclaim totem with Yum Kimil. White Wolf’s absence was proof that these Disciples were very good at their job.
However, White Wolf wasn’t as deceased as everyone originally believed.
In fact, White Wolf was actually off trying to rejoin his team and survive the hell that was the Realm of Death. This battle was both physically and mentally taxing, but it was necessary for the warrior’s growth. White Wolf discovered an inner strength and maturity during this battle that completely changed his personality. The warrior started this Valley of Death series as a spoiled brat, but he became so much more.
While much of the issue was spent following White Wolf’s battle for survival, the rest of Valley of Death #3 actually explored issues of loyalty. The remaining Hunting Party members could have abandoned their missing companion and escaped to the real world, but they decided to risk it all and make sure that no one would be left behind. This move showed that even morally grey figures like Kalfu could act like heroes when necessary. Of course, Kalfu is just a great character, so it was nice to see him making the right choices.
The Sixth Gun has been a consistently enjoyable series, and Brian Hurtt has cranked out interesting storylines issue after issue. The main series has been my favorite aspect of The Sixth Gun universe, but the Valley of Death series is a great addition. Finding out more information about the Hunting Party’s history was fantastic, and the ending tied perfectly into the main series. Reading this issue after Volume 8: Hell and High Water actually clarified some items that had previously been confusing.
The only complaint about this issue is the fact that Screaming Crow is a more minor character. The mysterious warrior was a major part of earlier issues and the main series, but he took a backseat during Valley of Death #3. Screaming Crow even disappeared near the end of the issue with only one line of parting dialogue. Thankfully, the final panels partially explain what happened before Screaming Crow’s reappearance in the main series. Now, we need another side story highlighting Kalfu and Screaming Crow’s adventures between the Six Realms. How did he conquer the Thunderbirds? We need to know!
Valley of Death #3 may not be as solid as some other issues, but the details are so essential to the overall plot that it becomes a must read. Plus, every moment spent in The Sixth Gun universe is terrific.
