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East of West #36
Publisher: Image
Story: Jonathan Hickman
Pencils: Nick Dragotta
Inks:  Nick Dragotta
Colors: Frank Martin
Letters: Rus Wooton
Cover: Nick Dragotta

The post-apocalyptic alt-history Western comics kicks off another arc with the latest issue, after another long hiatus. The gaps in publication history are a real detriment to this series, which is rich with character development, world building, and a variety of themes about family, duty, honor, and so forth, that to go three or four months in between issues kills any momentum and makes it difficult to remember subtle details that are integral to the overall story.

This is not an issue to jump into randomly, if you’re not already a fan of the series. While Dragotta’s artwork is amazing as always and the imagery is evocative enough to draw even the casual reader to check out this issue, the story is not one that is easily digested without the background of the previous issues. While that kind of long term storytelling is something I enjoy much more than individual one-off issues that don’t tie together into a bigger story, it could be considered a flaw in terms of pulling in new readers to the series.

Story-wise, there is much more of a focus on Wolf in this issue in his role as both the Chief of Chiefs of the Endless and as a Prophet of the End Times, the internal politics of the Endless, and the fall of the Union. Wolf’s interactions with Endless Elder Bodaway steal the scenes, as Bodaway is depicted as a much more complex character than originally portrayed, and his relationship with Wolf is also just as complex. It would have been much easier to make Bodaway the “bad guy” who is bitter about the ascension of Wolf to Chief of Chiefs, but instead there is an underlying mutual respect between the two characters that makes for very compelling reading. Sadly, Crow hardly has a role in any of these conversations aside from a single panel, and that’s a shame, as her relationship and interactions with Wolf have always been highlights of the series.

Aside from Wolf’s and Bodaway’s political maneuvering, there is a surprise character death that, while it does not impact the over-arching story that much, still carries emotional weight behind it. Toward the end of the issue, there is a very well-written discussion between Death and Babylon that continues to illustrate the bonds building between father and son that were teased in the previous issues. Death’s description of Xiaolian perfectly demonstrates his love for her, and why he would risk so much to go against his original mission to be with, and father a son with, her.

As rich and detailed as Hickman’s story is, the real star of East of West has always been Dragotta’s art, and this issue is no exception. One of the things that comics excel at are using a concise array of images to convey an idea that would take multiple pages in a prose novel. It’s a strength of a medium, and it’s exemplified perfectly in East of West #36 as Wolf explains to his council of Elders and advisors how he is able to use the superior technology of the Endless to counter an ancient magical spell that protects the White Tower of the Union. As Wolf describes why, rather than how, he is able to do this, a gorgeous set of panels depict the action in a sequence that could easily be envisioned as a movie. In addition, Dragotta’s character designs are always a key selling point of East of West, and so many of them are on display in this particular issue, including multiple characters from both the Endless and the Union, as well as the Four Horseman and Babylon. Frank Martin’s complement, and enhance, Dragotta’s designs perfectly, keeping with the limited, almost primary-color palette that the series has utilized since the beginning.

East of West #36 is a great issue, in terms of art, story, and character development. It’s just not a great issue for a beginner to jump into the series given the complexities of the story line.

Martin Thomas
martin@comicattack.net