The Sixth Gun: Days of the Dead Review (Cullen Bunn, Brian Hurtt)

Days of the Dead is a spinoff/prequel to the main Sixth Gun series and, like most prequels, it’s unnecessary! But it could’ve still been entertaining and unfortunately it wasn’t. 

The Sixth Gun, Volume 6: Ghost Dance Review (Cullen Bunn, Brian Hurtt)

Collapsing after her spiritual attack on the widow Hume, Becky must go on a perilous vision quest to reclaim part of herself. On her journey, minus a spirit guide, she witnesses the various incarnations of the Six Guns through time and the possibilities of what the world might be should all Six be reunited. But demonic Skinwalkers sent by the widow Hume pursue her in the spirit realm and it’s up to Gord, Asher, Kirby and some new friends to help Becky out by destroying the earthly hosts of the Skinwalkers. Even Becky finds herself teaming up with the unlikeliest of allies to survive. 

Like the last volume, Ghost Dance feels like more filler as the new baddies teased at the end of Vol 5 remain off the page and in the shadowy background and half the cast remain static, but unlike the last volume, Ghost Dance is a much more entertaining read – so much so that you don’t mind the feeling that the story is continuing to slow. 

Becky’s time-travelling adventure is interesting as the weird Six go from being axes wielded by primitive man to knights’ swords to the six-shooters of the old west, and Gord and co.’s attack on the black magic Indian cult was exciting. The overall plot of the series doesn’t advance much though with more hints that Becky is some kind of force for evil than good, and the Six Guns’ full power remains partially shrouded. 

Brian Hurtt’s art continues to impress – the Sixth Gun is nothing if not a gorgeous comic – and the dramatic stormy night battle scene was particularly eye-catching. Cullen Bunn’s writing is also of his usual high standard with Kirby developing more into a likeable character, despite his backstabbing inclinations, and the twist at the end is pretty unexpected. 

Ghost Dance is an irresistibly fun adventure in the Sixth Gun series that fans will thoroughly enjoy – I sure did!

The Sixth Gun Volume 6: Ghost Dance TP

The Sixth Gun, Volume 5: Winter Wolves Review (Cullen Bunn, Brian Hurtt)

Drake and Becky are looking for a tracker to help them find the evil witch, Missy Hume, and accidentally stumble into a winter realm where they are hunted by a dangerous woodland spirit: the Wendigo. Meanwhile, in his search for Drake and Becky, Gord makes some unlikely allies in Kirby Hale and Asher Cobb - but the Sword of Abraham is hot on their heels. 

I’ll just come right out and say it: filler. That’s what Book 5: Winter Wolves reads like. The Sixth Gun’s story is excellent - six enchanted guns which, when united, allows the wielder, good or bad, to remake the world their way - and I love the colourful cast of rogues, bandits, witches, golems and mummies against the romantic frontier days of the wild west. But the story of Becky and co’s mission to defeat the widow Hume is put on hold for this book while the two putter around Narnia slowly figuring out how to defeat the Wendigo, and Gord and the others run in circles. 

It’s still written well by Cullen Bunn and there are flashes of brilliance like when we find out about Drake’s past and his last encounter with a Wendigo, and Brian Hurtt’s artwork is as gorgeous as ever, but for me the book didn’t come to life until the final chapter when Becky takes the fight to Missy Hume single-handedly. 

The Winter Wolves storyline isn’t bad but I’d have preferred it to be a done-in-one or two story rather than pad out an entire book - the story doesn’t hit the high gears until the final few pages with the reveal of some new characters and an exciting new direction for the next book. I’m looking forward to the sixth book but the fifth one felt like a bit of a wash - the first time the series has been less than brilliant!

The Sixth Gun Volume 5 TP

The Sixth Gun: Sons of a Gun Review (Cullen Bunn, Brian Hurtt)

The Sixth Gun is Oni Press’ best series since Scott Pilgrim though unfortunately, like Bryan Lee O’Malley’s masterpiece, it is a finite series that is now winding down. How to get as much out of it without diluting the potency of the story? Spin-off prequels like Sons of the Gun! 

This isn’t something I’m automatically against as The Sixth Gun is a wonderful comic and more of it can only be a good thing. Except… this is a book about the villains of the story, the four horsemen of General Oliander Hume’s and how they received the guns before they were taken by Drake and Becky, and, frankly, their stories didn’t really need to be told. They’re just not that interesting enough characters in the first place and this book doesn’t do much to convince the reader otherwise.

The four are: “Bloodthirsty” Bill Sumter (possessing the gun with the force of a cannon), Will Arcene (possessing the gun that fires the flames of perdition), “Filthy” Ben Kinney (possessing the gun that spreads flesh-rotting disease), and Silas “Bitter Ridge” Hedgepeth (whose gun calls forth the spirits of the dead). Missy Hume, the General’s evil wife, possesses the fifth gun which keeps her young so long as she keeps murdering, though she doesn’t figure much in this book. 

Ben Kinney’s origin story is a fairly plain Beauty and the Beast-type tale – Ben is physically deformed but strikes up a relationship with an attractive young woman through letters who falls in love with him. Until of course when she sees what he looks like and poor Ben realises love isn’t on the cards for him and goes back to the gunslinger’s life. Bill Sumter’s story is a very forgettable tale of a brigand whose appetite for loot gets him into some sticky situations. 

Will Arcene’s story is pretty good but is something we’ve seen before in The Sixth Gun – supernatural and monstrous creatures massing in the Southern swamps, mixed in with black magic. It’s still entertaining but predictable as we know Will’s life is never in danger because this is a prequel. Silas’ story of becoming a plague doctor in a doomed township is probably the best as we see his character’s personal philosophy being formed – seeing people suffer from plague only for their suffering to be alleviated with his gun which resurrects them as weird mud creatures. 

The book ends in a pretty terrible fight scene between the four and a giant kaiju-esque monster that looks like it stepped out of Pacific Rim. This kind of threat doesn’t feel like it belongs in the world of the Sixth Gun and seemed arbitrary – the four characters needed a common foe to unite them, so this’ll do. The story of the doomed four horsemen of the Sixth Gun is something most fans of the series will pick up out of love of the main books in the title, but for this fan? It wasn’t bad and some stories were entertaining but it didn’t add much to the overall series and I could easily put this book down. Sons of the Gun is unnecessary but ok.

The Sixth Gun: Sons of the Gun

The Sixth Gun, Volume 4: A Town Called Penance by Cullen Bunn, Brian Hurtt and Tyler Crook Review

The Sixth Gun is one of those rare titles that, so far, four volumes in, hasn’t had a single bad book - hell, I’m not sure I’ve read a single bad issue! Volume 4: A Town Called Penance picks up Drake’s story as we find out what happened during the train heist of the last book. Drake is captured by some former accomplices from the bad old days and taken to their underground city/hideout to be tortured into giving up information on the guns’ location. Meanwhile the Sixth Gun has shown Becky where Drake’s being kept and is on her way to free him - but the town she shows up in is full of strange, physically warped people and a mean sheriff with a secret, and it looks like Becky’s going to have to fight her way in and out to save Drake!

The setup in this book is just so good: a mystery town - called Penance no less! How Old West is that? - in the middle of nowhere with freaky, disfigured people and an air of supernatural, Lovecraftian menace. Who doesn’t want to read a story with that setting? Bunn keeps the tension up as Becky discovers a rival group to those in Penance and begins unravelling a more sinister purpose to the town’s existence.

And let’s talk about Becky - if the last book didn’t convince you that she is the badass of the series, this book will. There’s an entire issue that’s silent - no words - where Becky storms the underground bandit stronghold singlehandedly and not only saves Drake but completely kicks the bad guys’ asses! And that’s after she shoots several bundles of dynamite in the air as they come zooming towards her! She’s so damn cool, I love how Cullen Bunn has portrayed her, especially in this book where she’s wearing Drake’s bowler while she’s doing all of this.

Once again, Brian Hurtt’s artwork is flawless. His interiors of the bandits’ stronghold are breathtaking and the action is seamless - he carries that silent issue completely and pulls it off masterfully. You understand everything that’s happening in the issue and follow Becky’s plan perfectly.

Kirby Hale makes a brief reappearance in the Tyler Crook-drawn final issue and continues his doomed storyline with Becky. Also making a welcome reappearance is the oracle hanging tree from the first book. While I don’t feel as strongly about Crook’s art as I do about Hurtt’s, it’s still first class artwork - whether it’s Hurtt or Crook, Bunn is always paired with an incredible artist in this series.

The fourth book is maybe the series’ most action packed yet and is another compelling addition to this excellent comic. The Sixth Gun is tremendous fun, and if other subgenres like sexy vampires are exhausted, the series shows how fresh and exciting the supernatural western subgenre is. Let’s see more great books in this vein!

The Sixth Gun Volume 4

The Sixth Gun, Volume 3: Bound by Cullen Bunn, Brian Hurtt, and Tyler Crook Review

Drake, Becky and the Brotherhood of the Sword of Abraham are escorting General Hume’s locked coffin back to the Brotherhood’s fortress but the General’s wife, the witchy Missy Hume, is mustering her dark forces to save her husband once more. Meanwhile Gord Cantrell heads to his former master’s home to find a way to destroy the guns - and face some personal demons.

The Sixth Gun series continues to be a thrilling delight and, three books in, shows no sign of slowing. In this book alone we have a daring train heist, a giant mummy, and a fortress breakout and that’s not even counting the emotional upheavals in Gord and Becky’s stories! Early on Drake gets separated from the group so the characters we follow in this book are mostly Becky and Gord and we’re also introduced to a new character - Asher Cobb, the giant mummy.

The book contains what readers of the series love best: wild west action and dollops of supernatural craziness thrown in. Asher Cobb’s story is tragic and mesmerising, almost Shakespearean in some details, drawn by Tyler Crook as series regular artist Brian Hurtt sits out one issue. You’ve got zombies attacking a speeding train and ghosts aplenty - I really want to talk about details in the book but don’t want to spoil anything for those who haven’t read it.  

I’ll say that Gord gets some much needed character work while Becky continues to be a brilliant heroine who manages to get herself out of some pretty sticky situations with her wits and her gun. Drake’s fate is a tantalising one as all members of the group are scattered but it looks like it’s up to Becky herself to save him and, given her practicality and skill shown so far, I’d say she’s more than capable of saving the man damsel in distress. And of course Brian Hurtt’s art again is absolutely incredible. The sequences at the estate of Braxton Bell Hood were just amazing: haunting and desolate one minute, colourful and bursting with life the next - Hurtt is an artist who is so versatile, he can do it all and do it all with such panache and vision, it’s unbelievable. If I see his name on a book, I’m picking it up - The Sixth Gun has made me a fan of his for life!

The Sixth Gun, Volume 3: Bound is another fine book in the series that won’t disappoint readers - and if you’re not reading this series, guys, check it out, it is a straight up awesome comic. 

The Sixth Gun Volume 3: Bound

The Sixth Gun, Volume 2: Crossroads by Cullen Bunn and Brian Hurtt

Drake and Becky head to N’Orleans where Drake has a plan for his four guns of the six while Becky decides to hang onto hers. Drake goes in search of a magical man called Henri Fournier in the Louisiana swamps and Becky meets a new character called Kirby Hale, a smooth talking huckster. But as word of the fabled guns’ new owners spreads Drake, Becky and co. are targeted by all sorts of menaces who would take the guns for themselves.

The second volume in the series is as exciting and fun as the first. I love Brian Hurtt’s art which is just amazing. The way he draws the Louisiana swamps, themselves a rich scenic backdrop, is wonderful and I love Southern architecture so placing those beautiful old Southern houses, whitewashed like crazy, looming with pillars and balconies and shutters, vines and other plants creeping up them - oh. Just makes me wish all the more I lived in the past. Hurtt’s monster designs are excellent too and the villain of the book is a really interesting mix of animals, black magic, and warped humanity smooshed together into one scary dude.

I really like how Cullen Bunn’s writing Becky. She’s no wallflower or damsel in distress, she acts just like male heroes do: she gets laid, she gets drunk, she fights like a madman, she’s all about her gun - it’s really refreshing to read a female character who just does what she likes and the hell with what people think. Kirby is an interesting new character too who keeps Becky’s storyline lively but Henri Fournier, the wizard of the swamp, and his manservant Woodmael are the best new creations. Secretive and strange, you’ll be guessing the whole time what they and their intentions really are that I don’t want to say anything further about them - they’re just great!

Bunn and Hurtt are doing a really impressive job of keeping the plot going while building up an alternative America where magic and mystery permeate the real 19th century historical setting. Once again though, Brian Hurtt’s art in this book is unbelievable, made all the more impressive by colourist Bill Crabtree. With Volume 2 you’re getting a great story but the art is something else. The Sixth Gun - read it guys, it’s awesome! 

The Sixth Gun Volume 2

The Sixth Gun, Volume 1: Cold Dead Fingers by Cullen Bunn and Brian Hurtt Review

Post-Civil War America, the Old West. Missy Hume, a menacing woman with mysterious motives, hires Pinkerton agents to track down a valuable gun which belonged to her late husband General Oliander Hume, currently in the possession of a preacher. But the gun falls into the hands of the preacher's daughter, Becky Montcrief, who discovers the gun has supernatural powers and imprints itself to the first person who wields it after its previous owner passes - in other words, only she can use this strange gun. And bad people are after her.

Meanwhile, treasure hunter Drake Sinclair finds Becky before the newly resurrected General Hume and his gang of outlaw horrors do, all of whom possess a gun with magical powers. Drake and Becky must gain control of all six guns to keep the mad General from unleashing an unspeakable danger into the world.

Volume 1 of the Sixth Gun series, Cold Dead Fingers, opens up like a gunslinger emptying his barrel in a duel - the action and characters come shooting out in quick succession. Cullen Bunn does a great job of getting the story going quickly and keeps the momentum up throughout the book, introducing you to characters and their world seamlessly. And while the chase story in the Western genre has been done to death, it really works well here because of the horror element thrown into the mix.

Bunn sets the scene nicely giving the book the convincing atmosphere of the Old West with town names like Brimstone and a cast that include the likes of preachers, cathouse owners, Pinkerton agents, and Civil War castoffs. He also subverts Western staples with the horror angle so that when the familiar sight of a hanging tree is introduced, it turns out to be an oracle where the hanged souls are forever bound but can see the future.

Also, the iconic six-shooters that are required for every Western become something other in this book. They're still weapons but are super-powered weapons. The six guns have six individual powers, such as one gun that has the power of a cannon, so when fired it has the impact of a cannonball instead of an ordinary bullet. Or the gun with the power of pestilence, rotting the flesh of everything its bullets touch.

Brian Hurtt's art in the book is really pretty. Cartoony in appearance at first glance, Hurtt believably conjures up the horrors on the page, drawing action really well and getting the period costumes and settings right. He draws both genres in this book superbly.

The Sixth Gun is a perfect mash-up of western and horror wrapped up into a highly entertaining comic. Where does the series go next? I don't know but after this excellent start, I'm saddled up for more!

The Sixth Gun Volume 1