East of West #26

Hickman's ending to the issue is the type of stuff most comics would save to set up the dessert, a thrilling conclusion. Instead, Hickman is just getting started with this meal and one can only imagine how juicy the entree will be when it is finally presented, let alone how savory the dessert will be when this arc concludes. With the promise of more bloodshed on the horizon, East of West continues to be one of the few series that everyone should be reading, and East of West #26 reminds us all why. Read Full Review

It's a treat just to see these characters interact with one another, particularly whenever the devious, quick-witted Archibald Chamberlain is involved. There's a constant sense that these characters are testing each other and prodding for potential weaknesses. Read Full Review

At this point in the series, we've had a lot of buildup punctuated by occasional brief bouts of over-the-top violence. This pace has, for the most part, worked very well, but Hickman appears to be winding up to speed things up some, and I am excited to see the excrement hit the rotating-bladed cool-air blower (it seemed classier than ‘shit hit the fan'). After all, in the style of the series, we've got a beautifully written and drawn world all laid out in stunning, careful detail–it's high time to blow it up. Read Full Review

"East of West" #26 is a reminder of why people need to pay attention to this comic, even three years into its run. It's clever and engaging, and the only complete non-surprise is that Hickman, Dragotta and Martin continue to turn out a strong comic with every chapter. Ready for a little apocalypse? It's ready for you. Read Full Review

A small ripple of revelation here and there, but nothing has significantly changed since last issue. The ending does lead one to believe that shit is about to go down soon, but we'll have to wait and see on that one. I've been wrong before. Read Full Review

JBL Reviews

Nov 20, 2016

Gathering of the Chosen