It's no mistake that East of West is being heralded as one of the best titles currently ongoing. It's probably the best new series of 2013 and it is surpassing even the tremendous hype that surrounded it because of the great creative team. On one hand you have Hickman's grand ideas, schemes, themes, plots, sub-plots, sub-sub-plots, and outlandish characters, and on the other you have the boisterous and powerful art of Nick Dragotta, which is all held together by the glue that is Frank Martin's stark coloring. While it may end up reading better in trade format, as most of Hickman's work invariably does, it would certainly be tough to miss out on this series each time a new chapter is released. Especially considering the final piece of the puzzle, real characters, has fallen into place. Read Full Review

EAST OF WEST continues to escalate in both tension and scale; there are no compromises in this book, and we know that someone is going to lose big at the end. The stage has been set for Death and Xiao to fight it out in a grand war against The Chosen and their allies, but will the final standoff be their own, or will there be additional twists thrown in? My money's on the twists. Read Full Review

This series continues to be the complete package. While issue #5 may not have had everything people have begun to expect in a Jonathan Hickman comic, it still was the perfect bridge between arcs and added so much depth to the character pool. It's tough to say that East of West is the best ongoing on the market right now, considering its main competition is also out this week. *cough* Saga *cough*. But what I can say is that East of West is the best new ongoing of 2013 and it would be a shame if you didn't at least try it on your pull list for a few months. Read Full Review

While it certainly isn't the issue most filled with action, the gravitas around the many revelation and the characters make for a splendid read, which is elevated thanks to the beautiful dialogue and the stunning work from both Dragotta and Martin. Read Full Review

East of West is wonderfully paced. This sci-fi, western is flowering into a higher tier of storytelling. Pair that with Dragotta's unique style and even the arrangement of the book: the panels, page breaks and minimalist design, and we have something even more exclusive. Do yourself a favor and start reading this book. Read Full Review

With manipulation of time, pacing, character work, and plot, this is a wonderful entry in overarching narrative that should have the audience completely engrossed. Really it is what readers have been waiting for a long time with this series, an actual reason to care about these people. With the first couple slightly disjointed issues, I wonder if this series would be a more satisfying experience as an original graphic novel. For now enjoy the fact that the gun has gone off, and Hickman is working his way towards a big storyline. Read Full Review

This truly has been a very Hickman-related month for me, and it doesn't stop here. As mentioned earlier, in two weeks from now on the 28th, Secret #3 comes out. The Hickman train never stops rolling. East of West #5 is another in a long line of his books coming out on a monthly basis, and like the rest of them, continues to be amazing until it reaches its foregone conclusion. Read Full Review

Overall, there are very few things I could bring myself to complain about over this issue. Coming off some action-heavy issues dealing with the siege of New Shanghai, the series needed a breather and it's here in the form of the first real confrontation between Death and his wife. It's simple and it's heartbreaking and it's emotional and it's everything series needed to draw readers even deeper into this alternate world that Hickman and Dragotta have created. The issue is a love story in the middle of a global conflict and Hickman slows down just enough on his information train to give us a look into the mind of Death and why he fights and what he fights for. It sets up his emotional stakes in the coming, supposedly imminent war and it gives us a reason to care going forward because, knowing Hickman, it's likely that nothing will be the same after this. Read Full Review

While it is action-laced and perhaps a bit more wily than other examples, as with most Hickman stuff, East of West remains a pretty slow burn;. Of course, given the man's rep, that simmer is bound to bloom into a pretty incredible boil. Read Full Review

The attempt to dip into a more personal story within the epic framework of "East of West" #5 is only partially successful. Still, the tone, atmosphere and visuals of "East of West" are unlike any other book on the shelves, and it accomplishes more than enough of its ambitions to make it engrossing and worthwhile. Read Full Review

While I'm still a fan of East of West, issue #5 fell short of expectations. Read Full Review

Death is infinitely powerful and any conflict he has found himself in, he has overcome with relative ease. For East of West to remain compelling it must focus more on action, and provide a challenge for Death that he may not be able to overcome. Perhaps that challenge rests solely on his sons shoulders. I just hope we get there next month. As this series is sorely lacking action and conflict. Read Full Review

. . $3.50, 20pgs +4 bare pgs. D- bland, wasteful wrap cover. All ADs@back. . . Hickman finally gives back story and character depth that grants meaning to this series. The plot and narrative begins to show a future and purpose to the tale. A bit late in the opening arc, but welcome none-the-less. Not a lot of action but great dialog and character work this issue. Dragotta continues to bring his 'A game' and impresses in collaboration with Frank Martin's gorgeous colors. Overall this issue kicks ass and is an engaging read, but leaves us hanging for the next arc._____. That said, i am very disappointed in pricing for this book, esp. in consideration of the paltry pages. The bare pages may serve pacing, but come across almost insulting to the buyer and all three factors may serve as an indication of Hickman self-aggrandizement. The insult/injury is made worse by the TPB collection of issues 1-5 for only $10 ($9 tax free on amazon), since i paid $17.50 to support it! This may become an excellent series in the end, but the path there is too steep and too risky, considering delays between issues (in the 1st arc even!), to be worth monthly support. I will consider reading the TPBs if reviews look good. more

"East of West" #5 gives us some explanations of the mysterious sentences written on the white pages, also releasing a bomb information for the readers and for Death's wife. Apart from this, though, the installment feels wasted in its lack of happenings, and even some dialogues are all in all, hollow. For instance I expected much more from the encounter between the two bearded men of the series, Solomon and Chamberlain, which ended up being just a cynic criticism against hope. My score is also established by a poorer care in the artistic department, especially regarding faces.