The Sixth Gun #28
Written by Cullen Bunn
Illustrated by Brian Hurtt
Colors by Bill Crabtree
Letters by Douglas E. Sherwood
Cover by Brian Hurtt
Designed by Keith Wood
Edited by Charlie Chu
Oni Press
Release Date: January 30, 2013
Cover Price: $3.99

I can’t remember when it was the last time I read The Sixth Gun. But, after reading The Sixth Gun #28, I might be picking up another copy sooner rather than later. I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised by this issue.

Writer Cullen Bunn gives us a pretty great little mystery here. Granted, I had almost NO clue as to what’s going on, because this isn’t a title that I read on a regular basis, but I was able to discern the story and what was going on pretty quickly. In this issue there’s an A and a B plot which eventually merge together to make one great big shock ending. The one problem I had with this book was that I really couldn’t tell who the “good” guys and “bad” guys were. I had a good idea, but I wasn’t 100 percent certain.

Bad Medicine #2
Written by Nunzio DeFilipps & Christina Weir
Illustrated by Christopher Mitten
Colored by Bill Crabtree
Lettered by Douglas E. Sherwood
Cover by Christopher Mitten
Oni Press
Release Date: June 13, 2012
Cover Price: $3.99

FINALLY!!! Someone does a comic based on the hit Bon Jovi song, Bad Medicine!!! Wait… what? OK, so it’s NOT an adaptation of the song, BUT what Bad Medicine #2 IS is a very unique comic. And a very entertaining one, at that.

Although I hate comparing comics to other things, writers Nunzio DeFilipps and Christina Weir are going to force me to. While this book goes above and beyond the call of duty to not be ANYTHING like what’s on the stands today, I’m going to say that, for lack of a better term, it’s CSI crossed with Twin Peaks with a dash of sci-fi thrown in. Again, this is NOTHING like anything that’s out there today, and I think that’s why I liked it so much. Very original and compelling.

Hell Yeah #1
Written by Joe Keatinge
Illustrated by Andre Szymanowicz
Colored by Jason Lewis
Lettered by Douglas E. Sherwood
Image Comics
Release Date: March 7, 2012
Cover Price: $2.99

There was an interesting conversation in a lot of comic book communities a few months ago when DC rebooted its titles regarding what makes for a good first issue. Self-contained story or cliffhanger ending? How much character do you reveal? How much world do you need to build? How much do you save for later?

All very good questions we should ask ourselves, but what wasn’t properly addressed in that conversation was what challenges do independent creators have on titles that aren’t reboots of well-established franchises? What’s the hook going to be? When so much of the superhero appeal relies on interpersonal relationships it’ll almost always be an uphill battle for the new, indie title where there’s no established continuity.

The Sixth Gun #18
Written by Cullenn Bunn
Illustrated by Brian Hurtt
Colors by Bill Crabtree
Letters by Douglas E. Sherwood
Design by Keith Wood
Published by Oni Press
Release Date: January 18, 2012
Cover Price: $3.99

If you are an avid comic book reader in 2012, you’re either one of these types of people:

1) You’ve never heard of The Sixth Gun,
2) You’ve heard it’s terrific, but you haven’t gotten around to it,
3) You’re reading and loving The Sixth Gun.

To that first group, it goes like this: In the wild west, after the Civil War, there exists six mystical guns with unique abilities. Becky Montcrief is a young woman who finds herself in possession of the sixth, most powerful of these weapons. Now she’s on the run from sinister forces trying to possess it and is aided by treasure hunter, Drake Sinclair, and few other allies.

The Sixth Gun #16
Written by Cullen Bunn
Art by Brian Hurtt
Colors by Bill Crabtree
Letters by Douglas E. Sherwood
Design by Keith Wood
Oni Press
Release Date: October 26th, 2011
Cover Price: $3.99

Much to the chagrin of two of my very good friends, who’ve been trying to get me to read this book for months, this was the first time that I’ve read The Sixth Gun. I have to admit, right off the bat, they were right. It’s, let’s just say, unique. And not in a weird or strange way, I mean it literally. I’ve never read a comic quite like this before.

Keeping in mind that this was the first time I’ve read this book, overall The Sixth Gun #16 was very enjoyable. This issue was part five of a story arc, but, for the most part, I was still able to understand what was going on. There were a few spots were I was a little confused, but nothing that kept me from having a great time reading this book.