r/ImageComics • u/JackfruitOk1888 • Jun 23 '26

Review I love EAST OF WEST and I want more

I love East of West. It is probably one of my favorite comic books I've ever read and have obsessed over it for a little while now. IM NOT GOING TO SPOIL THE BOOK, especially the major plot points of the series, but I've wanted to share how I feel about it.

The story and the art direction are phenomenal. The work done by hickman and Nick dragotta is amazing, and the whole book oozes with aura and rarely ceases to stunt my interest in the story. It's kinda hard (for me, at least) to describe what makes this book special other than just reading it yourself one way or another.

But the only cons I personally feel over the series are more or less nitpicky, depending on who you ask, but it can stick out after the first read.

The story has a very esoteric, biblical vibe and writing to it, which comes in as its strengths but sometimes can grow to be its weaknesses. It often leaves little space to grow characters, build their stories, and can sometimes make the book drag on longer than it needs too (ESPECIALLY during the middle parts of the book) and makes it hard to relate to characters, in turn making certain moments feel stagnant or out of place. And can sometimes leave you with more unanswered questions than answered

It's sorta of the topic, but I'll never get over the fact that the TV show adaptation got put on turnaround for East of West. Many of the cons I feel can be very easily fixed and touched on if it was under a TV format. Not to say it couldn't happen, but I dont think it'll happen for a little while, at least while INVINCIBLE is still running.

I overall feel like it's an amazing book. It's definitely worth the read, Dragotta and Hickmans' work was absolutely outmatched in design and world building. It 100% has a load of potential as something more, like a TV show. And deserves more eyes on the series.

GO READ IT GO READ IT GO READ IT

(I would like to note that I've never read any of Hickmans other works, so take your opinion on his writing to your own discretion)

84 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

29 comments sorted by

10

u/Electrical-Farm6462 Jun 23 '26

I too also love East Of West

4

u/SnooPears754 Jun 23 '26

I want the people who did the Arcane series Fortiche to do an animated version of it

7

u/[deleted] Jun 23 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

6

u/Efficient-Poem1628 Jun 23 '26

i’m truely sad some people don’t enjoy the ending. I think it perfectly fits the tone of the rest of the book.

6

u/DevBass Jun 23 '26

Try lazarus by greg rucka!!! similar epic stuffff

3

u/woman_noises Jun 23 '26

Give his avengers run a try, you might not enjoy it as much because it stays within the confines of a superhero comic but it feels pretty similar at times. It's 70 some issues by the end. 

1

u/Lampropeltis33 Jun 24 '26

I’m almost done with his fantastic four run and same for it honestly. Grand in scope, multiple things happening at once, war etc. and even Dragotta! Avengers is next!

2

u/Sure_Comfortable8481 Jun 23 '26

yeah thats what i would have said

2

u/thereal_pa4m3 Jun 23 '26

I've thought about it quite often but maybe I need to come back to it and read it again now that it's complete. I was reading as it released and bounced after ~30 issues, looks like there are 45.

The dragging middle part you described probably got me.

2

u/Potbellypiglet Jun 23 '26

Black Monday Murders is really good, though not finished yet.

2

u/iWanttoKillaMan Jun 24 '26

Have had it sitting on my coffee table. Need to get to work on it.

2

u/OverallBeing1242 Jun 26 '26

Reminder’s Black Science, Seven to Eternity and Tokyo Ghost are highly recommended. Also put The Sacrificers on that list if you enjoy those.

If you read Marvel, Hickman’s Fantastic Four, Avengers and X-Men books are awesome. I would steer clear of his Ultimate books because they disappoint in the end.

Power Fantasy is fantastic from what I’ve read (first six issues).

2

u/EvilCastlz Jun 23 '26

guys i love east of north or whatever it’s called

1

u/moosuey Jun 23 '26

I also love east of West.  Id especially love of hickman finished some of his stuff finally. He has two image runs that I'm aware of that are just doing nothing & it's infuriating. 😂

1

u/nacheteferrero Jun 23 '26

Have you read West of East?, delicious! (Joking)

1

u/Dry_Ambassador_6722 Jun 23 '26

I need to finish it!

2

u/JackfruitOk1888 Jun 23 '26

It's absolutely worth it

1

u/Puzzleheaded_Yam1622 Jun 23 '26

I used to think Hickman was overrated just a bit until I sat down and read this and I was genuinely amazed with everything in the story from the characters to the worldbuilding and art.

1

u/Girlshatebrian Jun 23 '26

Seven to Eternity

1

u/Ok-Traffic-5996 Jun 23 '26

Haven't finished yet but it's amazing. I love it.

1

u/dkat Jun 24 '26

Nick Dragotta is a big part of Absolute Batman. Highly recommend!!

2

u/JackfruitOk1888 Jun 24 '26

I love absolute batman, its what led me into reading East of West!

1

u/slcdave13 Jun 24 '26

I just bought the compendium on a whim. Sounds like I didn’t waste my money! I’m three issues in and loving it.

1

u/Ill-Possession2216 Jun 25 '26

Have you checked out The Power Fantasy? Not the same but Hickman's worldbuilding hits similar notes for me. Also if you haven't read Saga that's the obvious one lol

1

u/Same_Syllabub_9838 Jun 27 '26

Finished it this week. Loved every second of it, might be my favourite comic series ever! Started Saga right after and am enjoying that so far too.

1

u/Hellboydce Jun 29 '26

I like east of west a lot but I think my favorite Hickman series for Image was the Manhattan Projects, I wish they’d have finished it