All Star Western (2011-2014) Vol. 1: Guns and Gotham Kindle & comiXology

If you like action packed western movies, books, graphic novels and stories, this "All Star Western" Volume 1 is a winner. The first and longest story "Guns and Gotham" has my favorite bounty hunter, Jonah Hex, who we all know likes to work alone; however, winds up working with Amadeus Arkham, an intellectual criminal psychologist. The contrast in styles really makes this story a great read. The hard boiled and ruthless bounty hunter going about his business of knocking off the bad guys, as professor Arkham attempts to explain intellectually what is going on in the mind of the criminals as well as Jonah's personality is very amusing.As the professor evaluates the criminal situation in an academic pseudo-intellectual way like many college professors do, Jonah Hex is doing what he does best, killing the bad guys. It is like watching someone who is dealing with the reality of evil and violence and someone who is giving a lecture on crime and criminals in a college class, but has never actually had any real life experience on the street dealing with criminals. Nevertheless, the professor becomes the student as Jonah shows him how criminals should be treated. The story takes place in early Gotham City, which later becomes Batman's home town.There are also two other short stories one starring Barbary Ghost, who is a mistress of vengeance hunting down the thugs who killed her family, and a whip swinging El Diablo, who resembles Zorro, knocking off zombies.In conclusion, this is one of the best graphic westerns I have ever read. The story and characters come to life with the great illustrations and writers. If you are into graphic action stories, you should check out this volume. I hope they have more in the works. A great read.Rating: 5 Stars. Joseph J. Truncale (Author: Predator Hunter: A warrior's memoir)

The only reason I bought the Western was because many many many years ago my dad was into them. I figured, well it has Jonah Hex so why not give it a try? While it did seem like it was giving way to fan fodder a little bit, with being under Wayne Manor and Gotham in general, it didn't detract from the story so much. It was pretty great to see Hex in action, and honestly, the story was paced perfectly and was rather gripping. While the stories were dark in nature, the pictures were bright enough to not bore me to death, I loved it.The last two stories, about some undead zombie killer and some chinese woman with fireworks (the ones that didn't include Jonah Hex) where a total and complete waste of good comic book pages that could have been used to tell more Hex stories.But a great book, I suggest you pick it up.

Big Jonah Hex fan, I even named my son Jonah Hex…Heh heh just kidding I named him Joseph Dredd. He is in jail now. Anyway great book reads like an elseworlds title. You will not be disappointed. This is shaping up to be the start of a great series of books. If only they could make a decent Hex movie I could finally take off this dusty civil war jacket I wear all over town.

All Star Western's main tale is about Jonah Hex and his "sidekick" Dr. Arkham (who later founds Arkham Asylum, natch) and their adventures in Gotham City, circa 1880s.Jonah has his own brand of justice and Jimmy Palmiotti knows how to write a good yarn. Lately there have been a lot of early history comics on Gotham involving Batman's ancestry and this book is no exception.Loved the early Batcave, with cannibals and ancient Indians plus a prehistoric bat the size of a horse. The book is not really for kids, with villains and heroes taking bullets in a spray of red across the panels. Women shot, blood everywhere.But Jonah gets his licks in too. Great scenes with guys dressed like the KKK riding in to make an example of Jonah, as Hex greets them with "Evenin', boys!".Decent art by Moritat, but I've seen better.The shorts are pretty entertaining, somewhat original. Also in the same time period we meet El Diablo. Interesting character, reminds me of Spectre (rising from a body he inhabits and gets vengeance), and the Chinese gangs of "The Barbary Ghost" get their comeuppance in a story written by Palmiotti and excellently drawn by Phil Winslade.Acceptable western entertainment, some blood and mean justice. Great to see DC Comics is not just into superhero comics anymore. Can't wait for Volume 2!

I really liked the characters and story in this, as well as seeing Gotham back in the 1800s. It has a real nice gritty feel to it without feeling forced. The art, however, I struggle with. At first I thought they were going with a more muted and muddy look to make it seem old, but as I read the art style doesn't seem consistant and never gets better.

Justin Gray is the go-to Jonah Hex writer and he's doing a great job with All Star Western. The art is also good. This is one of the longer collected trade paperback in the first round of New 52 collected editions.For all you Batman fans that haven't heard, the story takes place in Gotham City. It feels more like a Sherlock Holmes story than a Western at times as it's a mystery story.Problems with the book? DC seriously needs to hire a historical consultant, particularly one familiar with Chinese culture and history. The book depicts the Tiandihui as gangsters who migrated to the US? Ridiculous. Don't get me started on how inaccurate General August in Iron (from Justice League International) as a Chinese character.

Book had large grooves across the back like someone folded the whole book over multiple times. They also put a large sticker on page one and the books corners are all ruined.

I have always loved jonah hex, it puts a unique spin on the origins of Gotham. A few key name drops that can make any DC fan excited, not to mention open realms of possibilities you may have never considered otherwise. The other stories contained are Avery great bonus read!

Never thought New 52 could deliver such a nostalgic ride back to Gotham's past...the times of rampant west. Both Palmiotti/Gray did a groundbreaking job with the story...Artwork is just as fantastic. HEX & his witty dialogues and Dr. ARKHAM & his comedic weirdness... you could see that the justice been done to characters. Then you got one short for El Diablo & one for Barbary Ghost. Meet Alan Wyane (Bruce's great-great-grandfather & first of the wayne's), hear about ongoing construction Black-gate prison and Hex battling a giant Bat underground Wanye Manor.

Muito bom, traz ( não sõ) estórias do Jonah Hex em parceria com Jeremiah Arkham em Gotham! Várias referências ao universo do Batman!

Stories past of Jonah Hex have begun in the wild west, been seen as a part of Crisis on Infinite Earths and even stretched into the sci fi aspects. With volume one of All Star Western, Jonah's back in the saddle, so to speak, in the place where he started.This first volume see Hex coming to Gotham City, and he's a man out of his element in this very new and cosmopolitan place. He's a gun hand who doesn't fit in this city. Hex might be the main character, but the story is narrated by a companion that Hex reluctantly takes along (a wet behind the ears city slicker that Hex never calls a friend, though it's doubtful he calls anyone a friend). The story set up might be the wild west, but with Hex's companion telling the tale, it's almost like a more rough around the edges Sherlock Holmes.A really good read for a wild west comic, and a good find for anyone who likes that brand of story.

This is an absolutely perfect start to All Star Western, and reintroduction of all the great DC western characters. I love how it ties in the current DC universe with the old, giving it a whole new element of continuity. Very cinematic....it serves as a reminder what a wasted opportunity the dreadful Jonah Hex movie really was.

Great condition. Never read a disappointing Hex issue yet!