The story set-up of this new, two-issue
mini-series from Wizard’s Black Bull imprint is so fiendishly cool that we’re
basically out of adjectives right from the start: New West #1 is solid,
compelling stuff.

Daniel Wise is a former police detective in a
near-future Los Angeles, a city that has been victimized by terrorists who set
off an EMP (Electro Magnetic Pulse) and rendered the city without power. Months
after the incident, electricity still won’t work in the affected area. Horses
and walking are the preferred modes of transportation, lighting is by candles or
sunlight, and much of the region has plunged into looting. Now the mayor has
been kidnapped and Wise finds himself in the middle of it.

Writer Jimmy
Palmiotti, no stranger to praise from our Off The Presses section, and Phil Noto
(who also worked with Palmiotti on Black Bull’s Beautiful Killer) have
outdone themselves. Steeped in the real world and sprinkled with all sorts of
cool pop culture references. On just one page they mention California’s best
fast food, In And Out Burger, and kill “comedian” Carrot Top, and
that pretty much is worth the price of admission.

While the price
($4.99) seems a bit high, even for more than 30 pages of art and story and five
more of bonus material, in the end it’s worth it. The concept is screaming with
potential, and the creators deliver on it. Both creators embrace subtlety,
sensuality, sadness – all punctuated with action – in what becomes a modern
western.

This book is a proverbial “sleeper” waiting to be
awakened by fans looking for something beyond superheroes. Considering that it’s
a Wizard project, this one pretty much flew under the radar of many potential
readers, but don’t let that stop you. If your shop doesn’t have it in stock, get
them to order it. You’ll thank us.