Jonathan Hickman is a highly acclaimed writer at Marvel, known for consistently popular titles, and Nick Dragotta recently achieved great success with Absolute Batman at DC Comics, which frequently tops the sales charts. While they’re both currently making waves at the big two publishers, they actually collaborated earlier in their careers. They worked together a few times at Marvel, but their most notable project was East of West at Image Comics. This 45-issue series came during a period in the mid-2010s when many top writers left Marvel and DC to create their own comics at Image, and many never returned.
Without a doubt, East of West is one of the greatest series Image Comics has ever published. The creative team of Hickman and Dragotta consistently deliver incredibly imaginative stories. I first discovered it in 2016 and immediately bought all the collected editions, then followed it issue by issue until the end. It was a slow release schedule back then – only a few issues came out each year – and I often found myself forgetting details between releases. But recently, rereading the entire series, I had a realization: this isn’t a typical Western comic. It’s structured and reads much more like a manga, and it’s clear Hickman and Dragotta intentionally aimed to create something truly different within American comics.
East of West Uses Numerous Aspects of Manga to Tell Its Story
At first look, East of West doesn’t immediately read like a typical manga. It’s set in a fractured United States of the 2060s, following a devastating Civil War that involved seven different factions. The war ended not with a clear winner, but with the arrival of ‘The Message’ – prophecies foretelling the end of the world. This led the seven nations to halt fighting and instead prepare for the apocalypse, entering a two-hundred-year cold war. The story centers around Death, one of the Horsemen of the Apocalypse, as he searches for his son amidst the looming final war, and introduces a compelling group of characters along the way.
This book is a fantastic blend of science fiction and American culture, immediately bringing to mind the feel of Trigun. The story centers around Death and other characters journeying across the United States, engaging in stunningly illustrated and intense combat. Dragotta’s artwork incorporates elements of manga – dynamic motion lines, minimalist backgrounds, and exaggerated action – adding a unique energy to the fight scenes that isn’t always present in American comics. While his style wasn’t as overtly manga-inspired as some artists, like Joe Madureira, a closer look at East of West reveals a clear influence. In fact, Dragotta and Caleb Goellner later created a full-fledged manga called Ghost Cage, where his style fully embraces that Japanese aesthetic – it’s definitely worth checking out!
What truly defines a manga isn’t just the art style. A common element in many Japanese comics is the use of Christian imagery and terminology, even though the stories aren’t necessarily religious. Series like Trigun, Devilman, and Neon Genesis Evangelion all do this, and it’s noticeable in this story as well. While the narrative hints at Christian themes, it never specifies how it’s Christian – it simply borrows the associated language and symbolism for aesthetic effect.
Jonathan Hickman’s work blends American themes with a style reminiscent of manga. Though set in the future, the comic evokes a futuristic Western vibe – an idea often found in Japanese manga and anime. It presents a romanticized version of America, stripping away real-world complexities, much like many works from that tradition. The characters are larger than life – legendary fighters who are constantly pushed to their limits, creating the exaggerated, dynamic feel common in manga. Even the main villain, Archibald Chamberlain, embodies the archetypal manga antagonist. All these elements combine to give the comic a distinctly manga-inspired atmosphere.
Hickman and Dragotta Looked East to Tell a Story of the West
To be honest, I wouldn’t have made the connection if Nick Dragotta hadn’t mentioned a possible Absolute Batman adaptation and suggested Studio Trigger animate it. I hadn’t thought about Ghost Cages in years and had forgotten how much Dragotta’s work seems influenced by manga and anime – something that became clear when fans surprisingly reacted negatively to the idea of a Studio Trigger AbBats project. Thinking about all of this, I revisited East of West and suddenly everything made sense.
Okay, so this comic is… interesting. It definitely has that classic Hickman feel – the complex politics, the huge scope, and how all the characters connect. But it also feels very influenced by manga, almost like a loving tribute to series like Trigun and a lot of anime. It’s like the creators took what you’d expect from a traditional American comic and ran it through a distinctly Japanese filter. Once I realized it was aiming to be a kind of ‘Western manga,’ everything clicked into place. It actually made a lot of the initially confusing parts make perfect sense, and I ended up really appreciating what they were doing.
Read More
- Hazbin Hotel season 3 release date speculation and latest news
- 10 Chilling British Horror Miniseries on Streaming That Will Keep You Up All Night
- Where Winds Meet: How To Defeat Shadow Puppeteer (Boss Guide)
- Zootopia 2 Reactions Raise Eyebrows as Early Viewers Note “Timely Social Commentary”
- 10 Best Demon Slayer Quotes of All Time, Ranked
- Victoria Beckham Addresses David Beckham Affair Speculation
- The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu is a 4-Player Co-Op Survival Horror Game Inspired by Lovecraft’s Works
- Where to Find Tempest Blueprint in ARC Raiders
- Meet the cast of Mighty Nein: Every Critical Role character explained
- Strictly Come Dancing professional in tears after judges comments
2025-11-30 21:11