East of West #3 – Review

By: Jonathan Hickman (Writer), Nick Dragotta (Artist), Frank Martin (Colorist)

The Story: Turns out Death fell in love with a woman, one that is still alive and that he wants to see again. However, the Chinese might have something to say about that…

The Review: There are several types of reading experiences. There are some that are direct in their approach to things, giving uncomplicated, yet inventive and exciting concepts that fuels the imagination in ways that are stimulating, like many superheroes comics (though not all). There are also some that are much more complicated and intricate in their revelation of information, giving us a few hints and letting their world and characters slowly suck you in as you get invested in the bigger questions that the book leaves for the reader to figure out.

East of West, in many ways, is close to the very definition of the latter type. While there are many more ways to interpret a reading experience, this book is one that rewards those that pay attention and allow for speculation for the readers. How did things turn out this way? Why is Death in love with this woman? What kind of powers does he actually possess? What his is agenda and for the matter what is the agenda of his siblings? Those are but a few questions that Hickman leaves for us readers to ponder on as we read and discover this world he has created and fleshed out with three issues so far.