West - Distance

West is Andrew Cheverton and Tim Keable's spooky Western revenge saga, the second volume of which has just begun - what I believe they call 'an excellent jumping on point'.

The first volume introduced us to the character of Jerusalem West in his later years and shared various adventures of desperate times and desperate men, while also revealing darker, more supernatural aspects to his world - including werewolves and the undead. Throughout, writer Andrew Cheverton kept such elements low key and maintained the credibility of the genre - this is a world closer to Deadwood or Unforgiven than Jonah Hex or the work of Joe R. Lansdale.

Distance takes us back to an earlier point in Jerusalem West's life, though I hesitate to call it an origin story. West is a soldier in the Civil War, a man torn between duty and revenge, and it's clear that events here will shape the man we already know from Volume 1. It's masterfully realised, the sort of comic that repays a second or third read, revealing further details and depth each time. Andrew's a smart enough writer to know when to let the art carry the story - and he's blessed with an artist as strong as Tim Keable, here experimenting with a new and highly successful shading style that maximises the impact of the black and white printing.

Whether you're a fan of westerns, of comics, or just of great storytelling, take my advice and head West. Buy a copy here and enjoy.