There are so many great comics that are being made these days. Because of that, it's easy to sometimes miss out on some. That's what happened to me with Cullen Bunn and Brian Hurtt's THE SIXTH GUN from Oni Press. The series is a monthly western taking place after the Civil War and involves six guns - each containing dark supernatural powers.
Oni Press has recently released this limited edition GUNSLINGER EDITION of the hardcover.
This might seem like an odd choice of packaging. It looks like a box with chains. If you've already watched the video up above, you know that this is an oversized hardcover (the dimensions are 13.2" x 8.8" x 1.3"). Issue 36 of the series has just come out and this contains the first eleven issues.
As for this packaging, it's meant to look like a coffin. It's the coffin General Hume was buried in. It's a nice solid box that contains the actual hardcover.
That's old General Hume on the dustcover of the book. He's not a guy you want to run into.
The back cover shows more fellas you wouldn't want to meet either.
The art is great on the front and back. With this being oversized and there not being any lettering, you can really appreciate the art.
As much as I like a good looking dustcover, I always like to look at what the actual book looks like without the cover. In this case, especially if you're already familiar with the story, it's worth looking at.
It looks pretty fancy. That's faux leather and gold foil.
This edition of the hardcover is limited to just 1000 copies. 40 went on sale at New York Comic Con. If you think about it, 1000 isn't a whole lot. If you're serious about this, you're going to want to jump on it. These books do have a tendency to go up in price in the aftermarket. Throw in the fact that there's only 1000, people will be looking for this later on for sure.
Each copy is signed and numbered.
I've been kicking myself for not catching this series when it started. The good thing is now I have plenty to read as I try to catch up to the current issues. It's rare to have a western comic that can last this long in today's market. If you're a fan of the genre, you're either already reading this or you should be. And it's not just a regular western. The different guns all have dark powers that adds another layer to the stories.
If you've ever read or purchased these sort of oversized books, you know it really shows off the art. Check out a few pages:
Of course there are some "bonus features" along with the first eleven issues. There's some never-before-seen art, cover galleries and previously web-exclusive Christmas story, "Them's What Ails Ya!"
If that wasn't already enough, there are also three really cool prints.
You're probably wondering, how much does this magnificent collection cost? This limited edition set will cost you $120. That's pretty normal given other releases in this format. What makes this a better value is the limited nature and all the extras you get including the packaging.
How many are left? That's a good question. This is already on sale. You can only get this directly from Oni Press. You can purchase it from their website:
If you're interested in the series but can't spend that much. There is a regular edition without all the bells and whistles for $60. You can order that HERE or, most likely, your local comic shop or retailer.
This edition won't be available for long. So think about it if you want it in your collection or if you'll kick yourself later when it's sold out.