I haven’t been a fan of Brian Hurtt’s for very long. I first heard of his work thanks to a Trade Waiter article here on this site (Thanks for the recommendation, Drew), mentally made a note to check it out some time, and then along came the first volume of “The Sixth Gun” in an over-sized hardcover. Let me tell you, seeing his art for the first time in that book really made an impression. That’s the size The Sixth Gun should be read at!
What I love most about Hurtt, and what makes him so perfect for “The Sixth Gun,” is his grand sense of occasion. He does these short, wide panels on double-page spreads that feel cinematic to me, like a long, slow pan. Perfect for a western. (Given the relatively narrow width of our columns here on Multiversity Comics, those panels are difficult to show off here. There’s a couple at near the end, but you’ll need to click on them to really appreciate them.) In “The Sixth Gun” #6, there’s almost one on every double page.
Hurtt’s sense of pacing is showcased beautifully in “The Sixth Gun” #21. Just look at this page. You can feel the realisation of just how desperate Becky and Drake’s situation is as we pull back over the last three panels. These slower moments in his action scenes make for excellent punctuation, and the wider panels give a remarkable sense of space. Hurtt’s work is perfectly suited to grand adventure.
I love this cover. It’s reminiscent of one of my favourite Tintin covers.
Another favourite.
Stompin’ Some Nazis. Indy and the Rocketeer. That’d be a hell of thing.
Extract from “The Sixth Gun” #6, pages 2 and 3. (Click for a larger version)
Extract from “The Sixth Gun” #30, pages 6 and 7. (Click for a larger version)
Extract from “The Sixth Gun” #38, page 1. A powerful way to foreshadow the death of half of the characters.
