In the words of Nashville songwriter, Sharon Vaughn, “cowboys are special with their own brand of misery.” Howard Chaykin captures that unique melancholy in his chronicle of the American frontier’s growing pains in a small outpost town in Texas, as a group of lawmen confront the fast approaching changes of the 20th century. “Century West,” offers a window into the challenges facing the men and women in this small town as they adjust to the modern era, and their struggle for identity in this rapidly changing world.
Written and Illustrated by Howard Chaykin
Century, Texas used to be a sleepy little burg, barely a whistlestop between nowhere and the great beyond…until the 20th Century arrived with a bang, bringing with it automobiles, aeroplanes, telephones, paved streets…and, of course, the movies. Howard Chaykin tells the colorful story of the American West, transformed from frontier to legend, and how the American dream became a modern myth.
Chaykin begins this tale in a scene that sets the tone for the rest of the work. Captain Robert Ford, the leader of the Texas Rangers in this area and the law ’round these parts, has been tracked down by a nameless cowboy with a vendetta. This outlaw believes that this Robert Ford, is that Robert Ford, the coward who shot Jesse James, and he means to see him punished for his dastardly deed. As this conflict looms eminent, the rangers encounter a group of patent officers sent by Thomas Edison to repossess a motion picture camera that they believe to be in Century, Texas. As the rangers chase the future, city men in a fast car; the past chases them, in the form of a disgruntled gunslinger with a score to settle. Caught between progress and tradition, the cast of characters provide a literal depiction of the theme driving this story.
Because of the slice of life nature of Chaykin’s storytelling in this graphic novel, “Century West” seems more of a documentary than a narrative. Exploring the lives of an immense array of characters, never dwelling too long on any single plot, Chaykin fully immerses readers in this turbulent world and the implications of its sudden and overwhelming changes. The connective threads in this graphic novel are the strong and well articulated themes of change, transition, and mourning.
The characters all seem vaguely aware that as they gain convenience and modernity they are leaving something else behind. Each transplanted the town of Century by one circumstance or another, the characters all suffer from what is deemed a kind of ‘homesickness,’ a longing for the ‘normal’ they used to know, however; it’s more than that. Within the story, a character explains, “It’s not about homesickness. It’s about passage, about loss, about letting go of the old ways, and embracing the new, regardless of what comes your way.” It seems that idea is indeed, what it’s all about.
Again and again the audience is reminded of the changes brought by the 20th century in America. As he explores social changes by highlighting relationships between social classes, ethnicities and genders, Chaykin communicates that technology was not the only herald of this new era. Tensions run high between men with deep-rooted prejudice and those with a cause to challenge their preconceptions. Ford’s supporting Rangers are Baron Pendergast and Yael Tabackin, men of African and Jewish descent respectively. The presence of these socially marginalized ethnicities in positions of power forces changes in perception within the community, and leaves outsiders grasping for their pre-established worldview, which placed them at the top of the heap.
Chaykin makes a point of emphasizing the contrast between the materials of the old world and the implements of the new. At the outset of this tale, he describes Ford as having a rigidity like aged leather, the stuff of saddles and gun holsters, but he is careful to mention that he is not as hardened as the steel that composes automobiles and trains. This is illustrative of large scale shifts facing the town of Century. Chaykin continues his examination of this contrast by setting horses against cars, pistols against automatic weapons, and expectation against reality. Sometimes these points are accomplished through insightful dialogue, in other cases they are communicated through images.
Continued belowVisually, Chaykin’s artwork gives the story a beautiful weight. Details that extend all the way to the horizon make the town of Century feel alive. Beautiful character work and articulate environments can be found on each page of this book. The clothing worn by the characters is impeccably rendered, some panels might be mistaken for vintage catalogue illustrations. Michelle Madsen’s colors brighten this world. Her control of lighting is worth noting. Whether capturing the soft cast of color provided by the sunset, or recreating the flames of a burning cross reflecting on the faces of the characters, Madsen demonstrates an impressive talent.
At times the complex chronicle can become difficult to follow. Multiple plot threads and character arcs make it challenging to find clarity within the sprawling scope of the story. However, each moment continues to emphasize the theme of change. Muddled at times, but never muzzled, “Century West,” is an interesting, thought-provoking read.
Final Verdict: 7.0 – My heroes have always been cowboys, and they come to life here.
