I've been a pretty big fan of Cullen Bunn and Brian Hurtt's The Sixth Gun since it kicked off, but this week, they've given me another reason to love that book: a silent issue. In next week's Sixth Gun #21, they've put together a thrilling homage to G.I. Joe #21 with a story where Becky Montcrief rescues her friend in a silent assault on a sinister stronghold.

And this time, there are magic pistols and spectral tentacle monsters involved.For those of you who may not be familiar with it, G.I. Joe #21 featured Larry Hama and Steve Leialoha's classic "Silent Interlude," an adventure that was told with no dialogue, captions or sound effects. That story is frequently a fixture on lists of the Best Single Issues of All Time, and with good reason. With the exception of a few lines on a computer screen, it's completely wordless, and it works beautifully, both for the tension of the story and for highlighting Snake-Eyes.

It's been homaged again and again over the years, notably by Hama himself in a few sequels, and Sixth Gun #21 follows in that tradition perfectly. The difference is that Bunn and Hurtt have thrown in their signature brand of creepy Western mysticism, from blinded oracles to magic pistols to men on chains as hunting dogs. It's thrilling stuff. It's also worth noting that they've flipped the roles around, with the red-haired Becky saving the dark and mysterious Drake Sinclair rather than the dark and mysterious Snake-Eyes rescuing Scarlett -- who, to be fair, was plotting her own pretty badass escape over the course of the issue too.

Also, it doesn't have Destro playing with his Official GI Joe Chess Set, but one comic can't have everything. Check out the preview pages below and, if you haven't already read it, pick up the Sixth Gun v.1 and 2 from finer comic book stores or ComiXology, and get ready for next week's silent action!












THE SIXTH GUN #21

Writer: Cullen Bunn

Artist: Brian Hurtt

Colorist: Bill Crabtree

Format: Standard, Full Color

Page Count: 32

Price: $3.99

Genre: Western / Fantasy

Age Rating: T – Teen

Release Date: April 18, 2012

DESCRIPTION: Using the power of the Sixth Gun, Becky Montcrief invades the sanctum of the Knights of Solomon in order to rescue Drake Sinclair! Becky's enemies have often seen her as the helpless damsel in distress-but no more! Once she's finished with them, the Knights will know without a doubt that she is the deserving wielder of the deadliest weapon ever created!

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