# The Sixth Gun

The Sixth Gun is a comic book series created by Cullen Bunn and Brian Hurtt and published by Oni Press consisting of a monthly ongoing series and several spinoffs.

## Summary
### The Sixth Gun ongoing series

The series takes place in the Old West during the late 1880s. The story centers around a set of six pistols, each imbued with dark powers. The wielder of each pistol gains an ability unique to the weapon and is tied to the pistol until their death. The main protagonists, Becky Montcrief and Drake Sinclair, attempt to collect the Six and learn their secrets. Antagonists in the series include General Hume and his four horsemen, the Knights of Solomon, the Sword of Abraham, and the Grey Witch.

#### Cold Dead Fingers

Drake Sinclair searches for the Sixth Gun, which he believes will grant him access to General Hume's vault, which is rumored to be filled with treasures Hume had amassed during the Civil War. His search leads him to a young woman, Becky Montcrief, who is bound to the Sixth Gun after its former owner is killed. They are pursued by General Hume, his four horsemen, and his wife, Missy Hume, each of whom carries one of the Six Guns.
As Becky and Drake head to the Maw, where Hume's vault awaits, Drake manages to pick off Hume's four horsemen one by one and claim their guns for himself. At the Maw, they meet Gord Cantrell, who is also trying to gain access to Hume's vault. However, Becky realizes the vault does not contain treasure but rather unlocks some dark power. It requires all six guns to unlock.
In a battle at the Maw, General Hume is defeated, but Missy Hume escapes.

#### Crossroads

Drake, Becky, and Gord try to uncover the secrets of the Six while various agents try to claim the Six for themselves. In the process, they make allies with the Sword of Abraham. Gord discovers the Six may unlock the power to remake the world.

#### Bound

While trying to transport Hume's corpse to a secure location so that he won't be resurrected, the Sword of Abraham is attacked by undead horsemen sent by Missy Hume. Drake is thrown from a train and separated from the others.
After the attack, Becky is taken to the secure location for Hume's corpse, only to learn she will be imprisoned there too so that no one can get the Sixth Gun from her. By tapping into the powers of her gun, Becky is able to escape.
Gord returns to the now deserted estate where he had once been a slave and learns how the Six were summoned into the world.

#### A Town Called Penance

Becky's search for Drake leads her to a town called Penance. She gradually learns that the people in the town are unable to leave and are kept so that they can be human sacrifices for the Knights of Solomon.
In a hideout of the Knights of Solomon, hidden beneath Penance, Drake is interrogated and tortured. Becky manages to rescue him, but during their escape, they discover a mosaic mural depicting Drake as a medieval knight.

#### Winter Wolves

A wendigo captures Becky and Drake in the spirit world. Drake suspects he has lived other lives and that the world has not only been remade before but many times. The two manage to escape from the spirit world, but Becky also unlocks some of the deeper powers of the Sixth Gun, and she feels it is beginning to transform her.

#### Ghost Dance

Becky is half stuck in the spirit world after using the sixth gun. Drake takes her to a shaman, who tries to guide Becky back. In the spirit world, Becky walks the Winding Way, a path that cuts through all of creation. She sees the different realities the Six have created, and others that may exist. She sees Drake in different lives as he seeks to destroy the Six, the most ancient of which is a caveman, back when the Six were clubs.
From inside the Winding Way, Becky is attacked by shamans sent by Missy Hume, but she manages to escape. General Hume's mother, the Grey Witch, tires of Missy Hume's failures and murders her.

#### Not the Bullet, but the Fall

The Grey Witch attacks with all her strength and manages to kill all of Becky and Drake's allies and claim the Six.

#### The Grey Witch

In a flashback, we learn that the Grey Witch serves the Great Wyrms, ancient creatures from the dawn of time. They caused humans untold suffering, and it was this suffering that first brought the Six into existence. The first time the humans remade the world, they tried to remake it without the Great Wyrms, but they managed to burrow themselves deep into the roots of creation. Each time the world is remade, they fade from it a little more, but since humanity no longer remembers them, the recreation of the world is too inarticulate to precisely weed them out entirely. The Grey Witch seeks to remake a world in which the Great Wyrms have returned to their former strength.

#### Hell and High Water

The Grey Witch begins to recreate the world. Becky and Drake pursue her into the Devil's Workshop.

#### Boot Hill

Drake realizes it was he who remade the world the first time, and ever since he has been bound to the Six, recalled to life every time the Six are summoned back into existence. Every time the world is remade, it's corrupted by the selfish desires of the person remaking it. The last time the world was remade, Drake attempted to make something that could undo the power of the Six—he created Becky. In the final battle, Becky takes hold of creation and remakes the world one last time. To prevent the world from being corrupted by her own desires, she unmakes herself in the process.

## Publication History

The Sixth Gun issues :
| Story Arc | Issue | Release Date | Writer | Artist | Colorist |
| Cold Dead Fingers | 1 | May 1, 2010 (FCBD) July 13, 2010 (retail) | Cullen Bunn | Brian Hurtt | Brian Hurtt |
| Cold Dead Fingers | 2 | July 13, 2010 | Cullen Bunn | Brian Hurtt | Brian Hurtt |
| Cold Dead Fingers | 3 | August 18, 2010 | Cullen Bunn | Brian Hurtt | Brian Hurtt |
| Cold Dead Fingers | 4 | September 8, 2010 | Cullen Bunn | Brian Hurtt | Brian Hurtt |
| Cold Dead Fingers | 5 | October 20, 2010 | Cullen Bunn | Brian Hurtt | Brian Hurtt |
| Cold Dead Fingers | 6 | November 17, 2010 | Cullen Bunn | Brian Hurtt | Bill Crabtree |
| Crossroads | 7 | December 22, 2010 | Cullen Bunn | Brian Hurtt | Bill Crabtree |
| Crossroads | 8 | January 26, 2011 | Cullen Bunn | Brian Hurtt | Bill Crabtree |
| Crossroads | 9 | February 23, 2011 | Cullen Bunn | Brian Hurtt | Bill Crabtree |
| Crossroads | 10 | March 23, 2011 | Cullen Bunn | Brian Hurtt | Bill Crabtree |
| Crossroads | 11 | April 20, 2011 | Cullen Bunn | Brian Hurtt | Bill Crabtree |
| Bound | 12 | June 29, 2011 | Cullen Bunn | Brian Hurtt | Bill Crabtree |
| Bound | 13 | July 27, 2011 | Cullen Bunn | Brian Hurtt | Bill Crabtree |
| Bound | 14 | August 31, 2011 | Cullen Bunn | Tyler Crook | Bill Crabtree |
| Bound | 15 | September 28, 2011 | Cullen Bunn | Brian Hurtt | Bill Crabtree |
| Bound | 16 | October 26, 2011 | Cullen Bunn | Brian Hurtt | Bill Crabtree |
| Bound | 17 | November 23, 2011 | Cullen Bunn | Brian Hurtt | Bill Crabtree |
| A Town Called Penance | 18 | January 25, 2012 | Cullen Bunn | Brian Hurtt | Bill Crabtree |
| A Town Called Penance | 19 | February 22, 2012 | Cullen Bunn | Brian Hurtt | Bill Crabtree |
| A Town Called Penance | 20 | March 21, 2012 | Cullen Bunn | Brian Hurtt | Bill Crabtree |
| A Town Called Penance | 21 | April 18, 2012 | Cullen Bunn | Brian Hurtt | Bill Crabtree |
| A Town Called Penance | 22 | May 16, 2012 | Cullen Bunn | Brian Hurtt | Bill Crabtree |
| A Town Called Penance | 23 | June 13, 2012 | Cullen Bunn | Tyler Crook | Bill Crabtree |
| Winter Wolves | 24 | August 29, 2012 | Cullen Bunn | Brian Hurtt | Bill Crabtree |
| Winter Wolves | 25 | September 26, 2012 | Cullen Bunn | Brian Hurtt | Bill Crabtree |
| Winter Wolves | 26 | October 17, 2012 | Cullen Bunn | Brian Hurtt | Bill Crabtree |
| Winter Wolves | 27 | December 19, 2012 | Cullen Bunn | Brian Hurtt | Bill Crabtree |
| Winter Wolves | 28 | January 30, 2013 | Cullen Bunn | Brian Hurtt | Bill Crabtree |
| Winter Wolves | 29 | February 20, 2013 | Cullen Bunn | Brian Hurtt | Bill Crabtree |
| Ghost Dance | 30 | April 17, 2013 | Cullen Bunn | Brian Hurtt | Bill Crabtree |
| Ghost Dance | 31 | May 22, 2013 | Cullen Bunn | Brian Hurtt | Bill Crabtree |
| Ghost Dance | 32 | June 19, 2013 | Cullen Bunn | Brian Hurtt | Bill Crabtree |
| Ghost Dance | 33 | August 21, 2013 | Cullen Bunn | Brian Hurtt | Bill Crabtree |
| Ghost Dance | 34 | September 18, 2013 | Cullen Bunn | Brian Hurtt | Bill Crabtree |
| Ghost Dance | 35 | October 9, 2013 | Cullen Bunn | Brian Hurtt | Bill Crabtree |
| Not the Bullet, But the Fall | 36 | December 11, 2013 | Cullen Bunn | Brian Hurtt | Bill Crabtree |
| Not the Bullet, But the Fall | 37 | January 15, 2014 | Cullen Bunn | Brian Hurtt | Bill Crabtree |
| Not the Bullet, But the Fall | 38 | February 5, 2014 | Cullen Bunn | Brian Hurtt | Bill Crabtree |
| Not the Bullet, But the Fall | 39 | March 12, 2014 | Cullen Bunn | Brian Hurtt | Bill Crabtree |
| Not the Bullet, But the Fall | 40 | May 7, 2014 | Cullen Bunn | Brian Hurtt | Bill Crabtree |
| The Grey Witch | 41 | June 11, 2014 | Cullen Bunn | Tyler Crook | Bill Crabtree |
| Hell and High Water | 42 | August 27, 2014 | Cullen Bunn | Brian Hurtt | Bill Crabtree |
| Hell and High Water | 43 | September 24, 2014 | Cullen Bunn | Brian Hurtt | Bill Crabtree |
| Hell and High Water | 44 | November 5, 2014 | Cullen Bunn | Brian Hurtt | Bill Crabtree |
| Hell and High Water | 45 | December 3, 2014 | Cullen Bunn | Brian Hurtt | Bill Crabtree |
| Hell and High Water | 46 | February 11, 2015 | Cullen Bunn | Brian Hurtt | Bill Crabtree |
| Hell and High Water | 47 | March 25, 2015 | Cullen Bunn | Brian Hurtt | Bill Crabtree |
| Boot Hill | 48 | April 20, 2016 | Cullen Bunn | Brian Hurtt | Bill Crabtree |
| Boot Hill | 49 | May 18, 2016 | Cullen Bunn | Brian Hurtt | Bill Crabtree |
| Boot Hill | 50 | June 15, 2016 | Cullen Bunn | Brian Hurtt | Bill Crabtree |

### Spinoffs
#### The Sixth Gun: Sons of the Gun

A five-issue spinoff featuring General Hume's horsemen: Bill Sumter, Ben Kinney, Will Arcene, and Silas Hedgepeth.
The Sixth Gun: Sons of the Gun issues :
| Issue | Release Date | Writer | Artist | Colorist |
| 1 | February 20, 2013 | Cullen Bunn Brian Hurtt | Brian Churilla | Bill Crabtree |
| 2 | March 27, 2013 | Cullen Bunn Brian Hurtt | Brian Churilla | Bill Crabtree |
| 3 | April 17, 2013 | Cullen Bunn Brian Hurtt | Brian Churilla | Bill Crabtree |
| 4 | June 19, 2013 | Cullen Bunn Brian Hurtt | Brian Churilla | Bill Crabtree |
| 5 | July 31, 2013 | Cullen Bunn Brian Hurtt | Brian Churilla | Bill Crabtree |

#### The Sixth Gun: Days of the Dead

A five-issue spinoff featuring Brother Roberto Vargas and Jesup Sutter.
The Sixth Gun: Days of the Dead issues :
| Issue | Release Date | Writer | Artist | Colorist |
| 1 | August 6, 2014 | Cullen Bunn Brian Hurtt | Mike Norton | Bill Crabtree |
| 2 | September 17, 2014 | Cullen Bunn Brian Hurtt | Mike Norton | Bill Crabtree |
| 3 | October 15, 2014 | Cullen Bunn Brian Hurtt | Mike Norton | Bill Crabtree |
| 4 | January 7, 2015 | Cullen Bunn Brian Hurtt | Mike Norton | Bill Crabtree |
| 5 | February 4, 2015 | Cullen Bunn Brian Hurtt | Mike Norton | Bill Crabtree |

#### The Sixth Gun: Dust to Dust

A three-issue spinoff miniseries featuring Billjohn O'Henry.
The Sixth Gun: Dust to Dust issues :
| Issue | Release Date | Writer | Artist | Colorist |
| 1 | March 11, 2015 | Cullen Bunn | Tyler Crook | Bill Crabtree |
| 2 | April 15, 2015 | Cullen Bunn | Tyler Crook | Bill Crabtree |
| 3 | May 13, 2015 | Cullen Bunn | Tyler Crook | Bill Crabtree |

#### The Sixth Gun: Valley of Death

A three-issue spinoff miniseries.
The Sixth Gun: Valley of Death issues :
| Issue | Release Date | Writer | Artist | Colorist |
| 1 | June 3, 2015 | Brian Hurtt | A.C. Zamudio | Ryan Hill |
| 2 | July 15, 2015 | Brian Hurtt | A.C. Zamudio | Ryan Hill |
| 3 | August 26, 2015 | Brian Hurtt | A.C. Zamudio | Ryan Hill |

#### Shadow Roads

Shadow Roads issues :
| Story Arc | Issue | Release Date | Writer | Artist | Colorist |
| The Crossroads | 1 | May 5, 2018 (FCBD) June 27, 2018 (retail) | Cullen Bunn Brian Hurtt | A.C. Zamudio | Carlos N. Zamudio |
| The Crossroads | 2 | August 8, 2018 | Cullen Bunn Brian Hurtt | A.C. Zamudio | Carlos N. Zamudio |
| The Crossroads | 3 | September 5, 2018 | Cullen Bunn Brian Hurtt | A.C. Zamudio | Carlos N. Zamudio |
| The Crossroads | 4 | October 10, 2018 | Cullen Bunn Brian Hurtt | A.C. Zamudio | Carlos N. Zamudio |
| The Crossroads | 5 | November 14, 2018 | Cullen Bunn Brian Hurtt | A.C. Zamudio | Carlos N. Zamudio |
| The New World | 6 | February 6, 2019 | Cullen Bunn (story) Brian Hurtt (story & script) | Brian Hurtt | Carlos N. Zamudio |
| The New World | 7 | May 8, 2019 | Cullen Bunn (story) Brian Hurtt (story & script) | Brian Hurtt | Carlos N. Zamudio |
| Birthright | 8 | June 5, 2019 | Cullen Bunn (story) Brian Hurtt (story & script) | A.C. Zamudio | Carlos N. Zamudio |
| Birthright | 9 | July 29, 2020 | Cullen Bunn (story) Brian Hurtt (story & script) | A.C. Zamudio | Carlos N. Zamudio |
| Birthright | 10 | September 2, 2020 | Cullen Bunn (story) Brian Hurtt (story & script) | A.C. Zamudio | Carlos N. Zamudio |

### The Sixth Gun Reborn

The Sixth Gun Reborn is a placeholder title for a new Sixth Gun series coming in 2025. Bunn and Hurtt have said they have a title in mind for the series, but they're waiting for the right time to reveal it. The series was announced as part of the Kickstarter campaign for the Deluxe Omnibus Library. During the campaign, stretch goals for three prelude one-shot stories and a prose short story were unlocked. Bunn has described the upcoming series as, "One part Shadow Roads, one part The Sixth Gun, with a whole bunch of action, adventure, and epic fantasy thrown into the mix."

### Collections
#### Trade Paperbacks

The Sixth Gun and Shadow Roads have been collected into the following trade paperbacks:
Trade Paperback Collections :
| Series | Volume | Title | Material collected | Release Date | ISBN |
| The Sixth Gun | 1 | Cold Dead Fingers | The Sixth Gun #1–6 | January 12, 2011 | 9781934964606 |
| The Sixth Gun | 2 | Crossroads | The Sixth Gun #7–11 | June 15, 2011 | 9781934964675 |
| The Sixth Gun | 3 | Bound | The Sixth Gun #12–17 | April 25, 2012 | 9781934964781 |
| The Sixth Gun | 4 | A Town Called Penance | The Sixth Gun #18–23 | November 28, 2012 | 9781934964958 |
| The Sixth Gun | 5 | Winter Wolves | The Sixth Gun #24–29 | August 23, 2013 | 9781620100776 |
| The Sixth Gun | Sons of the Gun | Sons of the Gun | The Sixth Gun: Sons of the Gun #1–5 | December 11, 2013 | 9781620100998 |
| The Sixth Gun | 6 | Ghost Dance | The Sixth Gun #30–35 | February 5, 2014 | 9781620100165 |
| The Sixth Gun | 7 | Not the Bullet, But the Fall | The Sixth Gun #36–41 | September 24, 2014 | 9781620101414 |
| The Sixth Gun | Days of the Dead | Days of the Dead | The Sixth Gun: Days of the Dead #1–5 | May 20, 2015 | 9781620102381 |
| The Sixth Gun | 8 | Hell and High Water | The Sixth Gun #42–47 | July 22, 2015 | 9781620102466 |
| The Sixth Gun | Dust to Death | Dust to Death | The Sixth Gun: Dust to Dust #1–3 The Sixth Gun: Valley of Death #1–3 | December 2, 2015 | 9781620102688 |
| The Sixth Gun | 9 | Boot Hill | The Sixth Gun #48–50 | October 26, 2016 | 9781620102992 |
| Shadow Roads | Volume One | Volume One | Shadow Roads #1–5 | June 5, 2019 | 9781620106341 |
| Shadow Roads | Volume Two | Volume Two | Shadow Roads #6–10 | August 26, 2020 | 9781620106846 |

#### Oversized Hardcovers

There are six hardcover collections, available in both a "Deluxe Edition" (the standard version) and a "Gunslinger Edition" (a limited print version). These collect all fifty issues of the regular series, plus all the spinoffs. The first Gunslinger volume was limited to 1000 copies, whereas subsequent volumes were limited to 500.
Oversized Hardcover Collections :
| Title | Material collected | Bonus Material | Release Date | ISBN |
| The Sixth Gun Volume One | The Sixth Gun #1–11 "Them's What Ails Ya!" | Introduction by John Layman Cover Gallery Pitch Artwork Production Artwork | November 27, 2013 | 9781934964842 |
| The Sixth Gun Volume Two | The Sixth Gun #12–23 | Introduction by Jason Aaron Interview with Tyler Crook from The Sixth Gun #14 Interview with Joe R. Lansdale The Sixth Gun #17 script Cover Gallery Sketch Gallery | April 22, 2015 | 9781620101803 |
| The Sixth Gun Volume Three | The Sixth Gun #24–35 The Christmas Story | Illustrated Introduction by Chris Schweizer Interview with Bill Crabtree Cover Gallery Sketch Gallery | November 4, 2015 | 9781620102848 |
| The Sixth Gun Volume Four | The Sixth Gun #36–41 The Sixth Gun: Sons of the Gun #1–5 | Illustrated Introduction by Stan Sakai The Sixth Gun #41 script Cover Gallery Sketch Gallery | August 23, 2017 | 9781620104224 |
| The Sixth Gun Volume Five | The Sixth Gun #42–47 The Sixth Gun: Days of the Dead #1–5 | Introduction by Patrick Brower The Sixth Gun RPG comic Mimihqueh: Temple of the Dead RPG scenario by Scott A. Woodard Cover Gallery Sketch Gallery | August 28, 2018 | 9781620105245 |
| The Sixth Gun Volume Six | The Sixth Gun #48–50 The Sixth Gun: Dust to Dust #1–3 The Sixth Gun: Valley of Death #1–3 | Introduction by Michael Moorcock Interview with Cullen Bunn and Brian Hurtt by Chris Schweizer | October 16, 2019 | 9781620106655 |

## Critical reception
### Awards

Through 2012, The Sixth Gun has been nominated for two Eisner Awards and three Harvey Awards.
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
| 2011 | Harvey Awards | Best New Series | The Sixth Gun Cullen Bunn & Brian Hurtt | Nominated |
| 2011 | Harvey Awards | Best Writer | Cullen Bunn | Nominated |
| 2011 | Harvey Awards | Best Artist | Brian Hurtt | Nominated |
| 2012 | Eisner Awards | Best Writer | Cullen Bunn | Nominated |
| 2012 | Eisner Awards | Best Coloring | Bill Crabtree | Nominated |

## Adaptations
### Television

On July 22, 2011, it was announced that The Sixth Gun would be adapted into a six-part mini-series to air on the SyFy channel, however this did not come to fruition.
In 2013, NBC ordered a pilot based on The Sixth Gun, and Laura Ramsey, W. Earl Brown, Graham McTavish and Aldis Hodge were cast. Additional cast included Michiel Huisman as Drake Sinclair, Pedro Pascal as Agent Ortega and Elena Satine as Missy Hume. On May 8, 2013, The Hollywood Reporter reported that NBC had passed on the series.
In 2022, screenwriter Selwyn Seyfu Hinds began developing the series for Universal Content Productions.

### Roleplaying Game

In 2015, Pinnacle Entertainment Group published the official role-playing game based on The Sixth Gun utilizing the Savage Worlds rules system. The core rulebook is written by Scott Alan Woodard.