One Of The Best Western Series Of All Time Returns Today

Published Oct 7, 2026, 2:34 PM EDT

When it comes to Westerns of the 1970s, legendary names like Clint Eastwood, John Wayne, and Robert Redford dominated the genre. However, the ’70s also marked the debut of a Western star who had a relatively unusual origin compared to the franchises and movies these iconic actors starred in. Rather than making his Hollywood debut on the silver screen, this Western character began in the pages of DC Comics: Jonah Hex.

Even though he’s no John Wayne, Jonah Hex is still recognizable to most Western and DC fans, thanks largely to the severe facial scarring on the right side of his face and his more than half-century legacy. Created by writer John Albano and artist Tony DeZuniga in 1972, Jonah Hex first appeared in All-Star Western and has since built one of the genre's most impressive, long-running legacies. While his 2010 movie flop certainly stained that legacy, the film doesn’t erase Hex’s status as one of the greatest and most memorable Western characters in comics.

Now, that legacy is expanding with a brand-new series that could become one of 2026’s most notable additions to the Western genre: Jonah Hex and the Shadow of Death.

Jonah Hex Returns In A New S-Tier Series That Brings Horror To The Wild West

Main Cover by Michael Walsh for Jonah Hex and the Shadow of Death #1 (2026)

Jonah Hex has more than held his own when it comes to earning and sustaining multiple solo starring runs, including All-Star Western / Weird Western Tales (1972–1977), Jonah Hex #1–92 (1977–1985), Hex #1–18 (1985–1987), Vertigo’s Jonah Hex miniseries in the ’90s, Jonah Hex #1–70 (2005–2011), and All-Star Western #1–34 (2011–2014). Now, more than a decade since his last major comic book run, Hex is returning in Michael Walsh and Toni-Marie Griffin’s Jonah Hex and the Shadow of Death.

October 7, 2026, marked the release of Jonah Hex and the Shadow of Death #1, and while it’s still too early to deliver a definitive fan verdict on the inaugural issue, League of Comic Geeks already lists the issue with an impressive 4.2-star rating out of 5 based on 132 ratings, equating to a “very positive” reader reception. Likewise, based on our own reading experience, Screen Rant can confirm that this new series is off to an exceptional start.

Beyond the awesome art, the best part of this issue is the new horror-centric direction the series is clearly pushing Jonah Hex toward. This helps separate the series from Hex’s previous titles, and while the character remains recognizable and the Wild West elements are more than present, this injection of horror truly makes the series feel exceptionally fresh and likely to stand out in the character’s overall bibliography.

So, whether you’re a Western fan looking for something with an extra kick in the genre or you’re just a straight-up DC fan, consider this your sign that the 32-page Jonah Hex and the Shadow of Death is more than worth its $3.99 price tag.

Jonah Hex and the Shadow of Death #1 from DC Comics is now available to read!