The Gunfighters

Named a Best Book of 2025 by Bloomberg

“One hell of a good read.” —The New York Times

“One of the most important books written on the American West in many years.” —True West Magazine

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Big Rich and Forget the Alamo comes an epic reconsideration of the time and place that spawned America’s most legendary gunfighters, from Jesse James and Billy the Kid to Butch and Sundance

The Wild West gunfighter is such a stock figure in our popular culture that some dismiss it as a mere product of dime novels and B movies. As Bryan Burrough shows us, there’s much more below the surface. At the end of the 1800s, a big swath of the American West was a crucible of change, with the highest murder rate per capita in American history. The reason behind this boils down to one word: Texas.

Texas was born in violence, on two fronts, with Mexico to the south and the Comanche to the north. The Colt revolver first caught on with the Texas Rangers. Southern dueling culture transformed into something wilder and less organized in the Lone Star State. The collapse of the Confederacy and presence of northern occupiers turned the heat up further. The explosion in the postwar cattle business took that violence and pumped it out from Texas across the West. The stampede of longhorn cattle brought with it an assortment of rustlers, hustlers, gamblers,
and freelance lawmen who carried a trigger-happy honor culture into a veritable
blood meridian.

The Gunfighters brilliantly sifts the lies from the truth, giving both elements their due. All the legendary figures are here, and their escapades are told with great flair—good, bad, and ugly. Burrough knits these histories together into something much deeper and more provocative than the sum of its parts. To understand the truth of the Wild West is to understand a crucial dimension of the American story.

Standard and Primary covers are widely available through general retailers. They often have higher print runs and can be cheaper, especially during sales.

In contrast, Direct Market (DM) and variant covers are primarily sold in comic shops. DM editions tend to have more limited availability and may be more valuable to collectors.

The main differences lie in artwork style, availability, price, and collector appeal. Ultimately, the choice between standard and variant covers depends on personal preference, budget, and individual collecting goals.

Comic book enthusiasts have various formats to choose from when collecting their favorite stories.
Here's a brief overview of the main types:

Omnibus

• Large, hardcover collections
• Usually contain complete runs or extensive story arcs
• Typically 800-1000+ pages
• Higher price point, often €100-€150

Oversized Hardcover (OHC)

• Similar dimensions to omnibus, but thinner
• Collect shorter runs or story arcs
• Usually 300-600 pages
• Priced between €30-€50

Hardcover (HC)

• Standard-sized hardcover books
• Collect 6-12 issues typically
• Similar dimensions to single issues, but with a hard cover
• Priced around €25-€35

Trade Paperback (TP)

• Softcover collections
• Standard comic book size
• Usually collect 4-6 issues
• Most affordable option, typically €15-€25

Other Formats

• Absolute Editions: Oversized, deluxe hardcovers (mainly DC Comics)
• Compendiums: Massive paperback collections
• Graphic Novels (OGN/GN): Original stories not previously released as single issues

The choice between these formats often depends on personal preference, budget, and collecting goals. Omnibus and OHC editions offer larger artwork and more content but at a higher price, while TPs provide a more affordable way to collect complete story arcs