The Western genre has experienced a bit of a renaissance over the past decade. While exciting shootouts, bounty hunting, and sheriff/outlaw narratives are all classic tropes of the genre, audiences are most familiar with the Old West on the big screen.
Further afield though there are countless exciting tales from across popular culture, outside of cinema, based around the Western genre. With Wild West Dynasty recently announced, it seems appropriate to revisit the comic books, video games, and TV shows that have contributed to this ongoing love for the Old West that audiences have.
Wild West Dynasty
The Dynasty franchise can currently be found on Steam and is a well-renowned simulation series, which will be soon turning its attention to the Western genre. Toplitz and Virtual Magic Games are sure to have another hit on their hands with Wild West Dynasty.
The premise of the game is that players can create their own Western worlds; from ranches to whole towns, as their settlements are secured with gold-digging prospects. There looks to be plenty of creative options within the game, as audiences can truly immerse themselves in this bygone era.
Westworld
While HBO continues to develop season 4 of the critically acclaimed drama, this science fiction world has developed far past its Western beginnings, yet Westworld continues to be drawn back to the place where it all began, the Western. After all, the idea of a Western-themed amusement park is a truly compelling one.
The creation of a land where anyone can live out their wildest fantasies amongst a bunch of robots immediately leads to some dangerous consequences. Emotionally compelling and full of Old West thrills, the first season of Westworld especially is a must-watch for any fan of the genre.
East Of West
Another science fiction hit, this indie series of graphic novels from Image Comics manage to capture a number of fantastic elements of the Western genre and bring them into a futuristic setting. Death is on a mission to find his wife, as the horseman of the apocalypse tries to create the end of the world.
Full of surprising twists and turns, the imagery alone in East Of West is truly astounding, as the grim-reaping gunslinger rides atop his metallic steed, overtaking on anyone who stands in his way. There are a number of collected volumes from this astounding run and fans really have to ride the ups and downs of this runaway railway.
Red Dead Redemption II
The original was a hit amongst players but Red Dead Redemption II truly caught the world aflame with its customization, fun gameplay, and a truly incredible narrative. This is an immersive world that players have sunk many hours into experiencing.
There's a deep number of layers in this game, with many details contributing to one of the best portrayals of the Old West in popular culture. Any fan of the genre would surely want to pick up a copy of this game, which takes the open world to the next level.
The Mandalorian
There's plenty of influences on The Mandalorian, but it's difficult to ignore the impact that the Western genre has had on the show. What's more, it seems its spin-off The Book Of Boba Fett will certainly be similar in drawing from the same inspiration.
Sure it's set in the galaxy far far away, but this Star Wars Disney+ show essentially features a lone gunslinger who is doing his best to secure his bounty, before a series of events ultimately leads him to change his world view. From protecting a small town from invading outsiders to a railway-like heist, there's plenty of tropes from the genre included here.
The Big Country
Another indie comic and this one comes courtesy of Humanoids and their H1 shared universe, The Big Country actually has no relation to the 1958 Western movie of the same name. Strangely enough, the story takes place in Texas in 1978.
With the last of a long line of sheriffs trying to protect his community from a serial murderer, this puts a new spin on a number of familiar elements; from the ongoing mystery to the sheriff and outlaw dynamic often portrayed in these tales. Perhaps it will find its own cinematic success down the line.
Jonah Hex: All Star Western
Considered one of the worst DC movies of all time, Jonah Hex may have gotten a shaky start on the big screen but at the very least he has been redeemed in his ongoing appearances in the Arrowverse. Besides this though, the DC character has some fantastic stories in the comics.
A classic line to check out is the more modern reboot of the All Star Western title, which featured Jonah Hex in his prime. The classic comic series was renewed as part of the New 52, where Hex is seen trying to fight crime in 19th Century Gotham City.
The Lone Ranger
The Lone Ranger has also had its big-screen opportunities, but the TV show ranging from 1949 to 1957 is an absolute classic in every sense. It was commissioned at one of the heights of the genre and went on to influence so many projects.
Cheesy and very much of its time, it is still considered to be very important for developing the Western into what it is today. Of course, it's also the show that managed to define what the vigilante Lone Ranger really was and is a vital part of cinematic history that is worth revisiting.
Hateful Eight: Extended Edition
The Hateful Eight is one of Quentin Tarantino's definitive Western projects, although the famous director's interest was piqued by the idea of trying to produce this as an ongoing series. Netflix, therefore, re-edited the movie, with Tarantino's approval and released it as a four-part drama.
The film perhaps works a lot better in this format and with a small amount of extra footage, manages to capture the audience's imagination all over again. For those who have never seen this modern classic before, the Extended Edition may be the best way to experience it.
Fallout: New Vegas
The Fallout franchise has had its ups and downs in recent years, but its New Vegas title was definitely a breath of fresh air. By no way traditional in its presentation, this is unlike any other Western video game out there.
For starters, it's not actually set in the Old West. Yet with the lawlessness of the region, as well as the inclusion of some typical Western elements, it plays as if it's an update of the genre. The aesthetic alone feels like a great attempt to modernize what audiences are familiar with.