Best Shot in the West, a stunning graphic novel for high school and up

The cover to Best Shot in the West looks like a promotional poster for a rodeo or a cowboy recruitment drive. Come join us, see the west, rope horses, and let the only boundaries for what you can become only be limited by your abilities, getting trampled by steer or disease. That was the modus operandi in the late 1800s for those who wanted independence, adventure, or financial freedom back and the superstars who opted for the first two had great nicknames. Nat Love had a great name from the get-go, but his cowboy nomenclature was equally as great, Deadwood Dick.

Deadwood is a city in South Dakota.  It was there in 1876 that Nat Love entered a cowboy competition and the winner would win $200. The first man to rope, throw bridle, and saddle a mustang that was associated with them would win. So, this bucking horse was running around an arena and all they had to do was lasso it, take it to the ground, put that bit between their gums, mount the horse as it gets on all four legs and ride it until it calms down. It also included a shooting aspect, which had the best sharpshooters in the west competing. After beating his competitors, Nat Love was given the nickname that makes middle school audiences snicker.

Some audiences might know him as The Legendary Black Cowboy, which is also the subtitle to the graphic novel. Nat Love is a name that I heard before, but knew nothing specific about. Love grew up on the back end of the Civil War. He was a teen when it ended and life on the farm was no easier. There were multiple deaths in his family and the crops weren’t very strong. He then sought out work as a farm hand and started breaking in colts, the process of riding the bucking ones until they stop bucking.

This was a job that he was excellent at, breaking them in for .10 a colt. However, he knew that the really big money was to be made in Dodge City, Kansas, the cowboy capital. Once there he quickly found work as a ranch hand and a cowpuncher and was given a gun. In those times a gun was a necessity against wildlife or hostile raiding parties of Indians. Love had to use it quicker than expected and became an amazingly accurate shot.

His reputation grew as a great marksman, stupendous rider, and hard worker. He started to lead cattle around the country; it paid well but took a long time to escort 2,500 cattle around parts of the Midwest. Sometimes cattle would mingle with other herds and it was his job to stop that before it happened or to diplomatically resolve it if it did.

A massive herd of 2,000 pound animals is a hard thing to control. If only a couple of them get it in their minds to run, then a stampede is a deadly event that can’t be stopped. There was also the constant threat of Indian attacks, which happened once when they were working and led to Love being captured. When he came to he was concerned that they were going to enslave him with their tribe. The chief said that it would’ve been a shame to kill such a great warrior and instead they wanted him to join their people.

With that second chance at life, Love bided his time with the tribe. He learned their ways and gained just enough of their trust to where allow him a little bit of leeway. Then, one night he stole a horse and rode a blistering 100 miles in twelve hours to his former ranch. His friends were relieved to see him and rewarded his newfound presence with a saddle and a gun, but his adventures weren’t over quite yet.

As a story, Nat Love’s life is the stuff of legend. However, as a graphic novel, with these painted works of art done by Randy DuBurk, it’s something else entirely. It’s a graphic novel that’s disguising itself as a work of art. This is a nugget of Americana that will enthrall older readers who want a deeply-researched story about discovery and the will to overcome life’s twists. Some will see this as a Black history book on the most famous Black cowboy in the United States. Readers in the southwest will read it and see aspects of their history and how it factored into the growth of the country.

But wow, the art is so gorgeous that it’ll stop you in your tracks, even more so when you think about the fact that it’s painted. The only unfortunate thing about Best Shot in the West is the main character’s nickname, Deadwood Dick, and that’s a pity. When you know about how he got the nickname it makes perfect sense. However, without knowing that fact, and defaulting to our base, prurient interests, the name elicits more giggles than admiration of one man’s bravery.

The art in Best Shot in the West will bring in upper-middle school readers. However, that darn nickname will keep the book out of some classes or libraries. Kudos to those librarians who are able to prime potential readers with the information as to why Love was provided with that nickname. It’s an instance of a rip-roaring graphic novel that will stand the test of time but is struggling with the changing landscape of a nicknamed-namesake that’ll distract middle and high schoolers.

Best Shot in the West The Thrilling Adventures of Nat Love-The Legendary Black Cowboy! Is by Patricia C. Mckissack and Fredrick L. Mckissack Jr., with illustrations by Randy DuBurke and is available on Chronicle Kids, an imprint of Chronicle Books.

There are affiliate links in this post.