Exploring the untold narratives of the West through the lens of Blackness, How the West Was Black is not just a reimagining of historical landscapes-it's a reclamation of stories untold and voices unheard.

It underscores the vital role of diversity in reshaping our understanding of history and culture. By casting Black bounty hunters as the heroes of the New Frontier, this series challenges the traditional narratives and invites us to envision a world where justice and equality reign supreme. This isn't just important-it's essential, as it opens up a space for new stories to flourish, ensuring that our collective history is rich with the perspectives of those who have long been buried beneath marginalization.

How the West Was Black, Issue 5 of Awake, illustrates the transformative power of Blackness in shaping the history of the West. While the frontier has often been portrayed through a traditional Western lens, our 9 Bounty Hunters take us on journeys to places beyond the typical imagination, expanding the genre's horizons. This series pushes beyond the traditional boundaries of storytelling, inviting you into a world where there are no limits to how far or where your imagination can take you.

If you've enjoyed modern westerns like Greg Neri's adaptation of Concrete Cowboy, cross-genre works like Jordan Peele's Nope, or even traditional/revisionist westerns such as Jeymes Samuel's The Harder They Fall, then this issue is for you. The stories within transport readers to a reality where Black Bounty Hunters conquer 'isms' (racism, sexism, etc.) to forge a world free from marginalization.