Weird Western Tales #59 "The Search"

 Weird Western Tales #59 Sept 1979

"The Search"

Michael Fleisher, story - Dick Ayers & Romeo Tanghal, art - Luis Dominguez, cover

Unknown date, unknown location. Scalphunter is astride his horse, being chased by three unknown men who have sworn vengeance for Scalphunter having killed and scalped their brother Billy for having tried to kill Scalphunter. They continue to shoot at him and eventually wound him. He continues to ride, racing his horse towards a massive cliff and, spurring his mount onward, man and horse plummet off the cliff and into a river below.

They both survive the plunge and make their way to the far shore. Scalphunter, wounded and tired, seeks shelter in a nearby cave. He slaps the horse on the rump, sending him away to make tracks to confuse the men who will eventually track him once they find a way across the river. He hides in the cave, blocking the entrance with a cottonwood branch and falls asleep. Unknown to the warrior and old ragged man emerges from within the cave and stands over the prone sleeping Indian. 

Some time later, Frank and his two brothers find the horses tracks and take off in pursuit.

Hours later Scalphunter wakes up to find the old man tending a fire and making stew. He has tended to Scalphunters wounds. The man said he was in the cave waiting for Lucky. The stew is pretty good because Lucky scarfs it down and he has been hiding in the cave waiting for Lucky to come back. The old man continues to talk about waiting for his partner who wandered off. Lucky and he came out to look for gold and never found any. Lucky didn't much care for gold and one day went out to look for game and wandered off, never coming back. The man, Jake Link, is tired of waiting and when Scalphunter came into the cave, Jake thought that maybe this Indian might help him find Lucky.

Sclphunter agrees to do it in repayment for his wounds tended and soon they find Scalphunter's horse. They load up Jake's horse and his mule and head out. They eventually come upon a canyon and Jake is sure Lucky went that way. Scalphunter says they must not go there because he can see it is an Apache burial ground. Jake says he is going in anyway and Scalphunter follows in an attempt to protect Jake, but Apache warriors are already watching them from the cliffs above.

Once in the canyon Jake dismounts and starts shouting for Lucky. Scalphunter tries to quiet him when an arrow suddenly strikes Jake in the shoulder. Jake tells Scalphunter to grab the rifle and shoot them but Scalphunter knows the sound of gunfire would bring dozens or hundreds more. He does grab the rifle and hold it aloft, speaking to the Apache loudly. Jake asks for a translation and Scalphunter says he told them an Apache warrior is like a withered old woman and other trash talk of the kind.

Of course, it has the intended effect and the three Apache ride down to attack the Kiowa warrior. The three are quickly dispatched with knife and tomahawk. It is unclear if he takes their scalps, but I'll say Yes. Jake pulls the arrow out of his shoulder, breaks it and climbs up on his horse to leave. Scalphunter asks how long Jakes friend has been gone and he says it has been fifteen, maybe twenty years.

Up on the cliff, watching with binoculars are Jim, Frank and the other brother. As one of them takes aim, the other stops him, noting the prospecting equipment on the mule. Smelling gold, they decide it is in their best interests to follow them and then ambush them.

Some time later, with night falling, Jake and Scalphunter arrive at an old stone well. Jake says they will find Lucky, he has wandered off before. They approach the well whose side has collapsed. Jake looks over the edge and starts moaning that he has found Lucky!

The outlaw brothers are hiding nearby and hear Jake shouting but can't make out his exclamations. Scalphunter lowers Jake into the well and once at the bottom, Jake starts crying that it is Lucky, after all these years. The brothers arrive and tell Scalphunter to pull up the old man. Jake climbs up over the edge with a wrapped bundle. The brothers demand to see the treasure that was secreted in the well and Jake unrolls the bundle to display the skeleton of Lucky....his dog. 

The brothers are distracted and confused because they expected gold. That is all the chance that Scalphunter requires. His knife flies through the air, killing the first brother. The second is sent to his reward with the tomahawk. The third brother drops his rifle and jumps on his horse to take flight but Scalphunter rushes to his mount, grabs a bow and arrow and plunges the shaft into the back of the fleeing man.

Jake is kneeling by the skeleton of his companion, crying asking why Lucky wandered off. A sand storm starts whipping up and Jake starts hearing Lucky talking to him.... LUCKY IS ALIVE! Jake runs off into the darkness and sand with Scalphunter calling for him to come back. Jake starts screaming for Lucky to keep barking so the two can be reunited but he finally succumbs to the wind and the sand.

The next morning Scalphunter finds Jake, face down, half buried in the sand. He digs a grave for Jake and Lucky to share, marks it with Jakes pickaxe and rides off into the morning sun.

Statistics for this issue

Men Killed by Scalphunter - 6

Running Total - 112

Compared to Jonah Hex - 21st appearance and Scalphunter has 112 vs Jonah's 90 (in WWT #31)

Scalps Taken - 3

Running Total - 20

Injuries - Shot twice.

Timeline -  This issue takes place during one full day and the next morning.

So this was obviously a story that was penned prior to Gerry Conway taking over and they must have been in a deadline crunch. Conway was writing a LOT in the late 70's and I'm not surprised that a western book would have fallen on the back burner. In 1979 alone he was working on at least 10 books a month!

I really liked this one, falling back onto the Weird in Weird Western Tales and the art by Tanghal really sold it, especially the crazy darkened gaze of Jake as he was rambling on and on about Lucky. He really had a look that would have been at home in any of the DC 'scary' books. While the tale didn't fit the current ongoing timeline of Conway's, it was a nice break. 

Ads include Star Trek The Motion Picture, the answers to the Superman Movie Contest, a form to get two issues free for subscribing to Weird Western Tales, but no Hostess ad.

Next Issue: Scalphunter vs The Gangs of New York!!

Weird Western Tales #58 "Weep the Widow"

 Weird Western Tales #58 August 1979

"Weep the Widow"

Gerry Conway, story - Dick Ayers & Romeo Tanghal, art - Luis Dominguez, cover 

Southeastern Maryland, close to midnight in early September, 1862.

Scalphunter is crouching high in a tree, watching the three Union soldiers walking below him. They are drinking from jugs and are obviously drunk. They are discussing how the killed a Sergeant and deserted the Army. The men, Jake, Jeremiah, and Rudolph, are talking about how the money looked good when they signed up, but taking orders and getting shot at was not for them. They unexpectedly come upon two Confederate soldiers and they gun they down without warning.

Scalphunter readjusts his stance in the tree and a branch breaks. The soldiers stop and look around and figure it's an animal or their imagination. They then head out looking for a farmhouse to shack up in.

Some ways away, in a farmhouse, a mom, Mrs. Lansing, is telling her son Richard to put away a pistol. Richard is eleven and says that dad would have let him practice, but the mother said the boys dad is dead, killed by the war, and she won't lose another to guns. Just then the door swings inward and Scalphunter stands there, silhouetted in the full moon. Richard panics and moves to protect his mom and fires the pistol. The shot goes wide and Scalphunter reaches out and snatches the pistol from the boys hands. He picks the boy up and lays him on the table as Mrs. Lansing rushes towards him.

Scalphunter grabs her by the wrists and says he comes to warn them of danger, and it does not come from him. He is a Kiowa warrior and has no reason to harm them. If he had wanted to, he would have done so already. He had been traveling north from Virginia and came from the Battle of Bull Run. He saw the slaughter and there was no honor in it. Many men died and were maimed in the butchery and then he saw three men, cowards all, flee into the woods. Most of the other soldiers were boys, but these were men who should not have behaved like children. They should have been men but they were stopped by a sergeant and they turned on him and killed him with a bayonet. Scalphunter followed them, feeling they were a danger to others.

Less than an hour ago they were two miles from the cabin and as he finishes his tale, the three soldiers walk into the cabin with their rifles drawn. Richard screams and rushes at the men but his mother pulls him back. Scalphunter leaps at them like a mountain lion, slamming two of them out through the door into the night. He grabs one by the neck as the one on the cabin takes a shot. Scalphunter quickly dives onto the porch and kicks the man back into the cabin. As he stands an turns to the men outside he is unexpectedly struck from behind with a frying pan and goes unconscious.

Richard asks his mom why she did that. She says that Scalphunter would have killed the soldiers and she couldn't let that happen and remain a Christian woman. She says it's better to let the soldiers take what they want and be on their way. The soldiers approach her, leering and agreeing that is just what they are going to do.

Quite some time later, Scalphunter is thrust awake by a pan of cold water thrown in his face. He sees Richard tied, like a dog, to the table, Mrs. Lansing is on the floor, her clothes torn and she is sobbing. Scalphunter himself is tied to a rafter, bound at the wrists, his arms straight out. One of the soldiers asks Mrs. Lansing if it time they finished up, with the implication that they all have had their way with her. She sobs, begging them to leave, haven't they done enough. The ringleader says she and the Indian have to pay for thinking they're better than the soldiers, hell, they have feelings too.

Mrs. Lansing begs God to forgive them and they say they don't need God, they have guns and they have torches. Since she has been talking so much about God and Hell, maybe she would like a taste of real hellfire. With that, they set the cabin afire and as they leave they notice that Scalphunter is just staring at them. The soldiers leave laughing as the flames lick and eat away at everything in the cabin. The fire climbs up the to the rafters and starts burning Scalphunter's bonds, burning his skin along with it. Finally, with all the strength of a Kiowa warrior, Scalphunter breaks free and grabs the unconscious form of Mrs. Lansing and runs her outside.

He lays her safely on the ground and rushes back in to save Richard. He unties the boys rope (he is now tied to a post?!?!) and as they exit the cabin, Richard grabs the pistol off the table. As they stand safely outside, the cabin is engulfed in flames and collapses. Mrs. Lansing asks Scalphunter if he will find the men, hunt them like animals and kill them. He replies that after what they have done she actually asks (as if it would be a foregone conclusion). Richard says he is going along.

Mrs. Lansing begs him not to, it will start a cycle of revenge that will ultimately result in more and more death. It is all because of the war. Because of the war his dad is gone, because of the war the men came and if he goes, he will be part of the war. Scalphunter hands the pistol back to Richard and then silently walks away and leaves them in the darkness.

Morning dawns and Scalphunter walks away from three dead soldiers, scalps in his hand, dripping fresh blood.

Statistics for this issue

Men Killed by Scalphunter - 3

Running Total - 106

Compared to Jonah Hex - 20th appearance and Scalphunter has 106 vs Jonah's 84 (in WWT #30)

Scalps Taken - 3

Running Total - 17

Injuries - Hit on the head, knocked out and almost burned alive.

Timeline -  This issue covers one night and the following morning.

This was a pretty good issue, with Scalphunter living up to his moniker and finally unsheathing his blade.  Tanghal's inks are much more fluid than Dominguez's and we do some really awesome frames. I'm not so sure on Richard and his mom, they seemed pretty trite in their characterization, but this IS a comic from the 70's and we did need to keep the story moving along.

The ads were somewhat lackluster but there was one for a Jonah Hex digest.

Next Issue: The Weird returns as does Michael Fleisher. What else do you need to know?

Weird Western Tales #57 "The Correspondent"

Weird Western Tales #57 July 1979

"The Correspondent"

Gerry Conway, story - Dick Ayers & Luis Dominguez, art - Luis Dominguez, cover 

August 28, 1862, just southeast of Bull Run, Virginia. Night. Ke-Woh-No-Tay is tending a fire as two Union soldiers walk up behind him, whispering for him to not move. They say they want two things, Who is he and Why is here? He says that he is Ke-Woh-No-Tay, a Kiowa, and as for why he is here? He doesn't explain himself to children. He grabs a flaming stick and rushes one soldier. He grabs the rifle barrel and shoves the torch into the man's midsection. He then swings the rifle free of the man's grasp, clocking the other soldier upside the head with the butt of the rifle.

The first soldier fights to extinguish the flames on his coat and Scalphunter tells him to put sand on the burns to ease the pain. The man lives because Scalphunter has no reason to kill 'unwashed boys'. The soldier does just that, falls to the ground and then pulls a pistol from his coat. To that, Scalphunter puts up his hands and laughs 'like a man newly reborn'.

Twenty minutes later the two soldiers being Scalphunter into the Union camp outside of Bull Run. It is the Army of Virginia commanded by General John Pope and tomorrow will see the battle of 'Second Bull Run'. The two soldiers bring Scalphunter to the Captain's tent and they say they think he is a spy. The Captain agrees and asks Scalphunter for an explanation.... or else. Just then a man steps forward and says that no explanation is needed as HE will vouch for Scalphunter.

The man is Lemuel J. Broderick, reporter for the New York Herald. Broderick was in Washington and saw Scalphunter at a reception hosted by President Lincoln. With street cred like that, Scalphunter couldn't be a Rebel spy. The Captain then makes Scalphunter Broderick's responsibility so he acn wash his hands of the whole thing, and then walks off. Broderick then explains that he is a war correspondent, one of the best, if not THE best. The two men sit down to a very late meal and Broderick explains the pickle he is in. 

His editor expects good stories and lots of them because battles sell papers. The problem is that the battles are two few and far between, sometimes for days. Some correspondents make up battles, for who back home would really ever know. But Broderick has scruples, he only writes about what happens even if, well, even if he has to instigate the conflict himself. Now, since Scalphunter was out in the woods he would know where the Rebel patrols are so all that needs to happen is for Scalphunter to lead Broderick and the Captain and some men to ambush some Rebs and...

Scalphunter quickly refuses any part of that but Broderick just as quickly points out that even without Scalphunter the patrol will be arranged and maybe innocent Union soldiers will die because of it. Broderick lights up a cigar and walks away. Scalphunter reconsiders and tells Broderick that he will help.

An hour later the patrol is working their way through the forest, following Scalphunters lead. He is leading them to the Southeast but only Scalphunter knows that the Confederates are to the Northwest. After another thirty minutes Broderick is starting to smell a rat and confronts Scalphunter, grabbing him by the shoulder. Scalphunter quickly backhands Broderick, calling him a corpse scavenger. Two soldiers in the patrol rush Scalphunter and he sidesteps one, grabs him and flings him over a cliff. The second one he then grabs, hoisting him over his head and throws the soldier into the approaching four remaining soldiers in the patrol.

Broderick comes to from his slapdown and shoulder butts Scalphunter over the edge of the cliff where he strikes his head on a ledge and falls unconscious. The soldiers then pull up the first soldier and Broderick then leads the patrol to the Northwest. 

Some time passes before Scalphunter comes to and then starts following the trail that the patrol took. For almost an hour, Scalphunter fights back the effects of a concussion but eventually trips on some forest undergrowth landing perilously close to a rattle snake. The snake rears up, coiled to strike and Scalphunter slowly pulls his knife when suddenly a Confederate soldier appears and takes aim. Scalphunter has to chose and quickly throws the knife into the soldiers neck as the snake sinks his fangs into Scalphunters forearm.

Scalphunter retrieves his knife, cuts open the wound and sucks out the poison and collapses.

Morning dawns and Scalphunter awakens and locates Broderick and the patrol that has been wiped out. Broderick is mortally wounded as the patrol was ambushed by a Rebel patrol of at least twenty. He begs Scalphunter to help him, get him to medical help but Scalphunter states that all Broderick longed for was a story and now he has it. Broderick needs nothing else from him.

As Sclphunter turns and walks away we are left with Broderick bleeding to death, crying for mercy and help with his last breath.

Statistics for this issue

Men Killed by Scalphunter - 0, surprisingly

Running Total - 103

Compared to Jonah Hex - 19th appearance and Scalphunter has 103 vs Jonah's 84 (in WWT #29)

Scalps Taken - 0

Running Total - 14

Injuries - Snake bit and a concussion.

Timeline - At best, three days from the prior issue. This issue covers one night and the following morning.

Not a bad story, we get a unethical reporter who will happily let other folks die so he can get a story. The real danger to Scalphunter only comes from soldiers trying to shoot him or fight him and the one snake. Broderick really isn't a danger but more of an evil for Scalphunter to play off of. The ending is somewhat typical, the hero walks off as the bad guy dies, begging for mercy. It had been done a LOT and much better than this issue.

In the ads, Batman and Hostess cupcakes realize "Someone is Kidnapping the Great Chefs of Gotham City." An obvious nod to a similarly named film.

We get two sports ads, one with O.J. Simpson and the other with Pete Rose. Some great examples for the kids to emulate. 

Next Issue: Scalphunter and a Cabin in the Woods!

Weird Western Tales #56 "Fear is the Stalker"

 Weird Western Tales #56 June 1979

"Fear is the Stalker"

Gerry Conway, story - Dick Ayers & Luis Dominguez, art - Luis Dominguez, cover

Norfolk, Virginia. August 1862.

It is a hot night on the docks and a Confederate soldier lights up his pipe. Silently Scalphunter rises from the water, climbs upon the dock and knocks out the soldier with a quick Kiowa chop to the neck. He takes the soldier's rifle and pistol then heads to a small shack with a light burning inside. As he slides up next to the window, he overhears five men talking inside.

They are talking about the 'damn Redskin' and it being all his fault that Captain Smith tried to slip past the blockade and then they wouldn't be stuck in Norfolks waiting to get paid. One man says that he heard the Indian was a spy for Lincoln. One sailor with a massive facial scar states that Paggat, the first mate, said the Captain told him the Indian was planted to get evidence of gun running. 'Scar' says the Indian was pretty smart, taking the place of the Indian they expected and they laying a trap for them. Another sailor starts saying if the Indian was so smart why did he get captured and why did he fall overboard and drown?

The second sailor starts poking Scar with a finger to which Scar takes umbrage and tells him to back off. A fight breaks out much to the joy of Scalphunter who now knows that Smith thinks he is dead. He hides among the crates on the dock as soldiers rush by to quell the violence. Scalphunter opens a crate of the rifles and finds a paper containing

CHAFWORTH

HOTEL GRISSOM
NORFOLK

At the Hotel Grissom, a distance from the waterfront, the ship doctor and Paggat are having a conversation. Paggat asks if Smith will live. The Doc says that if Smith survives the next few hours but the Doc isn't sure if Smith will WANT to live. Paggat tells the Doc to talk straight, he has a right to know. Doc replies what rights did MacLawson have when he was flogged. Paggat is disgusted because it was MacLawson that almost cut the Captain's arm off. The Doc says that he had to finish the job, at which point we hear Smith scream from the next room over the loss of his arm.

They rush in an Smith is ranting and railing. Doc explains that the cargo hook tore through the muscle and nerves, he had no choice because of the danger of infection. Smith swears he'll kill Doc before he passes out.

Scalphunter makes his way through the shadowy alleys, avoiding the street lamps and the Confederate soldiers on every corner. He leans out of an alley and motions towards two soldiers. They spot him and move closer, gasping as the tall Kiowa warrior, armed with a rifle steps from the shadows. As one soldier lunges with his bayonet, Scalphunter swings the rifle butt into the man's jaw and then kicks the other in the stomach. The man falls and Scalphunter shows him the paper from the crate. The soldier tells him the Hotel Grissom is a few blocks north and grabs for his rifle but Scalphunter quickly knocks him out and leaves.

At the Hotel Grissom there is a food delivery at the rear entrance when Scalphunter suddenly jumps from behind the delivery wagon. He knocks down the hotel manager, Charles Renshaw. Renshaw demands to know what Scalphunter wants but the only reply he gets is a silent smile.

In the hotel dining room Paggat and Doc are discussing Smith's fate and what a monster the Captain is. Doc is pondering if he should have helped the Captain and what kind of man has Doc become because of the association? Suddenly a man comes running out of the kitchen screaming. Doc and Paggat rush in and find Renshaw on a prep table, food everywhere and Renshaw is in shock. He is mumbling "Crenworth, warn Crenworth". Paggat says that is the man Smith was supposed to meet. Doc asks Renshaw about Crenworth who reveals that Crenworth is in room 708 and the Indian forced that information out of him. Paggat and Doc suddenly realize Scalphunter is alive and quickly leave the kitchen.

In Smith's room it is total darkness and the door slowly opens. Smith awakens, demanding to know who is there when a silhouette appears and Smith starts shouting that Doc isn't coming again with any knives. Scalphunter says the Doc isn't here, HE is. Smith starts panicking and grabs a pistol from the night stand and fires, but Scalphunter has already slammed the door shut.

Smith opens the door in time to see Scalphunter head through the exit to the stairwell, heading upwards. Smith fires again but is answered by only Kiowa laughter.

One floor below, Doc and Paggat have found that Crenshaw has been shot and the fear he told Scalphunter Smith's location. They suddenly hear a pistol shot and they give chase up the stairs.

On the roof, Scalphunter stands in the darkness near the edge clutching the rifle. Smith storms through the door and levels the pistol at Scalphunter but the rifle spits forth a bullet, knocking the pistol from Smith's hand. Smith reacts like a savage animal, throwing himself towards Scalphunter as the two men grapple on the roff's edge. Scalphunter flips Smith over his shoulder and over the edge. Smith manages to grab onto the lip with his remaining hand as Scalphunter draws a bead on him.

Just then Paggat emerges on the roof, pistol drawn. Scalphunter pivots, firing one shot through Paggats heart. Doc raises his hands, they exchange knowing nods and Scalphunter leaves. Smith, still clinging to the roof starts calling out to Doc, begging to be pulled up, his grip is fading. Doc stands in the doorway, slowly turns to descend the stairs as Smith's fingers loosen and the Captain beats Doc to the first floor.

Statistics for this issue

Men Killed by Scalphunter - 2, Paggat and Smith

Running Total - 103

Compared to Jonah Hex - 18th appearance and Scalphunter has 103 vs Jonah's 82

Scalps Taken - 0

Running Total - 14

Injuries - None.

Timeline - Immediately after the prior issue so maybe a few hours one night in August.

All in all, this one was pretty good a nice tidy wrap up to the Blockade runner saga. Smith's fate of losing an arm and eventually falling to his death was very Fleisher like and reminded me of several Jonah Hex stories in WWT. The title on the cover of the book obscured Smith's missing arm so it was a surprise to see him missing a limb, but still fighting like a maniac. Scalphunter toyed with him, luring him to the roof to finish him off. I also loved the angle that was used on the cover, heights! Crumbling shingles! Ocean!!

One problem was the Chafworth/Crenworth/Crenshaw naming mistake. The editor really fell down on his job with this point in the tale (Boo, Ross Andru...BOO)

I just had to chuckle with Smith screaming Wilson!! All I could think of was Tom Hanks.

The Hostess ad has Superman meeting the Orbitrons!, we get a house ad for Jonah Hex and WWT as well as an ad for DC Comics Presents Superman and Sgt Rock (that was a pretty good issue!) and a Hembeck comic with Two-Face. The back cover has a Spalding ad by Jack Davis with Rick Barry and Dr J.

Next Issue : Scalphunter encounters two types of snakes: a rattler and a journalist!

Weird Western Tales #55 "A Sea of Blood"

 Weird Western Tales #55 May 1979

"A Sea of Blood"

Gerry Conway, story - Dick Ayers & Romeo Tanghal, art - Luis Dominguez, cover

Aboard the Sea Dragon a sailor suddenly falls from the sail rigging, screaming all the way down. Scalphunter sees the man fall and tells Smith the man is falling. Captain Smith remarks that men fall on a ship all the time, especially if they are no good and scrawny and... WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU ARE GOING? Scalphunter starts running across the deck, pushing aside two sailors swabbing the deck and manages to break the mans fall and catches him.

The doctor of the Sea Dragon comes forward, stating he has never seen anything like that in 30 years! He asks if Scalphunter can move his arms, but Scalphunter replies that his people have strong arms from wrestling bulls. The Doc examines MacLawson (the man who fell) and says that he will be fine after some brandy. Capt. Smith says they will do nothing of the sort because that man will get ten lashes for disrupting the deck. Doc Wilson says that MacLawson is in shock and the flogging could kill him. Smith bristles at anyone questioning his authority. 

Smith gets up in Scalphunters face and says that he has taken the money to smuggle the guns but as afar as he is concerned, Scalphunter and his Reb friends are nothing but dirt. Scalphunter watches as MacLawson is tied to the mast and sadistically lashed by Smith. He notes that this is no worse than what the Kiowa women did to prisoners but they never took pleasure in it as Smith is demonstrating. He fights back the urge to kill Smith but he knows he cannot betray the trust that President Lincoln placed in him to smash the blockade runners.

The scourging complete, a cry comes from the Crow's Nest that sails have been spotted to port. It is quickly identified as a Yankee gunboat and all hands are armed and ready to fight. The cannons are loaded and as the two ships come aside each other, the massive steel barrels belch forth careening balls of death and destruction. Eventually the two ships join together and the fight becomes hand to hand as sailors and gun runners tear into each other. Scalphunter does not see a Union sailor coming behind him with a hatchet until Capt. Smith guns the sailor down.

Eventually the battle ends with the death of every Union sailor and the burning and sinking of their ship. Smith says that every encounter is like this, a battle to the death. Scalphunter asks if he finds honor in this to which Smith says he is in it for the money, honor gets a man killed. Just then a deckhand comes up and tells Smith that a cannonball tore through the mainmast. It can be patched so detectives in the shipyard can't tell they were in a battle but it can't be fixed for sailing. Smith says that changes their plans. They can use steam to get back to port but without sails they can't encounter another gunboat and can't meet their contact to pick up the guns and ammo.

Scalphunter tells him the mission must be completed and pulls a knife on Smith and twists Smiths arm behind his back. Scalphunter demands a rifle and ammo and will hold watch over Smith until they obtain the weapons and are back in port. On into the night, for six hours, Scalphunter stands guard over Smith. Doc Wilson and MacLawson talk in hushed whispers, MacLawson saying that if the Indian doesn't kill Smith, then he will. MacLawson hasn't been ashore for three years and what more can be done to him now? MacLawson was shanghaied in Boston, he used to be a silversmith, but now his hands are ruined, his nerves shot, his intended career gone.

Then a cry from above, lights have been spotted, it is the King George! The two ships rendezvous and the cargo is transferred under the armed watch of Scalphunter. They sail off and at dawn a blockade is seen coming towards then. Smith says they can't run and it's too late to dump the cargo, they will have to fight. As the cannons are readied, Scalphunter knows that this is his moment to hand Smith over to the Union Navy. He comes upon Smith from behind, rifle raised to knock him out, but a sharp eyed sailor sees this and knocks Scalphunter out from behind. 

Laying on the deck, vaguely through the veil of unconsciousness that envelopes him, Scalphunter feels the cannons firing, knows the blasting of the cannonballs, feels the ship turn and engage the Union ship and he hears the scream of the Union sailors as they die amidst the fire and blood soaked waves of the ocean.

When he finally comes to, he is bound and staring down Smith's gun barrel. They are in dock and Smith says he was very surprised when Scalphunter's 'friends' on the dock had never seen him before. Therefore Scalphunter must be a Yankee spy. Smith smashes his pistol into Scalphunter's jaw. The 'friends' wanted Scalphunter so they could take him to the Confederate authorities but Smith is gonna save them the trouble with a nicely placed single bullet. As he takes aim, MacLawson suddenly appears with a cargo hook and buries it in Smiths left shoulder.

Smith staggers backward, knocking Scalphunter into the bay and discharging his pistol, killing MacLawson. Smith shouts he wants the redskin dead and a sailor says he must be, falling into the water with his arms tied behind his back. Smith says he wants Scalphunter and MacLawson both in hell. Doc says he's not sure about the Indian but MacLawson had already been there.

Later we see Scalphunter surface beneath the dock. He is enraged and he is now on the hunt for Captain Smith.

 

Statistics for this issue

Men Killed by Scalphunter - Zero

Running Total - 101

Compared to Jonah Hex - 17th appearance and Scalphunter has 101 vs Jonah's 81

Scalps Taken - 0

Running Total - 14

Injuries - Knocked out.

Timeline - We don't know how long they were at sea, but it does cover a full day and night and into the next day. Maybe we can be generous and say five days in August.

So, let's talk about the fall that opens the book. I read the dialog aloud and added a few seconds for running across the deck, making it about 16 seconds that we saw MacLawson falling. According to the wonderful website Omni calculator, an object falling for 16 seconds started at a height of 4,118 feet and reaches terminal velocity of 204 mph. Now a main mast on a pirate ship is 222 feet and reverse engineering the math, means, that at best, MacLawson fell for 3.7 seconds and attained a speed of 81 mph.

So now you can decide for yourself just how string and fast a Kiowa brave can be. 

We get a new inker with Romeo Tanghal and it creates some very expressive scenes with smoother inking than Dominguez's sketchy style. The story is pretty good with Ke-Woh-No-Tey, seeing, once again, the barbarism of the 'civilized' white men, their war without honor and the sadistic butchery they can inflict upon their own men. Another good chapter in the Indian Spy saga.

We also get an ads for:

A contest for coming up with a daring rescue that could be performed on the Wonder Woman TV show.

Superman and Hostess Fruit Pies save the day in The Ionic Storm. 

Batman and Robin action figures with magnetic hands from Mego. 

American Seeds hawks their wares on the back cover. 

Next Issue: A battle across the rooftops of Norfolk and an amputation.

Weird Western Tales #54 "Blockade"

 Weird Western Tales #54 April 1979

"Blockade"

Gerry Conway, story - Dick Ayers & Luis Dominguez, art - Luis Dominguez, cover

Philadelphia, August, 1862

Sclaphunter is in the Union Station wondering what type of people try to encompass the world in steel and glass to block out the sky and wind. He does not like the White men and only a few actually command his respect, one of those has sent him on a mission. He is prodded by a cane wielded by a one eyed mustachioed man. The man shouts "You.. INDIAN"

Scalphunter turns and asks if the man is speaking to him. The man states that since Ke-Woh-No-Tey is the only Indian disembarking from the five o'clock train from St. Louis, he must be the redskin he is looking for. The man introduces himself as Samson Smith, sent by a mutual friend to get things squared away. He asks if Scalphunter has the money and is reassured it is carried in a place safe from thieves.

Just then they are stopped by Union soldiers who tell Samson he is under arrest by the Federal Army for treason. Smith whips out a pistol and shoots both soldiers. Smith grabs Scalphunter and tells him they better hightail it outta there. They rush out of the station and highjack a horse drawn city trolley. Smith pushes the driver out of the cab and whips the horses into a fury as soldiers exit the station and open fire.

Scalphunter wonders what type of man he has thrown in with as he watches Smith drive the trolley like a man possessed, slamming into wagons and trampling and killing pedestrians that are too slow to avoid the massive trolley. Scalphunter intervenes and tries to tear the reins from Smith's hands but Smith punches him squarely on the jaw. Smith realizes that he is going too fast for the curves in the tracks ahead and the entire rig topples over and crashes into the street.

Smith and Scalphunter jump from the wreckage, ignoring the injured passengers, with Smith firing once again at the closing Union soldiers. They take off down the alleys with the soldiers on their tail, with Scalphunter calling Smith a madman. Smith agrees but says he is the contact available to the Blockade Breaker and if Scalphunter lays a hand on him again, Smith will put a bullet in his brain and to hell with the guns for Scalphunter's Confederate buddies. They jump a wall, losing the soldiers and make their way into the back door of a house.

The building they enter appears to be a meeting place for distinguished men, all leather and dark curtains. They are approached by a butler carrying drink service. The butler informs them that Mr. Thornton will be with them shortly. Smith helps himself to a nearby decanter while Scalphunter gazes into the flames in a nearby fireplace.

He thinks back to his recent conversation with President Abraham Lincoln who told him that the North could carry on the war for years with their industrial capabilities. The South however, relies on arms from other countries and without those weapons, the war would be over within a year. Ke-Woh-No-Tey replies that war is a thing of honor, a man must fight or he is not a man. Lincoln says that might be true for Brian's people, but for the White man, war is an ugly terrible thing.

Lincoln then lays out his plan for blockading all of the southern ports, but there are foreign powers that will deliver weapons to American ships in the mid-Atlantic, and these American ships will run through the blockades. There is one man called the Blockade Breaker who has gotten through fifteen times in the past year. If they can stop this man, it will be a major blow to the Confederacy. Scalphunter says he is not a sailor but Lincoln says according to their informant, the Blockade Breaker is expecting to meet an Indian who is arranging for a consignment of guns to be delivered by the British. A number of tribes have aligned with the South, dissatisfied with how the Union has treated them, the tribes have been promised better treatment by Jefferson Davis.

Lincoln says they have already intercepted this Indian contact and asks Ke-Woh-No-Tey if he will fill in as their spy. Scalphunter says he is asking help for the men who betray Scalphunter's people and force them from their land? Lincoln asks him to do it as a personal favor. Lincoln gives his word that Indians will be treated fairly after the war is over. The two men once more clasp hands, this time in agreement, rather than in contest.

Scalphunter's memories are interrupted by the arrival of Watson Thornton. Scalphunter asks if he is the Blockade Breaker and Thornton assure him he is not. Thornton is merely a go-between who will verify the payment but not collect it. Thornton explains that he is a munitions manufacturer and the longer the war continues, the richer he gets, no matter who wins. Thornton then asks Smith and Scalphunter to follow him and he will make the proper introductions.

A pouring rain has started as night has fallen and the three men make their way to a horse cab. They climb inside and through the rain and fog they make their way to the docks to a massive steam ship named The Sea Dragon. As they arrive a sailor starts shouting that no redskin is going to set foot on their deck. Thornton asks the sailor to calm down, surely the captain will explain. The Sailor starts brandishing a cargo hook and then catches a smile from Smith. The sailor shoves Scalphunter, telling him to get off the wharf. Scalphunter tells him not to touch him again and the sailor winds up and swings with the hook. 

Scalphunter blocks the swing and delivers a hard right into the man's midsection. For some reason Scalphunter turns to see Smith smiling, enjoying the battle. The sailor retaliates, knocking Scalphunter to the dock, shoving the cargo hook closer....closer... until Scalphunter gets a knee underneath the man and flips him into the bay. Thornton rushes up asking if Scalphunter is unharmed. Smith tells Thornton to be quiet, Scalphunter isn't buying what they are selling. Smith tells Scalphunter to climb aboard and they will talk business. Scalphunter asks if the Blockade Breaker is on board.

To which Smith replies that the Captain of the The Sea Dragon is HIMSELF!!!!

Statistics for this issue

Men Killed by Scalphunter - Zero

Running Total - 101

Compared to Jonah Hex - 16th appearance and Scalphunter has 101 vs Jonah's 76

Scalps Taken - 0

Running Total - 14

Injuries - None

Timeline - One day and evening in August.

This one was pretty good. I liked seeing more interaction between Lincoln and Scalphunter and especially the way Scalphunter was surprised that some Indians were getting involved in the war. I also liked the reasoning that Lincoln used to honestly get Brian's help. Sadly, even in this universe, we'll never see what Lincoln could have done to keep his promise.

We get a good start to another tale of intrigue and spying with Scalphunter being even more out of his element. The trolley wreck was well done with the terror of the locals being vividly portrayed.

Also in this issue the letter column had a plea for more letters, having only gotten one letter for the prior issue. We also get a Wonder Woman Hostess ad (The Golden Treasure), an ad for the DC Comics newspaper strip by Pasko, Tuska and Colletta, giant edition of for the Superman Movie adaptation and a reprint of Superman #1, and Battlestar Galactica T-shirts.

Next Issue: A major whipping, a sea battle, a mutiny and a SEA OF BLOOD!!!

Salesmen of Yesterday!! Danny Rogers

 

Good ole' Danny Rogers, convincing everyone to buy his seeds because he ain't one to go around spreading his seed for free!