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!

Weird Western Tales #53 "Twilight of Treachery"

 Weird Western Tales #53 Mar 1979

"Twilight of Treachery"

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

July 1, 1862. Top of the unfinished Washington Monument in Washington, D.C.

 

Scalphunter is hanging from underneath the top platform, having just pulled Miss Lavender to her death. He has been enlisted by, and then double crossed by, Bat Lash in a plot to kill President Abraham Lincoln. A plan formed by Secretary of War Stanton. Scalphunter climbs back upon the platform and hears soldiers coming up the stairs. Three soldiers, two armed and one carrying a lantern have seen the bodies fall from the structure. As the round a turn near the top, Scalphunter hurls himself downward upon them. Crashing into the men a rifle is discharged but the bullet goes wild.

 

Scalphunter is grabbing and pummeling them. He flips over them, grabbing one and tossing him further down the stairs. One soldier finally gets ahold of Scalphunter from behind, choking him and tearing at his eyes. Scalphunter remembers the words of his teacher when he was with the Kiowas, a lesson about how dangerous a frightened man can be in a fight. Such a man cannot be beaten, he can only be killed. Sclaphunter reached behind himself, grabs the lantern and smashes it against the man face, setting him ablaze. The remaining soldiers try to give chase but Scalphunter has already made it out of the structure and into the darkness.

 

He finds his way through alleys and across rooftops until he arrives atop Stanton’s townhome. He hangs from the roof, listening in to where Bat Lash is demanding even more money from Stanton. Stanton understandably balks at the request but Lash says that Stanton has mucked things up by trying to kill Ke-Woh-No-Tey. Stanton tries to compose himself but Lash notices the shadow outside the window and puts a finger to his lips, signaling Scalphunter to remain quiet and wait.

 

Lash uses some fast talking to get Stanton to leave and Scalphunter climbs into the room. Lash apologizes for the pickle that he put Scalphunter in and gets a solid right hook to the jaw and some unrequested nap time for his troubles. When Lash comes to, Scalphunter says that he would have killed Lash for what he had done, but then remembered how this game was played when they saved the Gatling gun on their prior adventure.

 

Bat replies that he had no choice, if Scalphunter had hurt Stanton, they never would have learned who the other men in the plot are. He says that he never intended to take the money, he would never betray his country. Lash concocts a plan where he will keep an eye on Stanton and Scalphunter goes to be with Lincoln. While they are talking the butler is approaching the room with the bottle of wine that Lash had requested of Stanton earlier. As the butler enters, Scalphunter has already made his exit out the window.

 

Later, Lincoln is sitting in the Oval Office reading. Without looking up, he bids Scalphuner to enter, he has been expecting him.  Lincoln says that his eyesight is bad but his hearing is as good as ever, he heard Scalphunter when he slipped past the sentry. Scalphunter calmly explains the plot by Stanton and how Lash and he are working to foil it.

 

Lincoln sighs and says that he is not surprised. Lincoln states that for all of Stanton’s faults he is the best man to be Secretary of War, and that this treason is against Lincoln the man, not the Presidency. Lincoln says that Stanton still needs to be taught a lesson when this is over. Lincoln then calmly asks Scalphunter if he Indian wrestles.

 

The two men takes seats across a table and calmly place their elbows down, slowly grasping each other’s hand. Lincoln smiles as they each brace themselves and Lincoln quickly starts pressing downward. Ke-Who-No-Tey is surprised and almost drops his grasp. He fights back to the starting position. In the lantern lit room, the men stare at each other, not wavering, testing each other and testing themselves. This is not a fight to win but a test of trust. Suddenly, without a word, both men let go, a deep mutual respect now formed between them.

 

They stay together throughout the night, talking of each of their pasts and of the plan for tomorrow. Lincoln is slated to give an address the next day and he will proceed with it.

 

The next day Stanton arrives to escort Lincoln to the stage built on the Capitol steps for the address. Scalphunter stays behind in the shadows. As Lincoln steps outside, Stanton declines Lincoln’s offer to join him on the stage and leaves the Capitol. Scalphunter follows Stanton to a nearby wooded area where Bat Lash is tied up and guarded by two men.  Scalphunter suddenly jumps from a tree and hurls a knife into the chest of one of the men, a Union officer. The officer, his pistol already drawn, falls and shoots the other man who is smoking a cigar. As the other man falls, cigar in his hand falls upon the fuse, which quickly catches.

Scalphunter jumps to free Bat Lash but Bat tells him that the fuse leads to twenty sticks of dynamite, it's a fast burning fuse, it HAS to be stopped! Scalphunter takes off as only a Kiowa warrior can. The fuse snakes through the grass and up to the Capitol. Scalphunter continues to give chase to the dancing flame. The spark weaves it's way through the crowd towards the platform. Scalphunter pushes his way through the throng and then he dives under the platform upon which stands the President of the United States. He cuts the fuse with about a foot to spare.

Later Lincoln is talking to Scalphunter in a hushed whisper, stating he knows that Scalphunter and Bat Lash have saved his life but it must remain a secret. If it got out the scandal would tear the Union apart. The other two men, a general who graduated from West Point and  high society businessman from Boston are dead and Stanton has learned his lesson. Lincoln asks Scalphunter why Bat Lash isn't with them.

Scalphunter replies that Bat had business in Richmond, something about a card game and a woman. Scalphunter says he will miss Bat and Lincoln agrees but fears Richmond may prove to violent for a man such as Bat. Bothe men smile and nod.

Statistics for this issue

Men Killed by Scalphunter - two, the burned soldier and the General

Running Total - 101

Compared to Jonah Hex - 15th appearance and Scalphunter has 101 vs Jonah's 72

Scalps Taken - 0

Running Total - 14

Injuries - None

Timeline - Evening of July 1st and into July 2nd.

This one gets a lot of coverage regarding the bizarre cover (coverage/cover wink wink) when taken out of context. But, if a cover is to get you to buy a book, this one nails it. Lincoln is rather buff and I do enjoy the portrait of Washington in the corner with the What The look on his face.

Storywise, a really great tale. Lash and Scalphunter are a great pairing and the relationship between Ke-Woh-No-Tey and Lincoln was perfectly laid out.

I couldn't find anything about a speech that Lincoln gave on July 2nd so I'm assuming it was for Independence Day. Everything doesn't have to be historically accurate (Doesn't sound like me, I know.)

Next Issue: A secret mission from Lincoln, blockade runners, and the Trolley Problem.

Weird Western Tales #52 "The Plot to Kill President Lincoln"

 Weird Western Tales #52 Feb 1979 

"The Plot to Kill President Lincoln"

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

Southern Virginia. June 29, 1862

Scalphunter is awakened from night slumber by a pistol being held to his head. The brandisher of said weapon stands in the moonlight, stating that he has followed Scalphunter out of Atlanta five weeks back. Suddenly the sleeping Indian attacks, grabbing the pistol, punching the man and then grabbing him, hurling them both into the river.

As they battle in the water, the man, Bat Lash, starts calling out to Scalphunter. Scalphunter stops his attack and then drags Bat Lash from the river. Once on shore, Scalphunter reaches to retrieve Lash's hat and Bat punches him on the jaw, returning the favor of the attack. Bat composes himself and launches into why he is there.

He was in Montgomery at a poker game with a Confederate officer. Lash was caught cheating and in a manner that becomes him, Lash shoots the chandelier, dropping it on the officer's head and then hotfoots it out the back into an alley. In the darkness he is approached by a woman with a pistol. Her name is Lavender and she knows of Lash's exploits stealing the Gatling Gun. She is working for President Lincoln and she has been sent to retrieve Lash and Ke-Woh-No-Tey and bring them to the White House.

Lash's pursuers eventually make it to the alley and he has to beat a hasty retreat and that brings us to the present time. Bat does ask if Scalphunter ever found his sister but Ke-Woh-No-Tey replies that his sister is dead. Lash asks if Scalphunter is up for a trip to Washington D.C. and Scalphunter just nods.

They continue riding through the night and most of the next day they end up on a hill overlooking White Oak Swamp, observing the beginning of a major battle breaking out. They realize that the quickest way to Washington is directly through the battlefield and without a further word Scalphunter spurs his mount with Bat Lash trying to keep up. The Battle of White Oak Swamp was a bloody affair with over 17,000 men killed, wounded, or missing and Lash and Scalphunter end up fighting their way through, kicking and shooting both Union and Confederate forces to get by.

They manage to get through with their skins intact and by nightfall they are on a supply raft heading up the Potomac. Morning breaks and they arrive in DC and they are stopped by Union guards. Just then Miss Lavender vouches for them and guides them through the guarded roads to the hotel where they will be staying. Lavender says she will come by in the evening to take them to the State Dinner where they will meet the Secretary of War. Lash says he thought they were to meet the President. She says they will but Secretary Stanton will explain everything.

That evening at the White House Bat Lash and Scalphunter are introduced to President and Mrs. Lincoln. The President says that he understands that Brian was adopted by the Kiowa, very brave people, and that he had dealt with a few in Illinois. Lincoln then asks why they are in Washington. Lash and Scalphunter exchange puzzled looks and Secretary Stanton intervenes saying that they are here at his request to thank them for their help in St Louis. 

Stanton and his two guests take their leave of Lincoln and go to a private room. Stanton said he wanted them to meet Lincoln to take his measure. Scalphunter states that Lincoln has a strong hand. Stanton agrees but that Lincoln is weak in war and that afterward he may be a traitor to the Republic. Lash notes that Stanton doesn't sound like a fan of Lincoln's and Stanton confesses that he brought the two men here to kill President Lincoln!

After a momentary pause, Lash asks how many other people are in on this plot. Stanton states it is Miss Lavender, several northern businessmen and a Union General. They are willing to pay generously. Lash smiles and asks how much are they thinking? Stanton offers five thousand, Lash counters with ten thousand (about 318k in 2025). Stanton agrees but Scalphunter says he will not be a part of it. Killing in battle is honorable but killing a chief in his lodge is the act of a coward. Lash turns and says he was afraid of that and knocks Scalphunter out with the butt of his pistol.

Scalphunter wakes up, his hands bound behind his back, atop the uncompleted Washington Monument. 

He is up there with a Union soldier and Miss Lavender. She says that this is the type a place a half-wit savage might climb up and then slip and fall to his death. Lavender tells the soldier to untie Scalphunter and then give him 'a taste of your bayonet'. The soldier does so but rushes at Scalphunter, who ducks and the soldier goes arse over teakettle over the edge to his death.

Miss Lavender pulls out her whip (which has a wrist loop)and starts whipping Scalphunter until he stumbles backwards over the edge. Satisfied with her work, she steps to the edge to look down on the dead Indian but she suddenly screams. Scalphunter caught a support beam and is just under the lip of the platform. He grabs her whip and yanks hard, hurtling Lavender over the edge to her death. Scalphunter climbs back onto the platform and swears to repay the debt he owes to Lincoln.

Statistics for this issue

Men Killed by Scalphunter - two, the soldier and Miss Lavender

Running Total - 99

Compared to Jonah Hex - 14th appearance and Scalphunter has 99 vs Jonah's 68

Scalps Taken - 0

Running Total - 14

Injuries - Knocked out and whipped

Timeline - Evening of June 29, all day and night of the 30th and then July 1st.

I enjoyed this one quite a bit. Conway, once again, has a believable running timeline and a consistent geography. He ties in several historical events (White Oak Swamp, unfinished Washington Monument, we also see the capitol being built) and refers back to prior issues. 

Bat Lash and Scalphunter are like a western buddy cop movie, with Lash being the loose cannon and Scalphunter playing the stoic partner with a set of morals. I enjoy it every time these two pair up and this looks like it will be really good story arc (but I already know that, wink wink.

The artwork is spot on with the panels of the two men exchanging looks saying a lot more that exposition boxes could ever convey.

Next Issue: The rumble in the stairwell, crosses and double crosses, the meeting of titans and the most iconic Scalphunter cover EVER!!

Weird Western Tales #51 "Hanging for a Scalphunter"

 Weird Western Tales #51 Jan 1979 

"Hanging for a Scalphunter"

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

Atlanta, Georgia. Early May, 1862

Scalphunter is bound and sitting in a jail cell. Confederate guards insult and taunt him. It is just before dawn and three guards are escorting him to the gallows. As they walk through the prison they pass the cell of Samantha Savage, Scalphunter's long lost sister. She reaches out to him, touching him on the arm and expresses a connection that she has felt since they met two days ago (He has not revealed his true identity to her). A guard smacks her arm with a rifle barrel and Scalphunter whirls and snarls at the guard, who tells Scalphunter to PLEASE try something.

The guards lead Scalphunter to the main room of the jail which resembles an administration room. Once in the room, Scalphunter lunges towards a guard with his shoulder, knocking the man down and the kerosene lantern he is holding shatters, setting a desk on fire. He then head butts another guard through a door and while a third guard manages to get a shot off, Scalphunter flips backwards to avoid being hit. 

Just then Colonel Tremayne and more guards come into the room and the Colonel shouts that Scalphunter will surely hang. The guards rush him and Scalphunter backpedals away, slamming into a large mirror on the wall and then falls unconscious. The guards load him up into a wagon and head towards the gallows erected in the city square. A large crowd has gathered to see the Indian hang. 

It takes six guards to get Scalphunter out of the wagon and up the steps to the noose. Scalphunter snarls at those gathered and we have a 1+ page flashback of the previous five issues including the never before seen trial of Scalphunter and Samantha where they were found guilty of being spies. After sentencing, Scalphunter tears apart the rope holding him grabs Dasher and hurls him out the fifth floor window to his death.

Drake, wearing handcuffs, charges Scalphunter and manages to get him into a bear hug, crushing his ribs. Scalphunter manages to get his hands around Drake's neck and both men crash to the floor, unconscious.

As the guards approach, they learn that Drake is dead and Scalphunter jumps up and grabs another guard and starts strangling him. Colonel Tremayne intervenes by pistol whipping Scalphunter unconscious.

Back at the present and at the gallows, the noose is placed around Scalphunter's neck, the hangman advances to the lever and shoves the lever downward. The door opens and Scalphunter falls but he suddenly takes a piece of broken mirror, cuts his bonds, grabs the rope and slices the noose before it goes taut, he then drops to the ground, alive and then rushes and grabs a horse hitched to a buggy, he slices  the harness and escapes.

The Senator declares that any man that possesses such horsemanship cannot be a spy. He demands that Colonel Tremayne bring Samantha Savage to the plantation that evening or there will be the Devil to pay.

Later in a hotel Mademoiselle Magarit is mulling over that her spy has allowed her two best men to be captured, has allowed Scalphunter and Samantha to be hung as spies and Scalphunter has escaped. Soon people will make the connection and realize that she was the one passing Rebel plans to the officials in Washington.... and just then the door to her room swings open and Scalphunter walks in. We then hear her scream.

That evening at Creighton House everyone is gathered, with the Senator demanding of Samantha that she reveal if she is a spy or not. She admits that she is not and the Senator demands to know is! Just then Scalphunter and Magarit enter, with Magarit stating that Samantha is innocent. She also explains her connection to Reginald Ashe and Samantha was unknowingly carrying instructions to the real spy here in Atlanta. As she is about to reveal the spy's identity, she is fatally shot. Colonel Tremayne steps from behind a curtain, places the smoking pistol to his temple and kills himself.

The next morning, Scalphunter is readying his horse when Samantha approaches him. She said she never did learn why he came here and who is his. Scalphunter looks into her eyes, thinks for a quick moment and then mounts up stating...

Statistics for this issue

Men Killed by Scalphunter - two

Running Total - 97

Compared to Jonah Hex - 13th appearance and Scalphunter has 97 vs Jonah's 65

Scalps Taken - 0

Running Total - 14

Injuries - Knocked out twice and almost hung

Timeline - One day and the next morning.

This was a very very nice conclusion to the Samantha Savage quest as well as the Mademoiselle Magrit intrigue. I did enjoy the flashback plus the extra part covering the sentencing, this allowed the story to start right into the action. Conway was always adept at this typo of story structure.  The escape by Scalphunter was somewhat ruined by the cover reveal, but we always knew that covers couldn't be trusted, right???

Next Issue: Scalphunter goes to Washington DC via the Swamp, Faces Monumental problems, Bat Lash and a plot to kill Lincoln!! How much more can they cram into one issue?!?!?!

Weird Western Tales #50 "Spies"

 Weird Western Tales #50 Dec 1978 

"Spies"

Gerry Conway, story - Dick Ayers & Luis Dominguez, art - Ross Andru and Al Milgrom

Early May, 1862. Atlanta, Georgia.

Scalphunter is riding a black stallion down the streets of Atlanta. He is recognized by Mademoiselle Margarit and she starts asking two of her compatriots if they properly handled Wakwame? They tell her that she should consider that matter closed. 

Scalphunter is heading to the home of Mrs. Maxwell, a home that carries some notoriety. As Scalphunter dismounts, two men sneak up behind him and one (Drake) slips a rope around his neck, the other pulls a rapier from a modified cane. As Drake loops the rope around Scalphunter and pulls him into an alley the other man moves in to attack. Scalphunter flips Drake forward over himself and smashes Drake's head into the wall. He then punches the other man in the face and leaves them both unconscious in the dark alleyway. 

Scalphunter approaches the door and a neighbor interrupts him, saying that the Maxwell woman and her harlots are in jail. Scalphunter asks if all the women are in jail, shows her a locket with his sister's photo and asks if it includes her as well. The woman says that looks like the girl Senator Creighton took in. She wasn't like the other floozies. She gives him directions to Creighton's place and he rides off to find his sister.

Some time later Scalphunter arrives at the massive Creighton House. The Confederate flag flys tall in th eyard and Rebel soldiers surround the area. One stops Scalphunter and tells him to turn around or be shot. Scalphunter, not one to be ordered around, tenses to take the soldier out when an officer, Colonel Tremayne, orders that Scalphunter be allowed to pass. The soldier observes that Scalphunter is white and Tremayne notes that he is dressed as a Kiowa, many are the stories of white children raised by the Kiowa. Tremayne invites Scalphunter into the house and offers a hot bath a fine meal.

When they enter the house they meet a wheelchair bound Senator, his son and slowly descending the staircase, Miss Savage, Scalphunter's lost sister. She asks his name and he replies that he is Ke-Woh-No-Tey. She grasps his arm and states she feels as if they have met and Scalphunter does not see the hate in the eyes of the Senator's son.

Shortly afterward, once Scalphunter has had a bath and is wearing a suit, the four of them sit down to a meal, waited upon by the son. The Senator apologizes for the meager fare but the war has caused all sorts of shortages. The son interjects that they are also prisoners in the house. Tremayne, wiping his mouth, states that is a requirement due to the fact that someone in the house is a Yankee spy. It could be anyone, Miss Savage; Josiah, the butler; Prissy, the maid; Senator Creighton; Randolph Creighton, his son; or even Scalphunter himself.

Miss Savage protests because Ke-Woh-No-tay just arrived but Tremayne says his whereabouts yesterday were unknown. If he is innocent, where did he come from and where is he going? No matter what, Tremayne will get his answers or nobody leaves alive!

Back in Atlanta, the two thugs are speaking with Mademoiselle Margarit in house that formerly belonged to Mrs. Maxwell. She is complaining that Maxwell forgot to bribe the officials and got shut down, destroying the conduit for the spy information conduit. But now Tremayne has learned of the spy activity, her informant is trapped in the Creighton House and soon they will all be discovered. On top of that, those two thugs can't kill an unarmed Indian. 

The other man says there is nothing to worry about because the Indian is trapped in the house as well. She pulls a pistol on him and tells him to go up to the house tonight, contact the informer, get the information and kill the Indian.

That night, Samantha Savage, is walking in the garden in the moonlight and Scalphunter is on an upper balcony, silently watching her. He hears glass break in the house and he quietly retreats into the house. He voices downstairs and looking over the stair rail, he sees the two men from earlier. They are talking to an unseen man in another room and as the two men start to approach the stairs, Scalphunter launches himself over the rail to attack. 

He slams into Drake, clawing at his eyes. The other man draws his sword and tries to skewer Scalphunter, but Slaphunter manages to tackle both men at once, sending all three slamming their heads into a wall, knocking the two out.

Samantha walks in and sees the damage. Scalphunter explains about the spy and that he is in another room. Scalphunter tells her to stay where she is but she demands to follow him. Scalphunter turns and is knocked out from behind by a shadowy figure with a fireplace poker.

When he wakes up he is on the floor, hands bound behind his back. Tremayne holds a rope that binds the two thugs, demanding who is the traitor they were trying to meet. They cite Samantha Savage is the spy and the Indian is in cahoots with her. Tremayne agrees that they are both spies and tomorrow they will hang.

Statistics for this issue

Men Killed by Scalphunter - Zero

Running Total - 95

Compared to Jonah Hex - 12th appearance and Scalphunter has 95 vs Jonah's 56

Scalps Taken - 0

Running Total - 14

Injuries - Knocked out

Timeline - One day. 

This was a really enjoyable issue with even more intrigue being piled on. We have spies, a whodunit, a found sister, double crosses and Scalphunter in a suit. Will Scalphunter get his revenge on Mademoiselle Margarit, will he be able to reveal his true name to his sister, can he survive the next day? Sadly, no backup story of Cinnamon.

Next Issue: It's a necktie party and probably the wildest one since Cat Ballou!