"Children of the Storm"
Gerry Conway, story - Dick Ayers & Romeo Tanghal, art - Luis Dominguez, cover 
Late November, 1862. Northern Virginia and Scalphunter is driving his horse headlong through a driving rain as mounted Confederates give chase, guns ablazing. His mind flashes back a few hours ago when he parted ways with Bat Lash and Kitty, as they headed for Chicago and Scalphunter decided to return to Washington D.C. and reunite with President Lincoln. However, he crossed paths with a Confederate patrol and everything went South, as it were.
As he makes his way down the road he finally comes to a cliff with a destroyed bridge. He reigns his horse to a stop and realizes he has a split second to make a decision, either surrender or try to jump the chasm. Of course, this is not really a choice for a Kiowa brave. He kicks his pony into full gear and they both sail across the 15-20 foot space. Two of the Confederates and their horses tumble headlong to their deaths (I won't credit Scalphunter with these deaths since the damn fool soldiers did it of their own accord).
On the edge of the bridge in the pounding rain, Sgt Rawlins and Lt Heeley consider their future options. Rawlins suggests they turn back since the boundary of the their patrol area was half a mile back. Heeley, however invokes a code of honor and that the deaths of their comrades must be avenged. Rawlins said their orders are to patrol and report, but Heeley says they can ford the river about a half mile down stream and if he hears another word out of Rawlins, he'll be shot for insubordination. Rawlins caves but realizes something is very very wrong.
Scalphunter continues down the road and encounters and approaching wagon filled with an entire life of possessions and driven by an old man and his grandson. Scalphunter sees in their eyes they are refugees of the war. The old man asks if Scalphunter is heading north. He explains the boy's mother is dead, but she has family up in Pennsylvania and he is taking the boy there. The boy's father is off fighting the war and a Unions patrol burned down their farm last week. He thinks they should be getting out while they can and asks if Scalphunter will ride with them for a bit.
Ke-Woh-No-Tey considers for a bit, with the old man saying that he nor the boy would be worth anything in a fight. Ke-Woh-No-Tey says that he cannot ride with them, he has his own ghosts and he kicks his horse onward, leaving the wagon behind. He hasn't traveled yet a hundred yards before he hears the crack of a rifle and he horse crashes into the mud. He lies in the mud as the gunfire, delivered by Heeley, continues to pierce the rain. Then Scalphunter hears the wagon coming and the old man is driving the horse for all it is worth and as they pass Scalphunter, the old man reaches down and grabs Scalphunter up into the wagon. The Confederates see this, Heeley is seething and Rawlins smiles.
As the wagon continues off into the storm, the old man makes introductions. He is Jericho Jenkins and the boy is Jesse. Scalphunter introduces himself as Ke-Woh-No-Tey, a Kiowa. Back with the Confederates, Rawlins is saying they must turn back but Heeley says that everything is clear to him. The Indian is a Yankee spy and they have to make sure he doesn't get back to his camp alive.
The three in the wagon turn off the main road to take an overgrown path that leads them to a derelict farmhouse. Jericho thinks they can hide the wagon inside and the rain will wash away their tracks. The horse shies at entering the house, but Scalphunter calms it with one word. Jesse asks his grandpa why are they trusting the Indian. If the soldiers want him, why not just turn him over? Jericho says that the soldiers tried to kill Scalphunter. Jesse says maybe he's a Yankee and all Yankees are scum.
Jericho strikes that talk right out of Jesses' mouth. He tells the boy that talk like that is a sickness, just like this war. People are people, no matter where they are from, and you don't kill people, even in a war. War has destroyed their home, their farm, their lives and he doesn't want any more hate.. just then a bullet crashes through the window and shatters the kerosene lamp. Scalphunter knocks them to the floor and tells them to stay put while he distracts the soldiers.
Scalphunter makes his way out the back of the house and comes up behind the soldiers. The pouring rain has turned into a deluge and the Confederates don't hear him cutting their horses loose until he stampedes the horses straight into the soldiers. In fear several soldiers open fire, killing two of their own, Carpenter and Stone. Stone was trampled and his rifle discharged into Carpenter's throat.
Heeley tells hism to never mind the men, they have to catch the Indian. Rawlins is appalled at that statement and blames Heeley for the men's deaths. Rawlins gets the butt of Heeley's rifle right in the chops for his voiced concern. With their entire patrol dead, Heeley tells Rawlins to get to his feet and follow him or he'll be hung as a coward and a traitor. They give chase through the darkening storm and Heeley fires one round stroking Scalphunter in the right calf.
Scalphunter topples into the mud as the two soldiers close in. Heeley raises his rifle to take aim when suddenly Jericho bursts forth through the rain, taking Heeley by surprise. The Lt and the old man grapple in the rain, the thunder punctuating their struggle until another burst of thunder comes forth. Heeley's rifle goes off, striking Jericho in the head and Jesse screams for his grandpa.
Jesse, consumed by rage, rushes at Heeley and Heeley spins, leveling his rifle. He doesn't care who he shoots, be it boy, old man, or Indian, they are all Yankees and worthy of his wrath. And then, the wrath of another is displayed as an errant bolt of lightning races from the clouds and makes contact with the firing pin in Heeley's rifle.
A clap of thunder and the smell of burning flesh and Heeley drops to the ground, dead. Jesse kneels by his grandpa, saying that he was right, war does make everyone crazy.
Rawlins raises his rifle, takes aim at Scalphunter. Ke-Woh-No-Tey stares at him through the pelting storm and Rawlins turns his head, casts his rifle into the mud and walks off. Scalphunter walks over to Jesse and tells him "No, boy. Not everyone..."
Statistics for this issue
Men Killed by Scalphunter - 1. I'm only giving Scalphunter the death of Stone, who was trampled. The other deaths were either accidents, foolishness, or an act of God.
Running Total - 125
Compared to Jonah Hex - 26th appearance and Scalphunter has 124 vs Jonah's 103 (in WWT #37)
Scalps Taken - 0
Running Total - 20
Injuries - Show in the calf.
Timeline - This issue covers just a few hours.
I really enjoyed this one. Heeley's descent into madness in direct contrast to Jericho's willingness to turn against all war and realize people are worth saving was very well done. Nobody draws the eyes of madness better than Romeo, he worked on the horror/mystery books for years and he can expertly place darkness around the eyes, making the eyes seem that much more crazed and Heeley had that in spades. Also, the brutal murder of Jericho was something out of an old EC book (that is twice in two issues that we have encountered very brutal deaths). I also enjoyed the pounding rain and the storm until it became a force unto itself.
All in all a great issue.
Ads for this month included 1941 (the movie)
Sea-Monkeys
Hawkman and saving a skydiver and Hotess cup-cakes
and a great in house ad for the Super-Star Holiday Spectacular!
Next Issue: It's a hot time (in more ways than one) in the old town tonight as Scalphunter arrives in Pittsburgh.
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