Jonah Hex and the Shadow of Death #1 "A Strange Wind Blows"

 Jonah Hex and the Shadow of Death #1 Dec 2026 

"Chapter 1: A Strange Wind Blows"

Michael Walsh - story, art, cover Variant Covers: Brian Bolland/Julian Totino Tedesco, Hayden Sherman, Javier Rodriguez

The scene opens on a full moon staring down upon the desert. Four men stand in the darkness, waiting. Brennan, the youngest, states that he doesn't like the situation. Another man says he should calm down and not get on the bad side of Old Sam. Besides, it's an easy job, just a coach and then Brennan and his sister can start over someplace new with the money. 

The fourth man, on lookout, shouts that there is a lone rider coming. The rider comes over the rise and the men shout demanding to know who he is. The rider lets his pistol answer for him as he guns down first one man and then a second. Brennan is hiding, realizing how bad things have turned. The third man is killed and the rider draws closer and closer. The kid jumps from his hiding space and opens fire.

There, the moon at his back, stands Jonah Hex, several wounds oozing blood. The kid starts to beg and his pleas are cut short. Hex slumps to the ground and dies, choking on his own blood...

Hex jerks awake. He is sleeping on the floor of a cabin and he is very old and very haggard. The captions explain that Hex remembers dying and killing and dying again in a vicious circle. He can't remember how many times he's been killed and how many he has killed. Folks say Hex has been cursed by either crows, witching ones, or the words of the dying. Hex suspects it was God Himself what did it. No matter, Hex had become deathless and he would live through the end of American West and he would be haunted by those he had killed.

We see the ghost of Brennan standing next to Hex. Morning comes and Hex exits the cabin and saddles up his horse, Peanut. He tells the horse that they're going into town to get a drink. As they ride off, the ghost of a dead woman stand in the barn.

Heading into town, Jonah passes the graveyard and as he enters town, some folks are hanging a large bell on a scaffold. Hex hands the reins of Peanut off to a young man named Charlie. Charlie starts trailing Hex asking if all the stuff is true? Was he sold to the Apache? Was he crucified in the war? Did he die and turn into half devil? Did he see an undead Wild Bill and then kill him a second time? Hex turns on the kid and tells him to just watch the damned horse. Hex enters the saloon and we see a large man backhand Charlie into the street.

Hex asks the barkeep for a fresh bottle and he sits at the bar, polishing it off. A saloon girl comes up and makes him an offer but once she sees his scars she has second thoughts. Jonah looks past her and sees a ghost standing in the corner. The large man from earlier walks in and asks Cassy who she is talking to. He shoves her out of the way and gets in Jonah's face, asking if he is the one that bought the Daley cabin with his blood money. The man says that Hex is more ugly than tough and then plants a left hook into Jonah's face.

Jonah goes down and stays down. The barkeep offers Pete a drink if he'll just leave everyone alone.

Hex gets up and staggers out of the saloon, spitting up blood. A young girl, Annie Connelly, walks up and introduces herself. She says that Charlie told her that Hex used to be a hero and a killer. Hex says he was never a hero. She replies that's okay, she doesn't need a hero, she needs the other thing. Hex asks her who needs killing and she says it's her daddy, but it ain't her daddy. Jonah gives her the stink eye.

She swears it's true, something black is in her daddy's skin and is crawling behind his eyes and his bones are too soft and he never used to smile. She is interrupted by her father walking up behind her, holding a hammer and wearing a huge grin. He asks Hex if Annie has been telling yarns and Annie says she has just been selling flowers. She gives one to Hex, saying it will keep him safe and whispers there are shades of the dead following him. Annie and he father walk off with Hex looking after them.

The sheriff, leaning against a hitching post, wants reassurance from Hex that there won't be any trouble. The sheriff says it goes against his gut, letting Jonah comae and go as he please. Jonah says he was just getting a drink and the sheriff says to be sure to keep it that way. The two part company.

Hex goes to the stable and gets Peanut from Charlie's care. Hex asks Charlie what the deal is with Annie.  Charlie relates that some say Annie is odd, he mom came from across the Atlantic and brought weird ideas with her. He mom died a few years back, coughing. Folks say she is witchy like her mom, but Charlie likes her. Now her Daddy?... Then the bell tolls very loudly, drowning out Charlie. Hex and the boy stand there staring at a man who has tolled the bell. Everyone in town just stands and stares.

Charlie says it looks like they fixed the bell. The sheriff met a preacher on the road and he sent the bell over so as to bring the Lord to Ashecott. Charlie doesn't cotton to the sound of the bell much, himself. Hex agrees, then mounts up, noting some incoming clouds. A stable hand overheard the exchange and watches Hex ride off.

Late that night, in the Connelly cabin, Annie is asleep, on her back with her mouth open. We hear creaking in the house and what looks like a spider starts to descend into Annie's mouth. She wakes up screaming for it to get out and runs out of her room into the darkness of the house. We still hear creaking all around and she makes her way into her father's room. We see her daddy's skin laying on the bed, hanging over the edge, like a suit that someone has exited and cast aside.

Annie falls to the floor huddled in a corner and a spider like creature starts crawling towards her, whispering "She's the one". Annie finds her courage, jumps up and runs out of the room. She tries to leave through the front door but it is locked and a dark figure walks up behind her. It whispers "It's okay, sweet thing. Daddy's here."

We cut to Jonah in his cabin, axe in hand, smashing up the floor. He uncovers a wooden box and inside is his Confederate coat, boxes of ammo and his Matching Dragoons. He picks up a pistol, there is a creak and he spins, pointing the weapon at the source of the sound. It's the ghost of Brennan, a tear in his eye and a massive hole in his head. Hex stares him down and says..

Then he takes the axe and smashes the pistol to bits, saying "I'm done killin'"

The bell in town tolls and we see a preacher man riding across the red sands on a horse with a skull for a head. The man smiles and says "It's almost time. at last, we will be restored." As he enters the sleeping town, the bell tolls once again.

Statistics for This Issue
Men Killed by Jonah - Four
Running Total - 897 (432 past, 55 future, 15 Vertigo, 391 V2, Next Level 4)
Jonah's Injuries - Punched by Pete and shot in 'the dream/memory'.
Timeline - one day and one night.

When this was announced I had serious doubts. I had been burned and burned BAAAAAAD by the Vertigo stuff, but it is Hex and I'll give it a chance. So let's go over all the pieces.

Art: Well, Walsh does everything on this book and at times when folks do everything that doesn't bode well. Here the art reminds me of Jordi Bernet. Somewhat sketchy, very atmospheric. It isn't disgusting like Two-Gun Mojo. Some of the coloring is weird, all greens and reds but that does lend an odd atmosphere to everything. And the body language of the characters really adds to the story. The panel with Jonah head/bonding with Peanut damn neart had me in tears. I saw an old man, tired of life giving silent thanks to an animal that stays with him without knowing anything of his past or the things that haunt him. So far, I give that thumbs up.

Story: Where does this one fit in with everything else? Charlie mentions several things, including Two-Gun Mojo so this could be in that universe or it could just be wild tales that folks spin. We have an aging Hex literally haunted by everyone he has killed (tossing a nod to Outsiders #8) and we're left to figure out if Hex has really died over and over and over again or if it is all part of his dream. 

The town is creepy, just enough. The characters are fleshed out, from Brennan to Charlie to Annie to Pete and the sheriff. The pacing is slow which is good, it lets the weight of the oddness just sit there and makes you feel uneasy. We get folks we care about in the kids even if they are irritating at times. And we have one heck of a weird vibe and some body horror going on. 

I somewhat rolled my eyes at a preacher being the villain. Once again, crazy ass preachers and this one smells somewhat of Doc Williams, so I am withholding judgement on that.

On re-reading the book, I'm still trying to figure out who is speaking through the captions. Omniscient 3rd person narrator? The Preacher? Charlie?

The girl at the comic shop said she was going to read it because she wanted something scary to read for Halloween. She knew nothing of Jonah Hex and we chatted for a short bit. And this brings me to another thing. Does this HAVE to be a Jonah Hex story? Could the story have been told with Generic Old Bounty Hunter? What does Jonah bring to the story that GOBH would not have brought? 

The girl at the shop is picking it up because it's "scary" and know nothing of Hex, so a win there. She might go looking for the trades of the Vertigo stuff, and might be disappointed in the 'normal' stuff. I'm picking it up because it IS Hex (and truthfully, I enjoy westerns so much I probably would have picked it up anyway. I read the 6th Gun without it being an established IP) so DC gets a win with my purchase. We'll have to determine that once the run is finished.

Next Issue: I have no idea, but it looks to be something with people having an extra mouth on their neck and a dangerous 'preacher'

Jonah Hex V2 #55 "The Brief Life of Billy Dynamite"

 Jonah Hex V2 #55 July '10

"The Brief Life of Billy Dynamite"

Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti - story, Vicente Alcazar - art, Walt Simonson and Laura Martin - cover

Five years and three weeks ago

A small boy, Billy, is sitting in the Black Mare saloon with his dad, Miles, and another man, Emmett. Emmett is talking to Billy about being careful with nitroglycerin and how Billy did real well blowing up the cats in the alley out back. Four masked gunmen come in from the storm to rob the saloon and Miles tells Emmett to get Billy out the back way. One of the gunmen steps forward and murders Miles. He then turns and kills Billy's mom. The robbers realize there isn't much money in the till and commence with robbing the patrons.

Emmett tells them the mine is normally shut down during the winter and just then the saloon doors slam open and a severed head bounces into the room. The head belongs to Jerome, the robber they left outside to stand guard. They start arguing about who is going to go outside when a bullet comes rocketing in through the door and catches Montgomery, one of the robbers right between the eyes. The doors swing open and there stands Jonah Hex!

With an animalistic growl, Billy rushes forward and kicks Montgomery's dead cranium as hard as he can. This produces a chuckle from Hex. Jonah tells Billy that the man is dead but Billy tells Hex to get away from him. The three surviving robbers kneel and lock their fingers behind their heads as Hex tries to restrain Billy. Billy looks around, spies Jonah's pistol and quickly liberates it from the holster and gets off four quick shots, killing the three robbers and injuring a patron.

Hex grabs the pistol away from the boy and says "Feel better?" Standing amidst the carnage, Billy replies that he does. Hex looks around and asks if the folks on the floor are Billy's ma and pa. Billy says that they are. Hex states that since he was late to the party he will see to it that the parents get a proper burying. Hex then tells Emmett to get off his ass and pour him a drink. Billy tells Hex that the drink costs a dollar. Hex is taken aback but ponies up the dollar.

Three weeks ago

Several men come riding into town and come up to the saloon. There is a man sitting outside (the fella that got his hand shot five years earlier) and he warns them that the Black Mare doesn't tolerate mischief. One of the men kicks the chair and topples the man to the porch. The five men walk in laughing and belly up to the bar. The leader, Evander, tells the woman behind the bar pouring drinks that they would like her to get up on the bar and display what's under her dress. She tells them the proper whores are over by the piano. They start to grab the drinks she is pouring and she tells them the drinks aren't for them, she'll get theirs in a minute.

Two men walk up to claim their drinks and Evander turns and busts the first man's jaw and the other descend upon him. Evander asks the woman about the show he asked for and she replies that she wishes that he hadn't done that. Evander doesn't understand why she is so upset and a voice says that her name is Fiona. 

The men turn and there, standing in the middle of the saloon is Billy. He tells them he is Billy Dynamite and he wants them gone.... now! The gang starts laughing and Billy tells them he will ask politely for the last time. Evander walks over and tells Billy to get back to school and says he just might bend Billy over his knee and smack sense into him. Evander gets right into Billy's face and Billy takes the chance to light a small explosive and shove it into Evander's mouth and shoving him backwards. 

Evander falls to the floor as the explosive goes off with an explosion of blood, rendering Evander with a damaged mouth and tongue. Fiona grabs a shotgun from behind the bar and tells the men to drop their guns and leave. They all exit at gunpoint.

Two weeks ago

The Black Mare Saloon is fully engulfed in flames. Fiona stands out in the street, flanked by two of the gang. She begs for mercy for Billy but they say that he blew off their brother's face. Billy is tied up, with several sticks of dynamite bound around him. They pick Billy up and throw him into the burning building. The explosion is much more massive than they bargained for as the saloon explodes with massive amounts of wooden shrapnel careening outward. A wooden stake shoots out and kills one of the men. They pick themselves up and the men, now numbering seven quickly leave, but not before noticing that Fiona is gone.

One week ago

Jonah Hex is getting a shave at a barber when Fiona comes in and starts tearing him up one side and down the other. The barber leaves and then we hear Fiona screaming about money. It's obvious that Hex has asked for payment. Hex says that he doesn't do charity and she reminds him they were both there five years ago when Billy's parents were killed. Hex even paid for the funerals.

Jonah says he was late but that is how life his. Fiona says that she remembers Hex saying he was late five years ago and that got her to thinking that he knew those men were in town and knew what they were up to. She asks him WHY he was late. Hex replies that how should he know, as he lifts a bottle to his lips. Fiona slaps the bottle out of his hands saying it's ten in the morning and he is getting drunk. She claims that Hex was drunk that day and waited until he was sober before he took action and now a whole family is dead. She storms out.

Hex stands there looking at his busted bottle, denying that anything is his fault.

Now

Hex stands in a grove of trees, Evander and all of his brothers and gang are tied, upside down, to the trees, each with several sticks of dynamite placed below them. All the leads are running to a plunger. Hex tells them that the fault in the whole situation lies in the fact they are bunch of revenge-seeking child killers. Hex also states that they would have crossed paths even without Hex having known Billy. They are all wanted men and that is the business that Hex is in. The problem they are in is that the wanted posters read 'Dead', not 'Dead or Alive' so their innocence will be unproven, much like how Fiona passed judgement on Hex. Jonah picks up the plunger and retires to a safe distance behind some logs as the men are screaming and pleading, saying there won't be anything left for the bounty. The finally realize their fate is not based on any bounty that Hex can collect and the story ends as it began, with an explosion.

Statistics for This Issue
Men Killed by Jonah - Nine
Running Total - 893 (432 past, 55 future, 15 Vertigo, 391 V2)
Jonah's Injuries - Slapped by Fiona.
Timeline - Five years and three weeks.
Rape Percentage -  20% (11 of 55)

Wow, so much to talk about with this one. Since the dynamite plunger was invented in 1878, we can place the end of the story probably 1879 at the earliest, with the start of the tale occurring then in 1876.

Next up is the cover by Walt Simonson, I have always enjoyed his work (especially his run on Metal Men) and this is his first work of Jonah. Pretty dynamic, this one.

Then we have interior art by Vincente Alcazar. Last time we saw him was back in 1979, 31 years ago. and he is currently 81. Good job all around. My only gripe is the depiction of Billy. It is dang hard to draw kids convincingly and the five year old Billy looks a lot like ten year old Billy. Oddly enough, the last time Jonah ran into a kid with dynamite was back in Jonah Hex #13 and THAT was a kid named Billy!!!

I also enjoyed the extended time frame of this story, with the origin of Billy, Hex's involvement (or lack thereof) in the creation of Billy, Fiona tracking Hex down and reading him the riot act. What I found especially intriguing was the manner that Jonah tied those seven men up to the trees. I suspect that he had three of them, at gunpoint, tie up the first four and then someone got the last three in that position. The "Ah, hell..." at the end was a very nice touch.

While scanning for this post I realized there was one panel that really stood out to me. The third panel here made great use of negative space, using white to portray the snowstorm outside.

 So I would put this one at the top of the list for well crafted stories.

Next Issue: We get two stories and a Jonah Hex movie interview!!!

Jonah Hex V2 #54 "Shooting Stars"

 Jonah Hex V2 #54 June '10

"Shooting Stars"

Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti - story, Jordi Bernet - art & cover

Jonah is outside, reclining against a large boulder, finishing off a bottle of something that makes him feel a lot better. Suddenly a bullet smashes the bottle to bits, bathing Hex in liquor. He wipes his face, snarls and unfurls his pistol, shooting towards the rocks the shot came from. He strikes a rock, sending shards into a gunman's eye and the man panics and starts wandering around. His two companions decide to make tracks as the injured man topples over the edge of the rocks.

Hex sees him fall and soon is standing over him. The man tells Hex to go ahead and shoot him but Jonah says he thinks someone has a bigger beef to settle. The man looks down to see a disturbed rattlesnake poised to strike towards the man's crotch. Jonah lights up a smoke and we hear a scream. Then we see Jonah dragging the large man away towards a horse.

Jonah drags the man into town behind his horse and pulls up in front of the sheriff's office. The banker and the sheriff stand outside and the banker notes that three men robbed the bank, but Hex has returned with inly one. Jonah notes that is one more than Sheriff Kane, there, managed to bring in. Kane is none to pleased at the comment but Hex doesn't care. Jonah tells the banker to get the reward. There is a sack on the horse that contains all the gold that was purloined from the bank and he really only needs the bounty from one man rather than all three, so he let the other two go.

Kane asks if Hex let them go or they got away. Jonah doesn't take the sheriff's tone lightly and quickly draws when the sheriff draws his weapon. Hex tells him to calm down, the banker saw him draw first and he just wants his money. 

Later Hex is drinking his reward money when a woman comes up and asks him to help her celebrate her birthday. Hex turns and recognizes Chula! He asks what she is doing so far north and she explains that her brother ran off with the woman who has no lips and she was sent to stay with "sister espinoza" who is upstairs making a prospector happy. Chula says she thought she saw Jonah on a white horse with a black spot on her face and Hex says that is Sally, he won her in a bet a few weeks ago. Chula says someone just rode off with her.

Hex runs out the door and can only find a poor jackass tied up to the hitchin' post and offers to buy it for $10. Chula says she was willing to sell it for $5, but whatever. Hex pays up and manages to get on the jackass and finally gets it to take off utilizing an old joke. Sadly the jackass is uncontrollable and eventually tosses Jonah into the brush far outside of town. 

Hex, unable to stand soberly, passes out where he lies and falls asleep.

Some time later a shadowy figure arrives, recognizes Hex and places a blanket over him. The man then rides into town to finish some business. 

The next morning Hex is awakened by gunfire as two men ride up on him. It's the other two bank robbers and Hex quickly grabs his pistols and shoots both men just as Starman rides up. As they start talking, one of the robbers is slowly dying is a very loud fashion and Jonah deals with a distraction by tossing another bullet into the man. Hex asks if Starman is now collecting bounties. Hex notes that there is still a price on Starman's head and Jonah ain't none too pleased with him. Starman replies with the fact that he led the two robbers right to Jonah so they might be even if he cuts Jonah in on the reward.

Hex observes that nobody 'cuts' him in on anything and Starman relents that they'll be even if Hex buys him dinner at the saloon. Hex agrees saying he'll take the bodies in but Starman should lay low because the sheriff in town is a piece of work. Starman already knows about Sheriff Kane.

As Hex rides into town, dragging in the two fresh corpses, the town is gathered around the jail where folks are cutting down the noose around Sheriff Kane's neck. There are other lawmen there and the banker brings Hex to their attention. The head lawman, Dunn, asks where Hex was last night and Jonah says it's none of his business. Suddenly Hex is staring down the barrels of several firearms and ends up in jail.

Hex tells the lawman to talk to Chula, she can back up his story and why the hell would he come back to a town where he killed the sheriff? The lawman says maybe he was trying to be smart and collect the bounty on the two robbers and since the banker says that Hex and the lawman's brother-in-law (Sheriff Kane) had words....

Jonah is pretty ticked off at how things are going down and the lawman says that HE will be judge, jury and executioner and then asks the others ask if they heard Hex confess to killing Kane. Every one, to a man, sides with the lawman. Even the banker. Jonah, behind bars, grumbles that they are all making a big mistake.

Meanwhile, in the saloon, Chula and the Starman are sharing a drink at a table. She asks who the third glass at the table is for and Starman says it is for his friend Jonah. She replies that first he tells her that Hex saved his life when he was a kid, next he asks her to get Hex drunk so he can set up Hex and now they are going to have dinner with Hex? Starman says it's no problem, just a nice dinner. Just then a man runs in the saloon and says that Jonah Hex has been captured for the killing of Sheriff Kane and there will be a hanging tonight. Starman is caught off guard and tells Chula there is a change of plans and he needs a favor from her.

Four deputies are out front of the jail. They talk about getting their money from the banker, and being sure that the punch Hex in the mouth several times so he doesn't rat them out. Just then a runaway horse comes racing down the street with Chula mounted atop it. She is screaming that she cannot stop the horse. The deputies being men, jump out in front of the horse, stop it, and then help Chula dismount. They continue to fawn over her, not paying any attention to the jail or Hex within.

Starman sneaks up to the cell window. He gives Hex his pistols, explaining that he did give Hex the bounties but he didn't expect Dunn to get back to town so quickly and now that Hex has his pistols, the two of them are even. Hex replies that they haven't begun to be even. Starman chuckles and agrees, leaving.

The deputies are still oogling Chula when one, Jim, gets instructed to rough up Hex and then bring him out. Jim goes in, unlocks the cell and Hex draws down on him then smashes Jim's mouth with his pistol. Hex calmly walks out, greets the three remaining deputies surrounding Chula and swiftly guns them down, leaving Chula unharmed.

Dunn and two other deputies are in the bank, getting paid by the banker, and they hear the gunfire. Dunn tells his men to go see what is going on. As they exit the bank, Starman guns them down, sending them falling backwards through the bank windows. Hex rides up and asks about Dunn. Starman says he is still inside. As Hex approaches, Dunn grabs the banker and uses him as a human shield. Dunn holds a pistol to the banker's head and tells Hex to back off or the banker is dead. Everyone knows Hex doesn't kill innocent men.

Jonah replies that's true because he ain't that bad of a shot and then plants a single round right between Dunn's eyes.

Later in the saloon, Hex and Starman are sharing a bottle. Starman explains that Kane had hired a few men to rob the bank he was 'protecting'.  He would show the town what a good sheriff he was by quickly capturing the 'crooks' and he would skim off some of the loot. Dunn and others with him had this scheme going in about eleven towns. Starman knew that he had to get Kane away from his home town and if Dunn got into a fix, then Kane would show up. But then Hex showed up.

The banker walks in with payment, I assume for Hex, and asks if he can interrupt. He asks if Chula must be there and she asks if he doesn't like girls. She kisses Starman and he tells her to wait upstairs. She glances at Hex and says some men must know how to treat a woman. Hex says that her parents should be so proud. 

After the banker leaves, Starman and Hex stand outside in the night. Starman notes how clear the sky is, so many stars. Hex says that they all got lucky. Starman says that the banker cleared Hex's name but he himself will need to head south to Mexico for a bit. Hex asks him that Starman's obsession with his father's death at the hands of authorities is going to end, and then stops with a realization. Starman says things are fine.

He notes that Hex is a killer too. They both fulfill a need, taking up the chores that lesser men are too afraid to do, too afraid of losing what they have. Their common trait is that they don't care what happens to themselves. Starman lights a cheroot and thanks Hex for worrying about him. Once they care for something, someone takes it all away. Hex mounts up, tells Starman he talks too much, and rides off.

Chula appears at the saloon doors and asks Starman if he is coming up, is he okay. He says he is just thinking and for her to go inside, he'll be there in a minute. After a time he glances up at the room's window, Chula outlined in the lamp glow and next we see him riding away from town, underneath a massive moon and a sky full of stars.

Statistics for This Issue
Men Killed by Jonah - Six
Running Total - 884 (432 past, 55 future, 15 Vertigo, 382 V2)
Jonah's Injuries - Thrown from a mule.
Timeline - Possibly two days.
Rape Percentage -  20% (11 of 54)

I enjoyed this one. While Palmiotti and Gray specialized 'one & done' stories, it is always nice to see Hex stumbling across folks from other tales. It makes it unexpected and adds to the lore of Jonah. Bernet's artwork, is rough and scratchy, perfect for the old west. It reminds me of Sam Glanzman's work in the DC Army books.

I'm still not sure why Hex had this reaction. Maybe because I'm not seeing a parallel between Starman and Hex. Jonah doesn't have an obsession. Turnbull does, Bruce Wayne does... Jonah? Not that I can recall.

Starman, however, looking up at Chula and then leaving, left a lot to ponder. Did he leave because he loves her and doesn't want to lose her to death and misfortune? Did he recognize that he had no attachment to her at all? So many possibilities.

Next Issue: Hex gets into trouble when he takes a young boy under his wing.

Weird Western Tales #70 "A Cold Way to Die!"

Weird Western Tales #70 August 1980

"A Cold Way to Die!"

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

Immediately after last issue is where we are and Scalphunter is fighting with Wilks for the past thirty minutes. The two men grapple and fall to the ground, knocking over a huge pot of stew that is cooking over a pit filled with coals and a blazing fire. The soldiers stand around, making wagers on who will win while Jase is aghast over this fight that started over her.

Wilks gains the upper hand atop Scalphunter and is holding the warrior's head closer and closer to the flames. Finally Scalphunter executes a maneuver and flips Wilks end over end, landing Wilks hand first into the flames. Wilks starts screaming and Scalphunter takes advantage of the chaos to grab Jase and make for the corral. Scalphunter starts to liberate two horses when a pair of guards try to stop them. Scalphunter grabs one of their rifles and knocks both men out. He and Jase mount up and ride off.

Back at the camp Saunders tells the men to get a surgeon but Wilks shrugs it off, wrapping his hand in a bandage. Saunders learns that Scalphunter and Jase have escaped and says to let them go, since the camp is only a mile from the Rebel line. Wilks, however, says that he'd rather meet the Devil in Hell than let them escape.

Scalphunter and Jase ride through the night, the snow falling around them. They ride in silence until Jase speaks out, saying they are now both deserters. She wanted to join the war to honor her brother who died fighting, but now she realizes that war is senseless and cruel and she way ready to abandon her post as it was. She asks Scalphunter where he will go but the Kiowa doesn't answer. Instead he listens because he had just heard the snap of a branch behind them.

The soldiers are about a mile away, but the cold morning air carries their voices to Scalphunter's ears. Saunders says they should turn back but Wilks has taken control of the men and their fury now and he urges the patrol onward.

Scalphunter and Jase arrive at a frozen lake and on the shore is an ice house. They make their way inside and hide. The soldiers are only five minutes behind them and when they arrive at the ice house they dismount and approach on foot. As they draw closer two of the soldiers foolishly walk in front of the sluice and two massive blocks of ice come careening down the chute. The men try to dodge them but are crushed and injuries by the frozen weapons. Jase asks if those men are dead and Scalphunter cites that they may be, but the others are alive and the two of them must hide. He grabs a pair of ice tongs and they head into the darkness.

The soldiers regroup and make their way into the cold structure and the four of them split up. A creaking board overhead draws Wilks' attention and he climbs the ladder to the second floor. Scalphunter drops on him from above, binding him with the tongs around Wilks chest and the two men slam forward to the first floor. Two other soldiers hear the war cry of Scalphunter and head for the exit, but the are quickly engulfed by falling ice that Jase has toppled onto them, using a long pole for leverage.

Meanwhile Wilks is trying to manipulate his rifle to get a shot at his captor but Scalphunter continues squeezing the tongs until there is a loud snap when Wilks' spine gives way and he falls forward, dead.

 

The last soldier has finally found Jase and he is closing in menacingly. He is one that was hit by the ice outside and he says that his arm hurts horribly, but Jase COULD make it allllll better. As he steps closer a trap door in the floor gives way and he falls onto the frozen lake. The ice breaks and he is pulled under the surface.

Jase stands there, scared and trembling as Scalphunter walks up and they leave the building. Later as the sun is setting she tells Scalphunter that if he stays in the North he'll be hunted as a deserter. He replies that he is heading west, back to his home in the plains. Jase agrees and says she will also go home, even though she feels so lost. Ke-Woh-No-Tey says that she will find her way and she wishes she had his confidence. They briefly hold hands and the Kiowa brave rides off into the night.

Statistics for this issue

Men Killed by Scalphunter - I'm giving Scalphunter one kill, Wilks. We don't know how many soldiers were chasing them, but I think the two hit by ice were only injured. Jase, managed to kill two herself.

Running Total - 130

Compared to Jonah Hex - 30th appearance and Scalphunter has 130 vs Jonah's 115 (in JH #2) (I made a miscount somewhere along the line and I'll have to correct Jonah's stats at a later date)

Scalps Taken - 0

Running Total - 20

Injuries - None

Timeline -  One evening and the next day.

This one was pretty good, a lot of action, the bad guys getting what they deserved and I'm always ALWAYS a sucker for winter westerns (The Hateful Eight is a gem in my eyes). This was a very nice end to Weird Western, it went out while still on a monthly status and Scalphunter did get a backup spot in Jonah's new book.

And I liked the idea of Ke-Woh-No-Tey heading back home to the plains once more. Gerry Conway had a wonderful run on this book, took the character places we thought we would never see him go and built a nice supporting cast along the way with some great story arcs as well. Big kudos for him and having a consistent timeline.

Ads this issue include:

Green Lantern and Twinkies rescue the Bobsled Run

House ad for a new book by Marv Wolfman and George Perez, called The New Teen Titans.

Two page house ad for the new Jonah Hex book

The new Superman/Spider-man teamup book with Hulk and Wonder Woman gets a nice ad

Next time: We get back regular reviews of Jonah Hex but I'll be revisiting the other appearances of Scalphunter in Jonah's book as well as in the Super Spectacular!

Weird Western Tales #69 "Lady in Blue"

Weird Western Tales #69 July 1980

"Lady in Blue"
Gerry Conway, story - Dick Ayers & Romeo Tanghal, art - Luis Dominguez, cover 

March, 1983, Pennsylvania. It is night and we are witness to a small farm, the entire area covered in snow when slowly an entire snow drift stands up to reveal Scalphunter. Clad in a heavy bearskin robe, he lifts his hand and points towards the farmhouse and then several Union troops come on horseback from the nearby forest behind him. Scalphunter has no love for the men he works for.

He has disdain for Lieutenant Sanders, disgust for Sergeant Wilks, contempt for Dick Lansing, and some friendship for Jase Garson. Sanders says he doesn't like the look of things, the farmhouse could be a Rebel trap but Wilks states that is what they have the Injun for. Lansing asks Jase if he is scared and Wilks kicks Jase's horse who starts and then takes off in a fearful gallop. Jase is unable to control the horse as it heads off into the darkness. Scalphunter hears the horse behind him and reacts on instinct, grabbing the reins, planting his feet and halts the horse on a dime. Jase, however does NOT stop and flies head over saddlehorn, landing into a snowbank. 

Scalphunter walks up, thinking the war is crazy to send children instead of men to fight their battles but he is amazed as Jase rises from the snow and Jase is a woman!!! Jase tucks her hair under he snowcap and begs Scalphunter to not give away her secret. The others arrive shortly and ask if Jase and Scalphunter are ready to head to the farmhouse. They both state they are and the soldiers make their way quietly through the snow.

In the farmhouse the Schillerhorn brothers, all four, have been holed up for three days waiting for a Confederate supply patrol. They don't know the patrol was intercepted the prior night and the captured soldiers told of the stolen beef stored in this valley. They think they hear a noise outside and when one of them goes to the door, it is suddenly kicked in by Wilks who quickly shoves a bayonet into one. 

Scalphunter tries to intervene since there is no honor is slaying foes who are greatly outnumbered. Wilks throws a fist into Scalphunter's jaw and then shoots two more of the Rebels. Lansing guns down the fourth much to the horror of Jase. Wilks tells Lansing to tell Sanders that the Rebs resisted and that is why they had to be killed. Jase suddenly throws her hands over her mouth and rushes outside to vomit. 

Wilks is unfazed and kicks logs out of the fireplace and sets fire to the cabin. One of the soldiers asks if they should drag the bodies outside and Wilks asks if they are gonna complain about the heat and laughs about it. The soldiers run out and the entire cabin is shortly engulfed as the soldiers watch the fire consume everything in the cold winter night. Scalphunter holds his tongue and makes it a point to remember, the fire, the smoke, the men and the smell of roasting flesh.

Next morning the Union soldiers are riding into their camp, escorting several head of cattle. Sanders tells Wilks that what happened at the cabin is better left untold. At the camp Scalphunter goes into his tent and starts to wash away the smell of the night before. With water in his eyes he reaches for a towel and it is handed to him by Jase. She came to thank him for keeping her secret. He says it was not his to tell, even a squaw must have a reason for doing what she does.

Jase is slightly put out and then recounts how she is able to defend herself. She was raised in upper New York state and her father taught her how to use a rifle, ride a horse and fight with fists or weapons. When the war broke out her brothers went off to war but came back in boxes. She was determined to take their place so she cut her hair, put on one of her brother's suits and enlisted. She said she did it to free the slaves and preserve the Union. Those are good reasons, but if those are good reasons, why does war attract such bad men?

Scalphunter has no answer for her and they leave the tent. As they walk away Jase bumps into Wilks who drops the steak he was eating. Wilks looks at the steak in the snow and pronounces it ruined and lashes out at Jase. Scalphunter intervenes and a fight breaks out between the two men. Shortly the entire camp coms running and Sanders orders Wilks to stand down. Wilks is having none of it and knocks Scalphunter backwards into a tent.

The tent collapses and the two man battle it out under the weight of the wet canvas. Wilks gets his hands around Scalphunter's neck and starts choking the life out of him. Jase leaps forward and pulls at Wilks' hair trying to break his hold on Scalphunter. Wilks rises up and shrugs like a bull, tossing Jase backwards off of him. Jase's hat comes off exposing her hair and revealing her true identity. Wilks starts laughing, saying NOW he understands why the Indian was protective of Jase, he was keeping her for himself. Wilks moves toward her saying that all of that is about to change!!!

Statistics for this issue

Men Killed by Scalphunter - None!s

Running Total - 129

Compared to Jonah Hex - 29th appearance and Scalphunter has 129 vs Jonah's 115 (in JH #2)

Scalps Taken - 0

Running Total - 20

Injuries - None

Timeline -  One evening and the next day.

I enjoyed this one even though the 'surprise' was not really a surprise, even without the cover and the title giving it away. Not a lot of originality in this story, mean soldiers, Scalphunter disgusted with war, etc etc but I still enjoyed it. Not in the top ten but not the bottom of the barrel either. My one gripe was that a man like Wilks would not let a steak hitting the ground dissuade him from eating it. I can see it being COLD, rather than piping hot, but come ON! He was walking around gnawing on it like a beast!

And I just love this panel:

Ads for this issue included the second Superman/Spider-Man teamup where they fight the Parasite and Dr. Doom.

O.J. Simpson once again hawks some running shoes as well as Dingo boots.

The Flash and Twinkies are a Flash in the Dam against the Destroyer.

House ad for all the backup features in the DC Implosion (Scalphunter moves to Jonah Hex)

The letters page indicates that Weird Western Tales is about to be canceled.

Next Issue: We got some fire, we got some ice and we have a conclusion!

Weird Western Tales #68 "Night Train to Nowhere"

 Weird Western Tales #68 June 1980

"Night Train to Nowhere"

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

Just hours since last issue Scalphunter comes strolling into the hotel in the midst of a sudden February snow storm. The huge sack of gold hoisted upon his shoulder, he startles the folks inside who are stoking the fire in the pot-belly stove. A man with a pistol quickly turns and draws his weapon, telling the others to stay back. He tells Scalphunter to stand still or he'll blast him to heathen hell. Scalphunter stares into his eyes and starts to snarl when Nancy Wilson comes from the back room, saying that Ke-Woh-No-Tay works for her husband. 

Ke-Woh-No-Tey slowly smiles and says that he does, indeed, work there. Nancy looks at him and says that she needs his help...in the kitchen. Scalphunter walks past the others (Benson, the man with the gun; Doc; Kantor; David and his wife; a young girl, and a servant, Luella.). The others converse about their current state affairs, how the engineer put them onto the wrong track onto this dead end spur and then the freak snowstorm whips up, and now this crazy woman and an Indian. But, no matter what, they are stuck there.

In the kitchen Nancy asks Scalphunter if Wilson, the fat pig, is dead. He doesn't answer verbally but only nods. She asks "What about....?" and Scalphunter empties the bag of gold onto the kitchen table. She stands there aghast, plunges her hands into the coins and then breaks down weeping. After all the years of her hating him, he beating her and the abuse, now he is gone and here is all of the gold. She asks if he is going to steal it, is some of it actually hers? Scalphunter shrugs, the question ot worthy of an answer and she breaks into laughter, the relief bursting like a dam.

Scalphunter starts to go back into the lobby and knows he has no use for the people there either so he steps outside into the screaming storm. He sees lights in the caboose indicating the engineer and the conductor are there. He looks down at the graves he help dig just the day prior of the two robbers who had brought with them the story of the gold. He hears the sound of snow crunching under horses hooves and sees mounted men approaching through the storm. He ducks behind a wood pile and he overhears them talking. They are Confederate soldiers who are supposed to meet their agent here in order to steal the Union locomotive. 

It was all part of the plan, a broken signal-switch, a brand new engine stuck on a dead end spur and all they have to do is kill everyone and pretend to be Yankees and steal the train. Suddenly one of the soldiers think they see someone and the whole of them gallop off as Scalphunter steals past them in the blinding storm. He enters the hotel and tells the others of the soldiers and their plan to kill everyone and steal the train. The darkness is broken by screams and Scalphunter says that was probably the engineer or the conductor.  Benson says he'll get to the bottom of things and opens the hotel door. 

He stands their, outlined by the interior light, and sees two men carrying the dead conductor. They quickly drop the body and open fire, just as Scalphunter grabs Benson back into the hotel. But not before he is struck in the shoulder by a bullet. Scalphunter tells everyone to barricade the doors and windows. Just then Nancy comes out of the kitchen worried that the gunfire means folks are coming to steal her gold. She yells out the window for everyone to go away. She is quickly gunned down.

Outside the Confederate Lt. tells his men to quit firing at shadows at the windows, but inside, Nancy lies dead at Scalphunter's feet. The Captain is on the locomotive and chastises the Lt. for the gunfire. He says the Sergeant is working on getting the engine up to steam which should take about thirty minutes. He says they should be ready to leave by then. The Lt. understands and starts on the mission to kill everyone.

Inside the hotel, folks are starting to panic, the young girl says that her daddy is a Southern gentleman and she breaks away from Luella and heads for the door. Doc grabs her and administers several swats to her bottom, saying that he had to give her a 'sedative' with a big grin on his face. David breaks down, saying they are all dead. His wife reminds him that he said he wouldn't go to pieces anymore but he says it is no use. Scalphunter tells him to be quiet, tears are for woman.

The Confederates fan out and surround the hotel while Scalphunter sneaks out of an upstairs window. Doc asks if he wants Benson's pistols and Scalphunter says that guns make noise and he must be a silent as the night. He drops to ground and runs to the caboose. He throws open the door suprising the soldier there and just as quickly, buries a knife in the man's chest. The dead soldier falls backward onto the dead engineer that he had killed earlier. Scalphunter fills a metal pail with coals from the stove in the caboose.

Back at the hotel, Doc and the woman are toppling the kitchen stove and David protests, saying it will burn down the hotel. In the lobby Luella knocks over the pot belly stove and as fire eats away at the hotel, everyone rushes up the stairs away from the flames. Outside, the soldiers are astounded to see the hotel burst into flames. The Lt. tells his men to cover the back, since this is a distraction for everyone's escape. They all run around the hotel, leaving the captain as the lone soldier between the hotel and the train.

We see Scalphunter running across the tops of the box cars and just then we see the people in the hotel knock out an upper window and make their way onto the roof, much to the surprise of the Captain.

 

Scalphunter jumps into the locomotive, throws the hot coals onto the soldiers there, lighting them ablaze.  They jump off the train trying to put out the flames in the snow. The Captain draws his pistol when Luella punches him in the back of the head, knocking him out.

They all jump aboard the train and start backing out of town. By the time the soldiers get back around the hotel, the train is out of range so they mount up and head home. On board the train Doc is talking to Scalphunter and says it looks like they are in the clear, but what about the agent the soldiers were talking about. Just then Benson steps forward and says that he is going to earn his pay and HE is taking the locomotive to the Rebels like he was paid to do. Just then David steps forward and shoves Benson off the train. His wife is overjoyed that he took action.

Doc says that it looks like David left his cowardice back at the hotel, and maybe Doc left a bad part of himself there as well. He asks Scalphunter if HE left anything there and Scalphunter replies that he left nothing of value, nothing of importance (as we see the gold melting in the inferno of the hotel).

Statistics for this issue

Men Killed by Scalphunter - One and burned two soldiers severely, but we can't count those as deaths

Running Total - 129

Compared to Jonah Hex - 28th appearance and Scalphunter has 129 vs Jonah's 110 (in JH #1)

Scalps Taken - 0

Running Total - 20

Injuries - None

Timeline -  This probably covers an hour to ninety minutes

This issue was dedicated to the films of John Ford and while it doesn't conjure one particular film, it reads just like one of his tales. The varied folks trapped in a location, each person dealing with their own inner demons and each having their own personalities. Of course, in a two hour film, everyone would have been fleshed out in a much better fashion but having 17 pages Gerry Conway can only do so much. I liked this one quite a bit, always enjoying snow storms as a plot device and huge fires as well. The cover was top-notch, even though the train wasn't moving when Scalphunter burned those two guys.

Ads included:

Batman, Robin and Hostess cupcakes defeating Catman on the Prowl!!

The winners of the Wonder Woman contest (It was Orlando Watkins of Detroit, Michigan) who got a Wonder Woman Weekend in New York along with an afternoon at DC Comics. 25 folks won watches, 50 people got sleeping bags, and 100 folks got lunchboxes.

A bunch of in-house ads

A Spalding ad drawn by Jack Davis featuring Rick Barry and Julius Irving.

Next Issue: A really good story with the main secret revealed on the cover! Sheesh!

Weird Western Tales #67 "The Treasure of St. Mary's"

 Weird Western Tales #67 May 1980

"The Treasure of St. Mary's"

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

We open upon a sweaty shirtless Ke-Woh-No-Tay who is splitting wood in St Mary's Church, Pennsylvania. (Hopefully, Sally will count this as a Christmas present). He is at the local hotel and a man named Travers is sitting nearby talking to the Kiowa brave. Travers says that he is a good judge of character and it is obvious that Ke-Woh-No-Tey has a lot of internal pain since he showed up here a month ago. Travers also cites the fact that Scalphunter is dressed as an Indian but really isn't and he postulates that the trouble in the brave's heart is a squaw has left him broken hearted.

As the two walk into the hotel, Ke-Woh-No-Tey tells Travers that he talks too much. They deliver the firewood to the lobby and as they leave three men walk in. The manager asks what he can help them with and one man produces a pistol and demands all the money. Just then Scalphunter bursts back, wielding the axe he was using earlier. He tells them to leave but Henry, the man with the pistol, gets several shots off but none of them find their target. Scalphunter swings the axe and suddenly we are in the Mos Eisley cantina as there is a severed arm on the floor. 

A second man whips out a shotgun and as he takes aim, Scalphunter kicks upwards hitting the barrel, driving the weapon up under the man's jaw just as he pulls the trigger (Not unlike Buster Scruggs several years later). The third man starts begging for his life, saying that there wasn't supposed to be any firearms. Scalphunter turns on him, raises the axe and buries it in the wall next the man's head. Travers has witnessed the whole thing and talking to the clerk, he asks what are they going to do with the remaining robber. 

In a panic the man starts stammering, saying that he'll do anything, even tell them about the treasure.

In the silence you could hear a pin drop and the clerk replies "Did you say.... treasure?"

The man explains that Henry had told him of the Massacre of St. Mary's from about a hundred years ago. At a British fort on the Ohio river French trappers arrived to sell their furs. The Fort's captain, a British Lord promised to buy the furs for gold and he did just that. But when the trappers left the fort, the Captain sent local Indians that had given liquor and guns to follow the trappers, kill them and bring back the gold.

The French trappers realized they were being chased and took to the river and eventually had to abandon their canoes and head across country on foot. The French are killed one by one, with the remaining trappers picking up the dropped gold and continuing onward. Eventually they make a stand and confront the Indians and in the end only one trapper lived and managed to drag himself miles to a nearby road. There he was found by a Quaker before he passed away. The man told the Quaker of the gold and the Quaker had written down everything and passed that information on to his children. Finally, Henry discovered the book while robbing the house and the plan was to rob the hotel to get enough money to buy supplies to dig up the gold.

Travers asks the man if he could lead them to the gold and the man says that he could. The manager decides they could celebrate with a drink.

The next morning, the two dead robbers are buried, Scalphunter, Travers, the manager Wilson and Hodds the robber take their leave while a woman who has seen and heard everything stays behind. The four men travel through the woods in a wagon and during the ride Wilson whispers to Travers that he doesn't understand why they brought the Indian because what does an Indian need with gold? Travers replies that they will decide on that after Ke-Woh-No-Tay helps them dig up the gold. 

As they continue to ride along in the February cold, the sun sets and the moon eventually rises. Hodds shouts that they have arrived, he recognizes a nearby hill that was described in the book. He jumps out of the wagon, grabs a pick-axe and starts digging. He kneels in the hole, unearthing human bones and throwing dirt to the side. He finally comes across a bag of gold and he reaches into the hole and pulls out the coins. He starts laughing and says he wishes that Henry could see him now.

Just then Wilson walks up and says that can be arranged as he crushes Hodds skull with a shovel. 

Travers turns and realizes that Scalphunter is gone! Wilson and Travers continue to dig, pulling up more bags of gold and load everything into the wagon. Scalphunter is in the nearby woods, watching everything. The horse are acting skittish and Wilson and Travers climb aboard the wagon and take off. As they ride along, each man keeps eyeing the other until finally Travers pulls a pistol and shoots Wilson dead.

Wilson falls off the wagon, dropping the reins. Travers can't recover them and the horse are now running wild. Suddenly a pack of wolves erupt from the forest, attacking the horses. The wagon topples, throwing Travers and the gold far afield. An arrow strikes a wolf dead and the rest of the pack runs away. Ke-Woh-No-Tey arrives on the scene, surveying the body of Travers. He gathers the gold, places it into a bag and hefts it upon his shoulder and walks off into the emerging dawn.

Statistics for this issue

Men Killed by Scalphunter - Two robbers get killed and one gets disarmed (hyuk hyuk!!)

Running Total - 128

Compared to Jonah Hex - 27th appearance and Scalphunter has 128 vs Jonah's 119 (in WWT #38)

Scalps Taken - 0

Running Total - 20

Injuries - None

Timeline -  Even though this one occurs over a month since last issue, it only covers one day.

This issue has a dedication to the films of John Huston, and I think it is an allusion to The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, a very nice film of folks trying to locate a mysterious treasure. I liked this one a lot with the axe tossing Scalphunter, the normal townsfolk turning on one another in their greed for gold and the finale where Travers is eventually undone by his own greed and the teeth of wolves.

Ads in this issue included:

Green Arrow and Fruit Pies rescuing folks in a cable car in "An Arrow in Time"

An In House ad for Jonah Hex and Weird Western

O.J. Simpson in an ad for Spot-bilt shoes

Next Issue: We learn what happens to the gold, a train and a conflagration.