RIFLEMAN "Score to Settle" Conclusion

We Have Already Seen...

Cover for Four Color #1009. The caption refers to the other story in the issue.

The rambunctious Reagan family blames Lucas McCain for crippling their father in an incident that the Regans themselves caused!

One son has already been wounded attempting to out-draw The RifleMan, but the others have sworn vengeance...

The script for this tale from Four Color Comics #1009 (1959) was penned by Eric Freiwald and Robert Schaefer, while the art was provided by Dan Spiegle, one of the primary illustrators for Dell (and later, Gold Key) movie/tv adaptations due to his knack for rendering likenesses of actors.

After this appearance, The RifleMan received his own comic book, which had an 19-issue run beginning with #2, for a total of 20 issues.
(The Four Color issue was considered to be #1.)
After #12 was published, Dell Publishing ended it's contract with Western Publishing, who handled the editorial (writing and illustrating) duties on Dell Comics, while Dell handled newsstand and store distribution.
Western created Gold Key Comics, which continued to publish the already-existing movie and tv comics,while Dell maintained the Dell Comics name with a new line of comics featuring original characters (including Lobo) and newly-licensed movie/tv/newspaper strip series.
The RifleMan continued from #13 to #20 at Gold Key, with the same writers and artists who did the earlier stories.

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RIFLEMAN "Score to Settle" Part 1

It's been a while since we visited Lucas McCain and his son Mark...

...so let's go by the old homestead as their friend, local marshal, Micah Torrance stops by...

Seems peaceful enough, but the Reagan clan has plans for revenge against Lucas, as we'll see..next week!

The script for this tale from Four Color Comics #1009 (1959) was penned by Eric Freiwald and Robert Schaefer, while the art was provided by Dan Spiegle, one of the primary illustrators for Dell (and later, Gold Key) movie/tv adaptations due to his knack for rendering likenesses of actors.

Oddly, though, regular supporting character Marshal Micah Torrance looks nothing like actor Paul Fix!
Whether this is due to the artist not having photo reference or the actor not allowing his likeness to be used in licensed products is unknown.

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RIFLEMAN "Outlaw's Pony" Conclusion

We Have Already Seen...

While visiting town for supplies, Lucas McCain and his son, Mark, hear the Bragan boys have just robbed the local bank.

Sending Mark home, Lucas joins the posse searching for the outlaws.

The posse encounters the fleeing robbers.

Lucas, using his rifle, wounds one of the thieves at extreme range, causing him to fall off his horse.

That horse, with the robbery's proceeds (but no rider), bolts away.

But, the robbers, even with two on one horse, manage to evade capture.

Mark, heading home, encounters the riderless steed and brings it back to the homestead.

When Lucas returns home after dark, he examines the horse's saddlebags, finds the stolen money, and heads back to town to return it to the bank...

(BTW, you'll note that, in the first panel below, the robbers are on two horses, even though they say they need to grab a horse!

In the following panels, they have only one horse!

It's a continuity error.)

The back cover of the comic has a feature about the customized Winchester Lucas uses...

There are a couple of inaccuracies about the weapon as shown in the series...

1) In the opening credits, Lucas fires thirteen times without reloading.

Pretty good trick for an eleven-shot rifle!

2) Though the show is set in the mid-1880s (as shown in newspaper headlines and a plaque on the Lucas ranch house), the version of the Winchester rifle shown (even before modification) wasn't manufactured until 1891!

The script for this tale from Four Color Comics #1009 (1959) was penned by Eric Freiwald and Robert Schaefer, while the art was provided by Dan Spiegle, one of the primary illustrators for Dell (and later, Gold Key) movie/tv adaptations due to his knack for rendering likenesses of actors.

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RIFLEMAN "Outlaw's Pony" Part 1

In the 1950s & early '60s, Westerns dominated the tv screens of America...

 ...and a series needed something unique to separate it from the rest of the herd (as it were).

Let's look at the first comic story based on one of the more unusual shows, about a reluctant expert with a rifle who just wanted to own a stretch of land and raise his 'tween son...

We'll see what happens during that half-hour...next week!

The script for this tale from Four Color Comics #1009 (1959) was penned by Eric Freiwald and Robert Schaefer, while the art was provided by Dan Spiegle, one of the primary illustrators for Dell (and later, Gold Key) movie/tv adaptations due to his knack for rendering likenesses of actors.

Support Small Business!

Visit our 
Western Comics online store...

...for duds and provisions!