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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WESTERN TRUE CRIMES "Kiss of Death Kate"

Supposedly, Real-Life Westerners were the subjects of this comic book...

...Western True Crimes!

But not all of them were cowboys!

Some were cowgirls!

And, they may not have been real...

This story from Fox's Western True Crime #1 (1948) may be based on a Real Westerner, but, unless the name's been changed, I can't find a trace of "Kate Cardell" anywhere.

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THE ORIGINAL GHOST RIDER Original "Origin"

With Halloween over, we decided to present the original, non-supernatural origin of...

Insert from the cover to Tim Holt #11. Art by Dick Ayers

...from his very first appearance in Magazine Entertainment's Tim Holt #11 (1949).

You'll note that when the origin was retold in the first issue of Ghost Rider's own title, supernatural elements were added.

But, oddly, the later version  of the origin doesn't show Rex Fury tracking down Bart Lasher, though that particular villain is shown in both versions to be responsible for Fury and Sing-Song's near-deaths!

While the full-face mask wasn't initially part of the origin, it was incorporated into the revised version along with an explanation for the new, white, horse the Ghost Rider was now using.

Written by Ray Krank with art by Dick Ayers.

For you completists, here's the full cover from that issue...

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"Werewolf Goes West"

Last year we presented "Vampire Goes West"...

...so, this time, it's a lycanthrope who gets the last pre-Halloween post...with a surprise guest-star tossed-in!

Appearing in the HTF tabloid Monster Times #24 in 1973, this tale was penned by Nicola Cuti and rendered by Frank Brunner.

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BINGBANG BUSTER "and the Flying Saucer"

There were even more unusual things than ghosts in the Weird West...

...as we showed in our Spurs Jackson and His Space Vigilantes and Wander: the Man from Sirius 5 stories...

This superb example of cross-genre lunacy from Lev Gleason's Black Diamond Western #21 (1950) is the work of Basil Wolverton, who never saw a concept he couldn't spoof.

Next Week:

Our final Halloween-themed post for 2012!

The Masked Man and His Indian Companion against the weirdest foe of all!

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TALES OF THE GHOST RIDER "Fastest Gunman in the Cemetary"

While the Ghost Rider himself rarely faced actual supernatural foes...

...there was no shortage of specters in this ongoing backup feature!

(BTW, the word "cemetery" is misspelled in the title, but not in the story itself!)

This supernatural story from Ghost Rider #14 (1952) was illustrated by Dick Ayers

The writer is unknown, but probably was either Ray Krank or Gardner Fox.

This was the final story in the final issue of Ghost Rider's title.

Ghost Rider returned to the back of Tim Holt's comic, which had been renamed Red Mask after the costumed identity Holt had adapted.

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JIMMY WAKELY "Phantom Brander"

What if the Original Ghost Rider was evil instead of good?

Art by Gil Kane

Well, he'd probably be a lot like this hombre, who appeared in the final issue of DC's Jimmy Wakely!

The "Phantom Brander" was a near-exact clone of the Original Ghost Rider...

...down to the use of phosphorescent paint and misdirection to convey a "supernatural" effect against his opponents.

Jimmy Wakely was one of numerous "singing cowboys" (like Gene Autry and Roy Rogers) popular during the 1930-1950s in b-movies and radio.

Like many other Western stars, Jimmy had a comic book featuring himself in action against various menaces, but in a clearly present-day Western setting.

This particular story, illustrated by Gil Kane and Bob Lander, was from Wakely's final issue, #18, in 1952.

Gil Kane would later do numerous covers in the 1970s featuring Marvel's version of the Western Ghost Rider aka Night Rider aka Phantom Rider.

(Marvel kept changing the Western character's name to avoid confusion with the more-popular motorcycle-riding hero!)

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