Weird Western Tales #66 "The Devil's Pay"

 Weird Western Tales #66 Apr 1980

"The Devil's Pay"

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

Pittsburgh, Mid-December, 1862

Scalphunter, wounded in the left thigh by the crazy Confederates and racked with fever, makes his way through the streets hoping to find some sort of help. Three Neer-do-wells (How do you do well? Neer!) observe his compromised state and figure him for easy pickings. They follow him as he staggers into an alley way and smite him with a blackjack, knocking him to the ground. As the first of the ruffians approaches to search the body for loot, all he obtains is a warrior's knife between his ribs as Scalphunter lunges upwards with the weapon.

Scalphunter makes his way to his feet and engages in battle against the three men when suddenly a shot pierces the day and the first ruffians right arm. A red-haired woman leans out of a window, smoking pistol in hand and in her best Scottish accent warns them all to leave of she'll ventilate them to nobody's liking. As they leave Scalphunter collapses and she rushes downstairs and into the alley.

Some time later, Scalphunter vaguely awakens to find himself on a cot in her home, a local doctor assessing his wound and it is not good news. The bullet has brought with it infection and it must be removed. Candace states that she has every confidence in the doctor, along with her four siblings, but when the physician produces his scalpel, Scalphunter grabs his arm and tells him not to cut. Even though he is weak with fever, Scalphunter's grip on the doctor's arm cannot be broken. Candace comes over to him and gently reassures Scalphunter that Dr. MacGregor is skilled and Scalphunter must be brave and trust them. Finally Scalphunter relents and gives permission with a silent nod.

During the surgery, held under lamplight, and with Candace holding him down, Scalphunter's screams echo throughout the neighborhood. An unknown time later, he awakens to a small girl asking if he is hungry. She slides a chair over to the pot-bellied stove and takes down a large pot of soup, serving it up for the warrior. As the Kiowa brave and the small girl talk, he learns that there is hardly enough food for the family and at night Candace cries well into the night. Scalphunter asks where the others are and she says they are at the factory, they left hours before dawn. Scalphunter starts to stand and she says he has to stay in bed, but Scalphunter pays her no heed and gets out of bed, only to collapse in pain.

Much later he awakens to Candace gently telling him that he almost undid the the good work of the doctor and he has to stay in bed for now. She gets the others fed and into bed and Scalphunter watches her intently, her gentleness and her strength. Her compassion in taking care of others and her bravery in facing adversity and as he lies there, she takes a moment and stares into his eyes and then she decides to take care of ALL of his needs!!!!

The next few days eventually finds Scalphunter on his feet and walking with the family. They walk through the town and he sees the filthy smoke pouring out of the factories, a stark contrast to the December snow that tries to blanket everything in white. Scalphunter says that he wishes to repay her for her kindness but Candace says she has not asked for anything, he cannot repay something that is not owed. Her life has been incredibly lonely but now that she has found Ke-Woh-No-Tey, she is no longer and that is all the payment she could ever expect. They embrace and kiss and the Kiowa brave allows a smile to come across his face.

Less than a week later, Scalphunter catches up to Candace as she and the others head to work. He states that he wanting to work to repay her family for the food he has eaten and he joins them in lining up for the entrance to the foundry. Candace introduces him to Mr. Tyson who agrees to hire him at the rate of five cents a day (or about $1.60 in 2025).

Scalphunter starts working and sees men maimed with splashing molten steel, almost crushed by falling equipment and through all of that, there is no concern amongst the factory owners, for labor is cheap and life is cheaper. After a ten minute lunch break they are all back to work and after several more hours, Scalphunter witnesses Candace stumble and accidentally splash a bucket of water on Mr. Tyson.

Tyson reacts with a slur and the back of his hand and Scalphunter reacts as a true man should, grabbing a rope and climbing up to the catwalk where the altercation is taking place. Tyson produces a blackjack and Scalphunter grabs him and throws him over the railing to his death on the concrete floor below. Several workers are ordered to bring Scalphunter down. As they climd the ladders, Scalphunter grabs Candace and begs her to leave with him, they will run far from this evil and live free.

She says that she can't, her siblings will starve and Scalphunter asks if the war is being fought to free the slaves why are they still treating people as if they will forever be enslaved to the factory? She says that he doesn't understand and he agrees. By that time the workers have gotten up to their level and Scalphunter leaps into them like a caged animal, finally grabbing a rope and swinging to safety, knocking the factory owner to the floor before he dashes out the exit and into the city streets.

Tears fill his eyes as he thinks not of what he has lost but how is also abandoning those he has come to cherish. Finally, he stands atop a nearby hill, overlooking the smoke and terror of the town and the factories below.

Statistics for this issue

Men Killed by Scalphunter - Just one, Mr. Tyson whose skull was crushed in the fall

Running Total - 126

Compared to Jonah Hex - 27th appearance and Scalphunter has 126 vs Jonah's 111 (in WWT #37)

Scalps Taken - 0

Running Total - 20

Injuries - Shot in the calf.

Timeline -  This issue covers a few weeks.

I enjoyed this one quite a bit given that Scalphunter was depicted as having actual fear knowing what a surgeon could possibly do to a man (probably from having seen the butchers on the battlefield hospitals) as well as the love and compassion that he displayed towards Candace (and not just for the, eh-hem, OBVIOUS reasons). Man's inhumanity to man was on full display, a stark contrast to the grace and generosity of Candace and her siblings. The cover was top notch with the colors knocking it out of the park.

Ads in this issue were:

Wonder Woman and Twinkies catch The Borrower

An in house ad for a digest for Top 10 Stories of 1979 (with Jonah and Scalphunter on the cover) known as Best of DC Blue Ribbon Digest #5 with the story Minister of the Lord from Jonah Hex #25  

Next Issue: Gerry Conway pays homage to John Huston as we all go on a treasure hunt.

Weird Western Tales #65 "Children of the Storm"

 Weird Western Tales #65 Mar 1980

"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 - Shot 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.

Weird Western Tales #62 "Images"

Weird Western Tales #62 Dec 1979

"Images"

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

New York City, October, 1862.

This issue starts immediately after last issue. Four members of the Camorra are chasing Scalphunter across the rooftops of the city. He is jumping from roof to roof and they are hot on his trail. Finally he gets some distance between himself and them and when they get onto his rooftop, Scalphunter is GONE!?!?!?!

But he has scaled a chimney and is looming above them. They turn and see him just as he jumps on them like a panther. He swiftly kills three of them and the remaining man, armed with a club embedded with nails starts to panic.

He drops the club and runs but Scalphunter picks it up and kills him with his own weapon.

Much later Scalphunter is walking the streets of New York and finds himself in front of the Matthew Brady Gallery. A crowd has gathered to look at the photographs of the carnage of Civil War battles. Scalphunter walks inside and watches everyone fascinated with the pictures and he fondly remembers the picture he has of his sister Samantha. But the photographs that are display are on massacred men, twisted in death and even in black and white the horror of war comes through.

He overhears a couple talking about how horrific the pictures are. The husband says that "Dying nobly on the battlefield" is a myth and then goes to buy a full set of photos to show his son in an attempt to turn him away from volunteering. Another man walks up and strikes up a conversation with Scalphunter. The man, Rawson by name, is also a photographer that was one of Matthew Brady's assistants but left after Brady started taking credit for the work of others. 

He has opened his own gallery but it is hard to compete with the Brady brand. He invites Scalphunter into his studio and offers to take a portrait of the man of two worlds.

Down the street in a seedy bar, three thugs are reading the newspaper article covering the opening of the Brady gallery. One of them, Digger, gets the bright idea of breaking in to the gallery and absconding with the plates and holding them for ransom.

Back at Rawson's studio, he sits Scalphunter in a chair and trains his camera on him. Igniting the flashpowder, he snaps the portrait. He then takes Scalphunter to the darkroom to develop the photo. Rawson is commenting on the fact that Scalphunter is obviously a white man but also an Indian. He is civilized and savage, a blend of both worlds. Rawson feels that folks will pay handsomely for such a portrait. In the darkroom, Rawson shows Scalphunter photos that he took of the 1st Battle of Bull Run, the only photos of that conflict. Rawson took the photos during the battle but Brady claimed that he had done so. Rawson left with the plates and plans to print up album cards to sell to the public.

He then shows Scalphunter his own portrait and the Indian cries out in terror that Rawson has stolen his soul. Rawson tries to explain to him that it is only a copy of what he looks like, but suddenly the door is kicked in and two of the three thugs come in demanding the plates. Rawson tries to resist and gets shot for his trouble. They start packing up the plates, holding Scalphunter at gunpoint. They quickly make their escape.

Rawson begs for Scalphunter to retrieve the plates and says that his clerk will fetch a surgeon for his wounds.

Rain has started pouring down but that does not deter the massive Indian. He clambers up a drainpipe and onto the roof and starts tracking the men like prey. He finds them in a warehouse where Digger is throwing a fit. Digger realizes that his men robbed the wrong gallery, none of this is Brady's work. In his anger Digger smashes a few of the plates but then stops when they hear a window break. They think they see someone atop the crates and open fire.

Suddenly a kerosene lantern that was hanging by a chain drops. Digger examines the chain and sees that it had been pried apart. One thug panics and starts firing wildly, breaking other lanterns. The warehouse is now on fire when Scalphunter drops from the rafters with the cry of a wild animal. The men bolt out the door but when Scalphunter turns to save the plates, the fire has thrown up a blazing wall, cutting him off. Scalphunter barely escapes with his life. 

Back at the galleryRawson understands and decides to give up but Scalphunter tells him that he should continue, people need to see the war. Rawson hands him an envelope with the portrait and goes inside. Scalphunter walks off into the rain covered city darkness.

Statistics for this issue

Men Killed by Scalphunter - 4

Running Total - 118

Compared to Jonah Hex - 23rd appearance and Scalphunter has 118 vs Jonah's 93 (in WWT #34)

Scalps Taken - 0

Running Total - 20

Injuries - None.

Timeline -  This issue takes place during one full day.

This was a pretty lackluster issue and pretty much a bridge between the last story and next issue. Not a whole lot to recommend this one.

The issue had a house ad for the Jonah Hex digest, Saturday morning cartoons (I wasted sooo much of my life in front of the TV), and the Flash used fruit pies to defeat The Stoney-Eyed Medusa!

Next Issue: An old friend returns, or is he a FOE?!?!?!

Weird Western Tales #61 "Chapel of Death"

Weird Western Tales #61 Nov 1979

"Chapel of Death"

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

October, 1862 New York. Roberto Palermo, an elderly man, is being mugged in an alleyway when the mugger is suddenly hoisted aloft by his scarf courtesy of Ke-Woh-No-Tey, who is leaning out of a second story window. The Kiowa brave pulls the man close and demands to know where Maggie Maldrone. The mugger, realizing what he is up against, spills that Luigi is also looking for her and even murdered her father in an attempt to learn her whereabouts.

But the mugger, being a mugger, decides he can get the drop on Scalphunter and swings his knife upwards and back, trying to stab him. Scalphunter, with the reflexes that have saved him multiple times in the past, quickly jerks the man upward, crashing his skull through the window, and then hurls him across the alley, crushing aforementioned skull against the brick building. Scalphunter jumps from the windowand Roberto asks if he is a friend of Maggie's.

Scalphunter acknowledges that he is and Roberto says that Luigi says that Maggie was kidnapped by an Indian. Scalphunter asks where Luigi Maldron is and the man tells him that Maldrone sometimes meets with his men in a church. Scalphunter heads off through town. There is a two page recap of the prior issue as he walks the streets and Scalphunter realizes that to find Maggie he will need the help of her father. As he approaches the saloon he finds it engulfed in flames with a young man standing nearby saying that Maldrone did it. He was the one that killed the old man as well. And the boy faints.

Scalphunter picks him up and is confronted by the men that altar boy spoke with last issue. They blame Scalphunter for the fire. Just then a man walks up and says that he say Scalphunter fight Maldrone in the bar yesterday. The crowd of men settle down and acknowledge that Maggie's father is dead. The leader of the group, Michael Corbin, asks Scalphunter's name.

Ke-Woh-No-Tay tells them he was originally was Brian Savage but he is now Ke-Woh-No-Tay. A doctor arrives to attend to the boy. The doctor says he will be fine by morning, just some smoke inhalation. Corbin asks if the boy said anything because he was supposed to be watching the bar because Maldrone's men had been hanging around. The boy was supposed to follow them to find where they hang out. The doctor said he won't be a party to killing but Corbin threatens him and the doctor spills the beans that the boy mentioned St. Sebastian's Church.

Corbin decides to tuck the doctor away to someplace 'safe' so he can't rat them out. Corbin then asks if Scalphunter will join them. Scalphunter's face says it all.

Outside the church a man is pulling Maggie down the street towards the church. They go through the front door and they meet Maldrone inside. The church is in an advanced state of disrepair and Maldrone thanks the man for finding her. The man says it is weird because Maggie approached HIM to find Maldrone. She agrees that she wanted to see Luigi and he asks if she is going away. Maggie reaches into her dress and states that Luigi will be one leaving as she produces a large knife and buries it in his shoulder.

Luigi's men rush towards her and pulls her off of their boss. Maggie keeps screaming that she will kill Luigi no matter what. Maldrone appears to be actually frightened as he stumbles backward, clutching his bleeding shoulder. He shrugs off aid as he instructs his men to tie and gag her into a pew. Just then the front door slams open and Scalphunter, Corbin, and his men stand in the entry of the church. Armed with clubs and knives, the crowd ruches into the church and a massive gang rumble erupts in the abandoned sanctuary.

Men are shot, stabbed, Scalphunter slams men's heads together and into the floor. Eventually Luigi pulls a pistol and opens fire on Scalphunter. Scalphunter dodges a bullet but breaks through the railing of the balcony and falls to the floor, his leg breaking through the rotting floor. Luigi advances slowly, laughing like a maniac. Scalphunter reaches for his tomahawk but Luigi shoots the weapon out of Scalphunter's reach. This was a poor choice as on his part as when it comes time to kill Scalphunter, Luigi is out of bullets. He panics and throws the useless pistol at Scalphunter and turns and runs up the nearby stairs.

Scalphunter pulls his leg from the hole and gives chase. Finally Luigi can go no higher as he is now in the bell tower. With no place to go Luigi clambers up onto the bell. Scalphunter kicks the bell causing Luigi to slide off the far side, lose his grip on the edge and eventually fall to his death several floors below.

Scalphunter goes to Maggie and holds her close, looking at the corpse of her abuser.

Statistics for this issue

Men Killed by Scalphunter - 2

Running Total - 114

Compared to Jonah Hex - 23rd appearance and Scalphunter has 114 vs Jonah's 92 (in WWT #33)

Scalps Taken - 0

Running Total - 20

Injuries - None.

Timeline -  This issue takes place during one full day.

This was a pretty good issue with Scalphunter taking part in a gang rumble in a church. It was somewhat tropeish with Luigi clambering over the bell in the tower and falling to his death. Maggie losing all control trying to kill Luigi was pretty intense and even showed Luigi as being not as tough as one would think a mafia leader would normally be.

Ads were nothing awesome:

Green Lantern vs the Triclyops Three-Eyed Keeper of the Cave and gets saved by kids with Twinkies

A Daisy rifle ad on the back cover

Several unimpressive in-house ads

Next Issue: Scalphunter sits for a portrait?!?!?

Weird Western Tales #60 "The Gangs of Old New York"

  Weird Western Tales #60 Oct 1979

"The Gangs of Old New York"

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

October, 1862. Manhattan, New York City, corner of South St & Water St. Scalphunter is walking in the street when he sees a man slap a woman across the face. The man, an Italian, accuses her of stealing from the money he forces her to beg for. Scalphunter quickly grabs the man wrist before he can strike again. One quick punch and the man is down on the brick street but he swiftly produces a switchblade and stands to confront the Kiowa warrior.

The woman shouts his name, Luigi Maldrone, begging him to stop but not before Scalphunter pulls his own, much larger knife. Luigi is pleading for mercy and Scalphunter lunges forward and Luigi screams. Scalphunter grabs the woman's hand and they flee. The police shortly arrive and find that Luigi's belt has been cut and his pants are around his ankles.

Down through back alleys the woman leads Scalphunter until they finally go through a door that leads to a basement tavern that her father runs. The woman, Maggie, tells her father than Luigi had beaten her and that Scalphunter saved her. Scalphunter demands to know who Maldrone is but the crowd in the bar grows quiet as the door opens and Maldrone walks in with three thugs. Maldrone demands that his wife, Maggie, come home with him and the Indian as well. 

The two thugs lunge forward with knives but Scalphunter grabs their wrists, hefts them skyward and throws them into some nearby tables. Maldrone pulls a pistol as the third thug rushes Ke-Woh-No-Tay. Scalphunter grabs the thug just as Maldrone fires, accidentally killing his own man. Maldrone and his men beat a hasty retreat. Maggie's father tells her to get Scalphunter out of there and she leads him out and through the back alleys. They make their way to the roof and the across the rooftops of New York, eventually climbing down a fire escape and into a window.

Maggie explains it is a safe house where her father and others make plans against Maldrone and the Camorra. She asks Scalphunter why he is in New York and why did he defend her against Maldrone. Scalphunter's memories rush back to his days on the plains, his search for his sister, befriending Bat Lash and Lincoln, and his conflict with Mademoiselle Magarit. He says nothing but approaches Maggie in the lamp light and gently takes her chin in his hand. She pulls back and explains that she is married to Maldron, without love, but still married. She explains Maldrone's ties to organized crime.

She outlines the history of the Camorra, men released from an Italian prison who swore vengeance and terrorized the area for the past thirty plus years. Eventually the government started rounding them up but several panicked and fled to America and took over the Italian part of New York. Luigi eventually saw her and threatened to kill her father unless she marry him. As she stands there looking at Scalphunter she leans in and kisses him for a long time.

We cut to a church, Maggie's father is by the altar, having been beaten by Maldrone and his men. Maldrone demands to know where Maggie and the Indian are. Her father whispers that he will finally tell and as Maldrone leans in, the old man spits in his eye. Maldrone, enraged, smashes him with a blackjack and then shoots him dead. Unknown to Maldrone and altar boy has seen the whole affair, and shortly the young man is relating the tale to some men in the bar.

Back in the safe house, Scalphunter lies asleep in the bed and Maggie stands by the open window. She contemplates her options, considering what her encounter with Scalphunter means to her. While he sleeps, she takes his hunting knife, climbs out the window, to do some hunting of her own.

Statistics for this issue

Men Killed by Scalphunter - 0

Running Total - 112

Compared to Jonah Hex - 22nd appearance and Scalphunter has 112 vs Jonah's 92 (in WWT #32)

Scalps Taken - 0

Running Total - 20

Injuries - None.

Timeline -  This issue takes place during one full day and into the night.

Very happy to see Conway back and putting us back into the ongoing timeline but there is no real reason for Scalphunter to be in New York other than... reasons?? Not a bad issue, but nothing really to set it apart from some of the other tales of Scalphunter in big cities, except this is the biggest of them all.

As far as ads in the issue, we had 

• Star Trek The Motion Picture
• 1st issue of Time Warp
• Wonder Woman Saves the Astronauts (and fruit pies)
• The 500th issue of Action Comics

Next Issue: Scalphunter handles a problem like Maggie (musical reference)

Weird Western Tales #58 "Weep the Widow"

 Weird Western Tales #58 August 1979

"Weep the Widow"

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

Southeastern Maryland, close to midnight in early September, 1862.

Scalphunter is crouching high in a tree, watching the three Union soldiers walking below him. They are drinking from jugs and are obviously drunk. They are discussing how the killed a Sergeant and deserted the Army. The men, Jake, Jeremiah, and Rudolph, are talking about how the money looked good when they signed up, but taking orders and getting shot at was not for them. They unexpectedly come upon two Confederate soldiers and they gun they down without warning.

Scalphunter readjusts his stance in the tree and a branch breaks. The soldiers stop and look around and figure it's an animal or their imagination. They then head out looking for a farmhouse to shack up in.

Some ways away, in a farmhouse, a mom, Mrs. Lansing, is telling her son Richard to put away a pistol. Richard is eleven and says that dad would have let him practice, but the mother said the boys dad is dead, killed by the war, and she won't lose another to guns. Just then the door swings inward and Scalphunter stands there, silhouetted in the full moon. Richard panics and moves to protect his mom and fires the pistol. The shot goes wide and Scalphunter reaches out and snatches the pistol from the boys hands. He picks the boy up and lays him on the table as Mrs. Lansing rushes towards him.

Scalphunter grabs her by the wrists and says he comes to warn them of danger, and it does not come from him. He is a Kiowa warrior and has no reason to harm them. If he had wanted to, he would have done so already. He had been traveling north from Virginia and came from the Battle of Bull Run. He saw the slaughter and there was no honor in it. Many men died and were maimed in the butchery and then he saw three men, cowards all, flee into the woods. Most of the other soldiers were boys, but these were men who should not have behaved like children. They should have been men but they were stopped by a sergeant and they turned on him and killed him with a bayonet. Scalphunter followed them, feeling they were a danger to others.

Less than an hour ago they were two miles from the cabin and as he finishes his tale, the three soldiers walk into the cabin with their rifles drawn. Richard screams and rushes at the men but his mother pulls him back. Scalphunter leaps at them like a mountain lion, slamming two of them out through the door into the night. He grabs one by the neck as the one on the cabin takes a shot. Scalphunter quickly dives onto the porch and kicks the man back into the cabin. As he stands an turns to the men outside he is unexpectedly struck from behind with a frying pan and goes unconscious.

Richard asks his mom why she did that. She says that Scalphunter would have killed the soldiers and she couldn't let that happen and remain a Christian woman. She says it's better to let the soldiers take what they want and be on their way. The soldiers approach her, leering and agreeing that is just what they are going to do.

Quite some time later, Scalphunter is thrust awake by a pan of cold water thrown in his face. He sees Richard tied, like a dog, to the table, Mrs. Lansing is on the floor, her clothes torn and she is sobbing. Scalphunter himself is tied to a rafter, bound at the wrists, his arms straight out. One of the soldiers asks Mrs. Lansing if it time they finished up, with the implication that they all have had their way with her. She sobs, begging them to leave, haven't they done enough. The ringleader says she and the Indian have to pay for thinking they're better than the soldiers, hell, they have feelings too.

Mrs. Lansing begs God to forgive them and they say they don't need God, they have guns and they have torches. Since she has been talking so much about God and Hell, maybe she would like a taste of real hellfire. With that, they set the cabin afire and as they leave they notice that Scalphunter is just staring at them. The soldiers leave laughing as the flames lick and eat away at everything in the cabin. The fire climbs up the to the rafters and starts burning Scalphunter's bonds, burning his skin along with it. Finally, with all the strength of a Kiowa warrior, Scalphunter breaks free and grabs the unconscious form of Mrs. Lansing and runs her outside.

He lays her safely on the ground and rushes back in to save Richard. He unties the boys rope (he is now tied to a post?!?!) and as they exit the cabin, Richard grabs the pistol off the table. As they stand safely outside, the cabin is engulfed in flames and collapses. Mrs. Lansing asks Scalphunter if he will find the men, hunt them like animals and kill them. He replies that after what they have done she actually asks (as if it would be a foregone conclusion). Richard says he is going along.

Mrs. Lansing begs him not to, it will start a cycle of revenge that will ultimately result in more and more death. It is all because of the war. Because of the war his dad is gone, because of the war the men came and if he goes, he will be part of the war. Scalphunter hands the pistol back to Richard and then silently walks away and leaves them in the darkness.

Morning dawns and Scalphunter walks away from three dead soldiers, scalps in his hand, dripping fresh blood.

Statistics for this issue

Men Killed by Scalphunter - 3

Running Total - 106

Compared to Jonah Hex - 20th appearance and Scalphunter has 106 vs Jonah's 84 (in WWT #30)

Scalps Taken - 3

Running Total - 17

Injuries - Hit on the head, knocked out and almost burned alive.

Timeline -  This issue covers one night and the following morning.

This was a pretty good issue, with Scalphunter living up to his moniker and finally unsheathing his blade.  Tanghal's inks are much more fluid than Dominguez's and we do some really awesome frames. I'm not so sure on Richard and his mom, they seemed pretty trite in their characterization, but this IS a comic from the 70's and we did need to keep the story moving along.

The ads were somewhat lackluster but there was one for a Jonah Hex digest.

Next Issue: The Weird returns as does Michael Fleisher. What else do you need to know?

Weird Western Tales #57 "The Correspondent"

Weird Western Tales #57 July 1979

"The Correspondent"

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

August 28, 1862, just southeast of Bull Run, Virginia. Night. Ke-Woh-No-Tay is tending a fire as two Union soldiers walk up behind him, whispering for him to not move. They say they want two things, Who is he and Why is here? He says that he is Ke-Woh-No-Tay, a Kiowa, and as for why he is here? He doesn't explain himself to children. He grabs a flaming stick and rushes one soldier. He grabs the rifle barrel and shoves the torch into the man's midsection. He then swings the rifle free of the man's grasp, clocking the other soldier upside the head with the butt of the rifle.

The first soldier fights to extinguish the flames on his coat and Scalphunter tells him to put sand on the burns to ease the pain. The man lives because Scalphunter has no reason to kill 'unwashed boys'. The soldier does just that, falls to the ground and then pulls a pistol from his coat. To that, Scalphunter puts up his hands and laughs 'like a man newly reborn'.

Twenty minutes later the two soldiers being Scalphunter into the Union camp outside of Bull Run. It is the Army of Virginia commanded by General John Pope and tomorrow will see the battle of 'Second Bull Run'. The two soldiers bring Scalphunter to the Captain's tent and they say they think he is a spy. The Captain agrees and asks Scalphunter for an explanation.... or else. Just then a man steps forward and says that no explanation is needed as HE will vouch for Scalphunter.

The man is Lemuel J. Broderick, reporter for the New York Herald. Broderick was in Washington and saw Scalphunter at a reception hosted by President Lincoln. With street cred like that, Scalphunter couldn't be a Rebel spy. The Captain then makes Scalphunter Broderick's responsibility so he acn wash his hands of the whole thing, and then walks off. Broderick then explains that he is a war correspondent, one of the best, if not THE best. The two men sit down to a very late meal and Broderick explains the pickle he is in. 

His editor expects good stories and lots of them because battles sell papers. The problem is that the battles are two few and far between, sometimes for days. Some correspondents make up battles, for who back home would really ever know. But Broderick has scruples, he only writes about what happens even if, well, even if he has to instigate the conflict himself. Now, since Scalphunter was out in the woods he would know where the Rebel patrols are so all that needs to happen is for Scalphunter to lead Broderick and the Captain and some men to ambush some Rebs and...

Scalphunter quickly refuses any part of that but Broderick just as quickly points out that even without Scalphunter the patrol will be arranged and maybe innocent Union soldiers will die because of it. Broderick lights up a cigar and walks away. Scalphunter reconsiders and tells Broderick that he will help.

An hour later the patrol is working their way through the forest, following Scalphunters lead. He is leading them to the Southeast but only Scalphunter knows that the Confederates are to the Northwest. After another thirty minutes Broderick is starting to smell a rat and confronts Scalphunter, grabbing him by the shoulder. Scalphunter quickly backhands Broderick, calling him a corpse scavenger. Two soldiers in the patrol rush Scalphunter and he sidesteps one, grabs him and flings him over a cliff. The second one he then grabs, hoisting him over his head and throws the soldier into the approaching four remaining soldiers in the patrol.

Broderick comes to from his slapdown and shoulder butts Scalphunter over the edge of the cliff where he strikes his head on a ledge and falls unconscious. The soldiers then pull up the first soldier and Broderick then leads the patrol to the Northwest. 

Some time passes before Scalphunter comes to and then starts following the trail that the patrol took. For almost an hour, Scalphunter fights back the effects of a concussion but eventually trips on some forest undergrowth landing perilously close to a rattle snake. The snake rears up, coiled to strike and Scalphunter slowly pulls his knife when suddenly a Confederate soldier appears and takes aim. Scalphunter has to chose and quickly throws the knife into the soldiers neck as the snake sinks his fangs into Scalphunters forearm.

Scalphunter retrieves his knife, cuts open the wound and sucks out the poison and collapses.

Morning dawns and Scalphunter awakens and locates Broderick and the patrol that has been wiped out. Broderick is mortally wounded as the patrol was ambushed by a Rebel patrol of at least twenty. He begs Scalphunter to help him, get him to medical help but Scalphunter states that all Broderick longed for was a story and now he has it. Broderick needs nothing else from him.

As Sclphunter turns and walks away we are left with Broderick bleeding to death, crying for mercy and help with his last breath.

Statistics for this issue

Men Killed by Scalphunter - 0, surprisingly

Running Total - 103

Compared to Jonah Hex - 19th appearance and Scalphunter has 103 vs Jonah's 84 (in WWT #29)

Scalps Taken - 0

Running Total - 14

Injuries - Snake bit and a concussion.

Timeline - At best, three days from the prior issue. This issue covers one night and the following morning.

Not a bad story, we get a unethical reporter who will happily let other folks die so he can get a story. The real danger to Scalphunter only comes from soldiers trying to shoot him or fight him and the one snake. Broderick really isn't a danger but more of an evil for Scalphunter to play off of. The ending is somewhat typical, the hero walks off as the bad guy dies, begging for mercy. It had been done a LOT and much better than this issue.

In the ads, Batman and Hostess cupcakes realize "Someone is Kidnapping the Great Chefs of Gotham City." An obvious nod to a similarly named film.

We get two sports ads, one with O.J. Simpson and the other with Pete Rose. Some great examples for the kids to emulate. 

Next Issue: Scalphunter and a Cabin in the Woods!

Weird Western Tales #56 "Fear is the Stalker"

 Weird Western Tales #56 June 1979

"Fear is the Stalker"

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

Norfolk, Virginia. August 1862.

It is a hot night on the docks and a Confederate soldier lights up his pipe. Silently Scalphunter rises from the water, climbs upon the dock and knocks out the soldier with a quick Kiowa chop to the neck. He takes the soldier's rifle and pistol then heads to a small shack with a light burning inside. As he slides up next to the window, he overhears five men talking inside.

They are talking about the 'damn Redskin' and it being all his fault that Captain Smith tried to slip past the blockade and then they wouldn't be stuck in Norfolks waiting to get paid. One man says that he heard the Indian was a spy for Lincoln. One sailor with a massive facial scar states that Paggat, the first mate, said the Captain told him the Indian was planted to get evidence of gun running. 'Scar' says the Indian was pretty smart, taking the place of the Indian they expected and they laying a trap for them. Another sailor starts saying if the Indian was so smart why did he get captured and why did he fall overboard and drown?

The second sailor starts poking Scar with a finger to which Scar takes umbrage and tells him to back off. A fight breaks out much to the joy of Scalphunter who now knows that Smith thinks he is dead. He hides among the crates on the dock as soldiers rush by to quell the violence. Scalphunter opens a crate of the rifles and finds a paper containing

CHAFWORTH

HOTEL GRISSOM
NORFOLK

At the Hotel Grissom, a distance from the waterfront, the ship doctor and Paggat are having a conversation. Paggat asks if Smith will live. The Doc says that if Smith survives the next few hours but the Doc isn't sure if Smith will WANT to live. Paggat tells the Doc to talk straight, he has a right to know. Doc replies what rights did MacLawson have when he was flogged. Paggat is disgusted because it was MacLawson that almost cut the Captain's arm off. The Doc says that he had to finish the job, at which point we hear Smith scream from the next room over the loss of his arm.

They rush in an Smith is ranting and railing. Doc explains that the cargo hook tore through the muscle and nerves, he had no choice because of the danger of infection. Smith swears he'll kill Doc before he passes out.

Scalphunter makes his way through the shadowy alleys, avoiding the street lamps and the Confederate soldiers on every corner. He leans out of an alley and motions towards two soldiers. They spot him and move closer, gasping as the tall Kiowa warrior, armed with a rifle steps from the shadows. As one soldier lunges with his bayonet, Scalphunter swings the rifle butt into the man's jaw and then kicks the other in the stomach. The man falls and Scalphunter shows him the paper from the crate. The soldier tells him the Hotel Grissom is a few blocks north and grabs for his rifle but Scalphunter quickly knocks him out and leaves.

At the Hotel Grissom there is a food delivery at the rear entrance when Scalphunter suddenly jumps from behind the delivery wagon. He knocks down the hotel manager, Charles Renshaw. Renshaw demands to know what Scalphunter wants but the only reply he gets is a silent smile.

In the hotel dining room Paggat and Doc are discussing Smith's fate and what a monster the Captain is. Doc is pondering if he should have helped the Captain and what kind of man has Doc become because of the association? Suddenly a man comes running out of the kitchen screaming. Doc and Paggat rush in and find Renshaw on a prep table, food everywhere and Renshaw is in shock. He is mumbling "Crenworth, warn Crenworth". Paggat says that is the man Smith was supposed to meet. Doc asks Renshaw about Crenworth who reveals that Crenworth is in room 708 and the Indian forced that information out of him. Paggat and Doc suddenly realize Scalphunter is alive and quickly leave the kitchen.

In Smith's room it is total darkness and the door slowly opens. Smith awakens, demanding to know who is there when a silhouette appears and Smith starts shouting that Doc isn't coming again with any knives. Scalphunter says the Doc isn't here, HE is. Smith starts panicking and grabs a pistol from the night stand and fires, but Scalphunter has already slammed the door shut.

Smith opens the door in time to see Scalphunter head through the exit to the stairwell, heading upwards. Smith fires again but is answered by only Kiowa laughter.

One floor below, Doc and Paggat have found that Crenshaw has been shot and the fear he told Scalphunter Smith's location. They suddenly hear a pistol shot and they give chase up the stairs.

On the roof, Scalphunter stands in the darkness near the edge clutching the rifle. Smith storms through the door and levels the pistol at Scalphunter but the rifle spits forth a bullet, knocking the pistol from Smith's hand. Smith reacts like a savage animal, throwing himself towards Scalphunter as the two men grapple on the roff's edge. Scalphunter flips Smith over his shoulder and over the edge. Smith manages to grab onto the lip with his remaining hand as Scalphunter draws a bead on him.

Just then Paggat emerges on the roof, pistol drawn. Scalphunter pivots, firing one shot through Paggats heart. Doc raises his hands, they exchange knowing nods and Scalphunter leaves. Smith, still clinging to the roof starts calling out to Doc, begging to be pulled up, his grip is fading. Doc stands in the doorway, slowly turns to descend the stairs as Smith's fingers loosen and the Captain beats Doc to the first floor.

Statistics for this issue

Men Killed by Scalphunter - 2, Paggat and Smith

Running Total - 103

Compared to Jonah Hex - 18th appearance and Scalphunter has 103 vs Jonah's 82

Scalps Taken - 0

Running Total - 14

Injuries - None.

Timeline - Immediately after the prior issue so maybe a few hours one night in August.

All in all, this one was pretty good a nice tidy wrap up to the Blockade runner saga. Smith's fate of losing an arm and eventually falling to his death was very Fleisher like and reminded me of several Jonah Hex stories in WWT. The title on the cover of the book obscured Smith's missing arm so it was a surprise to see him missing a limb, but still fighting like a maniac. Scalphunter toyed with him, luring him to the roof to finish him off. I also loved the angle that was used on the cover, heights! Crumbling shingles! Ocean!!

One problem was the Chafworth/Crenworth/Crenshaw naming mistake. The editor really fell down on his job with this point in the tale (Boo, Ross Andru...BOO)

I just had to chuckle with Smith screaming Wilson!! All I could think of was Tom Hanks.

The Hostess ad has Superman meeting the Orbitrons!, we get a house ad for Jonah Hex and WWT as well as an ad for DC Comics Presents Superman and Sgt Rock (that was a pretty good issue!) and a Hembeck comic with Two-Face. The back cover has a Spalding ad by Jack Davis with Rick Barry and Dr J.

Next Issue : Scalphunter encounters two types of snakes: a rattler and a journalist!

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.