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 #59 "The Search"

 Weird Western Tales #59 Sept 1979

"The Search"

Michael Fleisher, story - Dick Ayers & Romeo Tanghal, art - Luis Dominguez, cover

Unknown date, unknown location. Scalphunter is astride his horse, being chased by three unknown men who have sworn vengeance for Scalphunter having killed and scalped their brother Billy for having tried to kill Scalphunter. They continue to shoot at him and eventually wound him. He continues to ride, racing his horse towards a massive cliff and, spurring his mount onward, man and horse plummet off the cliff and into a river below.

They both survive the plunge and make their way to the far shore. Scalphunter, wounded and tired, seeks shelter in a nearby cave. He slaps the horse on the rump, sending him away to make tracks to confuse the men who will eventually track him once they find a way across the river. He hides in the cave, blocking the entrance with a cottonwood branch and falls asleep. Unknown to the warrior and old ragged man emerges from within the cave and stands over the prone sleeping Indian. 

Some time later, Frank and his two brothers find the horses tracks and take off in pursuit.

Hours later Scalphunter wakes up to find the old man tending a fire and making stew. He has tended to Scalphunters wounds. The man said he was in the cave waiting for Lucky. The stew is pretty good because Lucky scarfs it down and he has been hiding in the cave waiting for Lucky to come back. The old man continues to talk about waiting for his partner who wandered off. Lucky and he came out to look for gold and never found any. Lucky didn't much care for gold and one day went out to look for game and wandered off, never coming back. The man, Jake Link, is tired of waiting and when Scalphunter came into the cave, Jake thought that maybe this Indian might help him find Lucky.

Sclphunter agrees to do it in repayment for his wounds tended and soon they find Scalphunter's horse. They load up Jake's horse and his mule and head out. They eventually come upon a canyon and Jake is sure Lucky went that way. Scalphunter says they must not go there because he can see it is an Apache burial ground. Jake says he is going in anyway and Scalphunter follows in an attempt to protect Jake, but Apache warriors are already watching them from the cliffs above.

Once in the canyon Jake dismounts and starts shouting for Lucky. Scalphunter tries to quiet him when an arrow suddenly strikes Jake in the shoulder. Jake tells Scalphunter to grab the rifle and shoot them but Scalphunter knows the sound of gunfire would bring dozens or hundreds more. He does grab the rifle and hold it aloft, speaking to the Apache loudly. Jake asks for a translation and Scalphunter says he told them an Apache warrior is like a withered old woman and other trash talk of the kind.

Of course, it has the intended effect and the three Apache ride down to attack the Kiowa warrior. The three are quickly dispatched with knife and tomahawk. It is unclear if he takes their scalps, but I'll say Yes. Jake pulls the arrow out of his shoulder, breaks it and climbs up on his horse to leave. Scalphunter asks how long Jakes friend has been gone and he says it has been fifteen, maybe twenty years.

Up on the cliff, watching with binoculars are Jim, Frank and the other brother. As one of them takes aim, the other stops him, noting the prospecting equipment on the mule. Smelling gold, they decide it is in their best interests to follow them and then ambush them.

Some time later, with night falling, Jake and Scalphunter arrive at an old stone well. Jake says they will find Lucky, he has wandered off before. They approach the well whose side has collapsed. Jake looks over the edge and starts moaning that he has found Lucky!

The outlaw brothers are hiding nearby and hear Jake shouting but can't make out his exclamations. Scalphunter lowers Jake into the well and once at the bottom, Jake starts crying that it is Lucky, after all these years. The brothers arrive and tell Scalphunter to pull up the old man. Jake climbs up over the edge with a wrapped bundle. The brothers demand to see the treasure that was secreted in the well and Jake unrolls the bundle to display the skeleton of Lucky....his dog. 

The brothers are distracted and confused because they expected gold. That is all the chance that Scalphunter requires. His knife flies through the air, killing the first brother. The second is sent to his reward with the tomahawk. The third brother drops his rifle and jumps on his horse to take flight but Scalphunter rushes to his mount, grabs a bow and arrow and plunges the shaft into the back of the fleeing man.

Jake is kneeling by the skeleton of his companion, crying asking why Lucky wandered off. A sand storm starts whipping up and Jake starts hearing Lucky talking to him.... LUCKY IS ALIVE! Jake runs off into the darkness and sand with Scalphunter calling for him to come back. Jake starts screaming for Lucky to keep barking so the two can be reunited but he finally succumbs to the wind and the sand.

The next morning Scalphunter finds Jake, face down, half buried in the sand. He digs a grave for Jake and Lucky to share, marks it with Jakes pickaxe and rides off into the morning sun.

Statistics for this issue

Men Killed by Scalphunter - 6

Running Total - 112

Compared to Jonah Hex - 21st appearance and Scalphunter has 112 vs Jonah's 90 (in WWT #31)

Scalps Taken - 3

Running Total - 20

Injuries - Shot twice.

Timeline -  This issue takes place during one full day and the next morning.

So this was obviously a story that was penned prior to Gerry Conway taking over and they must have been in a deadline crunch. Conway was writing a LOT in the late 70's and I'm not surprised that a western book would have fallen on the back burner. In 1979 alone he was working on at least 10 books a month!

I really liked this one, falling back onto the Weird in Weird Western Tales and the art by Tanghal really sold it, especially the crazy darkened gaze of Jake as he was rambling on and on about Lucky. He really had a look that would have been at home in any of the DC 'scary' books. While the tale didn't fit the current ongoing timeline of Conway's, it was a nice break. 

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Next Issue: Scalphunter vs The Gangs of New York!!