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 #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 #52 "The Plot to Kill President Lincoln"

 Weird Western Tales #52 Feb 1979 

"The Plot to Kill President Lincoln"

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

Southern Virginia. June 29, 1862

Scalphunter is awakened from night slumber by a pistol being held to his head. The brandisher of said weapon stands in the moonlight, stating that he has followed Scalphunter out of Atlanta five weeks back. Suddenly the sleeping Indian attacks, grabbing the pistol, punching the man and then grabbing him, hurling them both into the river.

As they battle in the water, the man, Bat Lash, starts calling out to Scalphunter. Scalphunter stops his attack and then drags Bat Lash from the river. Once on shore, Scalphunter reaches to retrieve Lash's hat and Bat punches him on the jaw, returning the favor of the attack. Bat composes himself and launches into why he is there.

He was in Montgomery at a poker game with a Confederate officer. Lash was caught cheating and in a manner that becomes him, Lash shoots the chandelier, dropping it on the officer's head and then hotfoots it out the back into an alley. In the darkness he is approached by a woman with a pistol. Her name is Lavender and she knows of Lash's exploits stealing the Gatling Gun. She is working for President Lincoln and she has been sent to retrieve Lash and Ke-Woh-No-Tey and bring them to the White House.

Lash's pursuers eventually make it to the alley and he has to beat a hasty retreat and that brings us to the present time. Bat does ask if Scalphunter ever found his sister but Ke-Woh-No-Tey replies that his sister is dead. Lash asks if Scalphunter is up for a trip to Washington D.C. and Scalphunter just nods.

They continue riding through the night and most of the next day they end up on a hill overlooking White Oak Swamp, observing the beginning of a major battle breaking out. They realize that the quickest way to Washington is directly through the battlefield and without a further word Scalphunter spurs his mount with Bat Lash trying to keep up. The Battle of White Oak Swamp was a bloody affair with over 17,000 men killed, wounded, or missing and Lash and Scalphunter end up fighting their way through, kicking and shooting both Union and Confederate forces to get by.

They manage to get through with their skins intact and by nightfall they are on a supply raft heading up the Potomac. Morning breaks and they arrive in DC and they are stopped by Union guards. Just then Miss Lavender vouches for them and guides them through the guarded roads to the hotel where they will be staying. Lavender says she will come by in the evening to take them to the State Dinner where they will meet the Secretary of War. Lash says he thought they were to meet the President. She says they will but Secretary Stanton will explain everything.

That evening at the White House Bat Lash and Scalphunter are introduced to President and Mrs. Lincoln. The President says that he understands that Brian was adopted by the Kiowa, very brave people, and that he had dealt with a few in Illinois. Lincoln then asks why they are in Washington. Lash and Scalphunter exchange puzzled looks and Secretary Stanton intervenes saying that they are here at his request to thank them for their help in St Louis. 

Stanton and his two guests take their leave of Lincoln and go to a private room. Stanton said he wanted them to meet Lincoln to take his measure. Scalphunter states that Lincoln has a strong hand. Stanton agrees but that Lincoln is weak in war and that afterward he may be a traitor to the Republic. Lash notes that Stanton doesn't sound like a fan of Lincoln's and Stanton confesses that he brought the two men here to kill President Lincoln!

After a momentary pause, Lash asks how many other people are in on this plot. Stanton states it is Miss Lavender, several northern businessmen and a Union General. They are willing to pay generously. Lash smiles and asks how much are they thinking? Stanton offers five thousand, Lash counters with ten thousand (about 318k in 2025). Stanton agrees but Scalphunter says he will not be a part of it. Killing in battle is honorable but killing a chief in his lodge is the act of a coward. Lash turns and says he was afraid of that and knocks Scalphunter out with the butt of his pistol.

Scalphunter wakes up, his hands bound behind his back, atop the uncompleted Washington Monument. 

He is up there with a Union soldier and Miss Lavender. She says that this is the type a place a half-wit savage might climb up and then slip and fall to his death. Lavender tells the soldier to untie Scalphunter and then give him 'a taste of your bayonet'. The soldier does so but rushes at Scalphunter, who ducks and the soldier goes arse over teakettle over the edge to his death.

Miss Lavender pulls out her whip (which has a wrist loop)and starts whipping Scalphunter until he stumbles backwards over the edge. Satisfied with her work, she steps to the edge to look down on the dead Indian but she suddenly screams. Scalphunter caught a support beam and is just under the lip of the platform. He grabs her whip and yanks hard, hurtling Lavender over the edge to her death. Scalphunter climbs back onto the platform and swears to repay the debt he owes to Lincoln.

Statistics for this issue

Men Killed by Scalphunter - two, the soldier and Miss Lavender

Running Total - 99

Compared to Jonah Hex - 14th appearance and Scalphunter has 99 vs Jonah's 68

Scalps Taken - 0

Running Total - 14

Injuries - Knocked out and whipped

Timeline - Evening of June 29, all day and night of the 30th and then July 1st.

I enjoyed this one quite a bit. Conway, once again, has a believable running timeline and a consistent geography. He ties in several historical events (White Oak Swamp, unfinished Washington Monument, we also see the capitol being built) and refers back to prior issues. 

Bat Lash and Scalphunter are like a western buddy cop movie, with Lash being the loose cannon and Scalphunter playing the stoic partner with a set of morals. I enjoy it every time these two pair up and this looks like it will be really good story arc (but I already know that, wink wink.

The artwork is spot on with the panels of the two men exchanging looks saying a lot more that exposition boxes could ever convey.

Next Issue: The rumble in the stairwell, crosses and double crosses, the meeting of titans and the most iconic Scalphunter cover EVER!!

Jonah Hex #37 "Stonewall!"

Jonah Hex #37 June 1980
"Stonewall!"
Michael Fleisher, story - Dick Ayers & Danny Bulandi, art - Luis Dominguez, cover

Jonah Hex is standing, hat in hand, head bowed, before a large tombstone. Nearby, an old cemetery groundskeeper and his grandson look on. The young boy asks if that is really Jonah Hex. The groundskeeper affirms that it is and that Jonah stops by whenever he is in the area. The youngster asks who is buried there and the grandfather's reply is that it is the grave of "Stonewall" Jackson.

The old man tells the story of what a great general Stonewall was and how Hex was a good fighter in his own right, just being a lieutenant. Once, when Hex was on a scouting mission, he saw a Confederate being chased by five Union soldiers. The Confederate is shot off of his horse and then Jonah intervenes, hitting one Union soldier in the chest and another in the head. He continues to fire at the three remaining Union soldiers when his horse takes a tumble down the hillside and Jonah ends up on the ground in the open. He squeezes off three shots, killing the rest of the Unions troops.

The injured Confederate soldier comes forth to thank Jonah and introduces himself as General Stonewall Jackson. Stonewall invites Jonah back to camp where he outlines his mission. Stonewall has been ordered to take the Federal armory at Harper's Ferry (placing this part of the story in Sept. of 1862). Stonewall needs a man who can singlehandedly dynamite the bridge over the Potomac. Stonewall has heard that Jonah spent time with the Apache, so could he navigate a canoe?

Jonah takes on the mission and soon finds himself on a canoe traveling down some hellish rapids. Of course, this being a Jonah Hex comic and the financial straits that the Confederacy was suffering at the time, Jonah's canoe paddle breaks. Since the Confederacy was suffering all of those financial cutbacks, their map makers (low-paid that they were) didn't bother showing little extras on the map. Things like.....waterfalls.

Jonah survives the falls, retrieves his backpack, and continues on to the bridge. Once at the bridge, he pulls out some dynamite, tied it to the bridge and then lights it. I was completely unaware that the South had waterproof explosives and matches back in 1862!

Jonah is discovered by a Union patrol but he manages to knife one of them and blow up the rest when the bridge explodes. Jonah reports back to Stonewall where he is thanked for a job well done and then returns to his cavalry unit.

Seven months later, Stonewall Jackson is engaged at Chancellorsville where he is routing the Union forces. Night falls and Stonewall and his men get lost. Several miles away, Jonah Hex and his men are holding a position, on the lookout for Union forces that are attempting to flee Chancellorsville. In the darkness they see several riders approaching. Jonah has told his men to hold their fire until he shoots. Jonah takes the first shot, striking General Stonewall Jackson.

Back to present day, the groundskeeper explains to his grandson that Jonah Hex is the man responsible for the death of Stonewall Jackson. We see Jonah mount his horse and then ride off.

Statistics for this issue
Men killed by Jonah- 6 Unions soldiers shot, 1 stabbed, 1 blown up & Stonewall Jackson for a total of 9
Running Total - 270
Jonah's Injuries - Dumped over a waterfall, but that doesn't ever hurt Jonah.
Timeline - We have no idea when the opening takes place except that it is after 1866. It is probably during one of Jonah's trips to Virginia, encountering Quentin Turnbull. The flashback takes place in 1862 & 1863.

All in all, the story isn't bad, but there isn't much there. Jonah shoots some Union soldiers, goes over a waterfall, saves the day, and loses the war for the South. It is nice to see Jonah pre 1866, history is always nice to have on a character. Of course, there is no explanation of how Jonah rejoined the Confederacy after the Fort Charlotte Massacre.

Next Issue - A dying Indian's plea, an ancient map, a blind prospector and Jonah takes his shirt off!

Weird Western Tales #30 "The Trial

Weird Western Tales #30 Sept-Oct 1975
"The Trial"
Michael Fleisher, story - George Moliterini, art - Luis Domiguez, cover

WWT 30 is another pivot point in the Jonah Hex saga. First off, this was the month that DC started with a new format for its covers, trying to have a branded banner running across the top of the book. Back in the 70s, comics were sold in spinner racks and kids would just flip through the tops. Having this banner was a good idea in that it was easier & faster to find a DC book. It was a bad idea for a book like Weird Western Tales in that 40% of the cover was taken up with the title and the banner.

Next, this book continues with the aftermath of the Fort Charlotte massacre and has Jonah confront Turnbull for the first (& last?) time. Third, it starts the domino effect of bad or incorrect dates/timeline for Jonah. But enough of all that, let's get into the book.

The story starts in 1875 in Richmond, Virginia as Jonah rides into town, thinking that he needs to square things between himself and Quentin Turnbull. Jonah stops in a tavern and asks for whiskey. As he stands at the bar drinking a man at a nearby table shouts that he doesn't want to be in the same establishment with a Yankee turncoat. He continues ranting about how Jonah caused the death of many of his friends and he wants to have revenge on Jonah. The man's friend convinces him to leave the bar and eventually everyone leaves, including the owner. As the owner walks out the door, he tells Jonah that the whiskey is free but just bust the glass when he is done because the owner doesn't want real people to catch what Jonah has. Jonah broods for several minutes and finally shatters the mirror behind the bar with a well placed whiskey bottle.

Out at the Turnbull plantation, Solomon informs Turnbull that Jonah is in town and that "aftuh all the trials an' tribulations you done been through" Turnbull will get his revenge. Turnbull plans to get some men armed with shotguns but then gets a better idea, inspired by what Solomon said.

Later that night, as Jonah is resting outside his hotel, he is approached by a local lawman who informs Jonah that there is a matter of settlement for the broken mirror in the bar. As Jonah reaches in his pocket to pay for the damages, he is knocked out from behind. The "lawman" and the attacker bind him and haul him to a undisclosed barn.

When Jonah wakes up, he finds himself tied to a chair and in the middle of a 'courtroom' that has Quentin Turnbull as the judge and survivors of the Fort Charlotte massacre as the jury and witnesses. Jonah is being charged with treason against the Confederate States of America for betrayal of his comrades in January of 1863 (1). Man after man testifies about what they saw in Fort Charlotte and then they pronounce him guilty as charged.

Turnbull decrees that Jonah will have the buttons of his coat removed as a sign of disgrace, he will have a yellow stripe painted down his back as a sign of betrayal, and he will be shot at dawn by a firing squad. Turnbull then orders Jonah taken away because "the very sight of him makes me want to vomit". Jonah is lead away and as he is locked in a toolshed one of the guards kicks him in the stomach and throws Jonah inside.

In the toolshed, Jonah finds a pitchfork and manages to use the pitchfork to cut the rope holding his hands. He then lures the guard to the window in the door, grabbing the man by the throat and threatening to kill him unless he opens the door. The guard opens the door and Jonah slams the door into the guard, knocking him out. Jonah reaches to get the guards gun but just then Solomon arrives with a shotgun. As Solomon holds Jonah at gunpoint, Solomon says how much he regrets doing this. Jonah maintains his innocence but Turnbull arrives and takes the shotgun from Solomon.

Turnbull states that he is going to kill Jonah himself, but Solomon tries to reason with Turnbull about Jonah's innocence. As Turnbull gets ready to shoot, Jonah turns and grabs the pitchfork and uses it to deflect the shotgun. He then knocks the shotgun from Turnbull's hands. Turnbull states that Jonah should kill him now or else he will kill Jonah. Jonah wants to talk to Turnbull and he tosses the pitchfork aside. Turnbull rushes Jonah and as Jonah sidesteps out of the way, Turnbull trips and falls on the pitchfork. The last scene is of Jonah riding off as Solomon holds the dead body of Turnbull.

Statistics for this issue
Men killed by Jonah - none, not one.
Running Total - 84
Jonah's injuries - Knocked out once and gut kicked once.
Timeline - When this was published, the timeline wasn't a problem, but in 1980 Jonah Hex #37 had Jonah meeting Stonewall Jackson and ultimately shooting him. Stonewall was shot by his own troops in May of 1863. But in this issue, Turnbull states that the massacre happened in January 1863, 4 months prior to Jacksons death.
Later on, 1875 itself becomes a problem when Fleisher starts a running continuity and places some major events in Jonah's life in 1875-1876. 

Overall, this story wasn't as great as the previous one. The stabbing of Turnbull was overly melodramatic and this story seemed a poor resolution to the Fort Charlotte Massacre/Turnbull revenge subplots.

Next Week: Jonah Hex vs. Wolverine!!!