Weird Western Tales #63 "The Trial of Bat Lash"

Weird Western Tales #63 Jan 1980

"The Trial of Bat Lash"

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

Night in the city. Scalphunter lies in wait in a narrow alley. A man has been following him for sometime across the fog enshrouded rain drenched streets. Knife drawn, he is ready like a wolf to turn the tables on his hunter. The man, unaware, passes by Scalphunter who silently springs from the alley and knocks the man down and into the street.

As they are fighting for control of the knife a horse and carriage come speeding down the street. At the last instant the man grabs Scalphunter and rolls both of them onto the sidewalk out of harms way. The danger past, the man asks why Scalphunter jumped him. The Indian's hand moves closer to the fallen knife and the man asks him to not do anything foolish. Scalphunter relents, seeing as how the man saved his life. He asks why he was being followed.

The man relates that he has been tracking Scalphunter for three weeks at the request of a mutual friend, Bat Lash. Seems like Bat Lash is being tried for the death of General Beauregard Smith that occurred when Lash and Scalphunter stole the Gatling Gun. Bat wanted this man to bring Scalphunter back to testify to his innocence because they are friends. At dawn Scalphunter and the man ride out of town.

They finally arrive in Union City, New Jersey to catch a train south. While on the train the man's southern accent raises the eyebrows of the conductor who points him out to some Union soldiers. An officer and a soldier ask the man and Scalphunter to accompany them to the baggage car to exchange some words. In the baggage car the man introduces himself as Willie Wilson, and while he is from the Carolinas, he has lived in New Hampshire for nine years. 

The officer doesn't believe him and accuses him of being a Rebel spy. The officer pulls a pistol and Scalphunter quickly disarms him and punches his lights out. The soldier quickly shoulders his rifle and gets off two shots but not before Scalphunter has slammed him across the boxcar and into an open door. They wrestle over the weapon and Scalphunter grabs the soldier by the coat and tosses him off the train and into a waiting river far below.

When the train finally pulls into Washington D.C. Wilson and Scalphunter have tied, gagged, and stuffed the Union officer into a mail pouch to be later discovered by two other soldiers. (Dib-Doggled?!?!?)

They leave the train and steal two horses from a 'poorly guarded Army stable' and head off to Richmond. While on the ride, Wilson says he hopes that Bat can stall the tribunal and Scalphunter asks how Bat was captured.

Wilson relates the tale that Bat was playing poker outside of Richmond when the subject of Yankee manufacturing came up. One man says it isn't factories that win wars and Bat gently disagreed, stating he knew of a Gatling Gun that could mow down dozens of soldiers with ease. Bat then excuses himself and leaves with two women. About an hour later several soldiers burst into the room and Bat escapes by leaping out a second story into into a horse drawn cab on the street below. The cabbie takes off but quickly overturns the cab and Bat is captured.

That was three weeks ago and Wilson was sent to find Scalphunter. The Indian asks how Wilson knows Bat and he replies that they are childhood friends. With that, Scalphunter gives him the side-eye.

Much later the moon rises  and the two men hunker down along a  river. On the other side is a Union camp just five miles from the Confederate line. If they were to circumnavigate the camp they would lose a day or two, the only way forward is across the river right where the camp is. They mount up and cross the river but once they are halfway across, Union soldiers open fire. Wilson's horse goes down and he scrambles back to the other side of the river. 

Scalphunter, however, is a trained warrior and he rides low on his horse, fooling the soldiers into thinking he has fallen off. As the horse explodes onto the bank, the warrior of the plains lets lose with a Kiowa battlecry and leaps from the horse. One soldier fires wildly, killing a fellow soldier. With knife and hatchet, Scalphunter fights madly beneath the moon, swiftly killing the six remaining soldiers. Wilson, having crossed the river, says they have to hurry before the shots bring more soldiers down on them.

Later that day, the two men ride into Richmond on the remaining horse. When they make their way to the courthouse Wilson quietly talks to the guard outside and the both of them are ushered inside, followed by two soldiers. Scalphunter mentions that Wilson had told the officer on the train that he was from the Carolinas but Bat is from Louisiana, so how could they be childhood friends. Wilson says that it is simple.... he lied. 

Wilson throws open the doors to the courtroom and Bat stands up, hand scuffed in front of him. He greets Scalphunter and he says "There he is, your Honors, THAT'S THE MAN WHO REALLY KILLED GENERAL BEAUREGARD SMITH!!!" and the soldiers quickly disarm the astonished Indian.

Statistics for this issue

Men Killed by Scalphunter - 6. The soldier thrown off the train probably survived the fall into the river. Folks always survive things like that. 

Running Total - 124

Compared to Jonah Hex - 24th appearance and Scalphunter has 124 vs Jonah's 96 (in WWT #35)

Scalps Taken - 0

Running Total - 20

Injuries - None.

Timeline -  This issue covers two days.

This one digs deep into continuity, referencing the Gatling Gun adventure and the plot to kill Lincoln. Not a bad issue with Scalphunter dispatching a half dozen soldiers, there is intrigue and deception and a double cross. Pretty typical stuff for an issue with Bat Lash in it. Some folks in the letters column had started bemoaning the reliance of Bat Lash in the book, saying it has almost turned into a buddy-cop movie with the two men being so different but forced to work together. Oddly enough, the buddy-cop craze didn't start until 1982 with 48 Hrs. So maybe Gerry Conway is the father of buddy-cop movies?!?!?

As far as ads, there is a two pager for Kenner Star Wars toys including a radio controlled R2D2. (If you haven't watched it, you should look up The Toys That Made Us episode on Star Wars toys, crazy crazy stuff) There are house ads for the Mystery books, Green Lantern, Legion of Superheroes, Superboy, Adventure (With Starman and Plastic Man) and a Hostess ad with Superman in "The Rescue" where he saves aliens and kids give them Twinkies.

Also the cover on this one is great, with the framing, the colors, the bug-eyed craze of the attacker (much different from what actually happened) but most of all, the joy of the dog!

Next Issue: Bat Lash has had a plan all along!!

Weird Western Tales #53 "Twilight of Treachery"

 Weird Western Tales #53 Mar 1979

"Twilight of Treachery"

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

July 1, 1862. Top of the unfinished Washington Monument in Washington, D.C.

 

Scalphunter is hanging from underneath the top platform, having just pulled Miss Lavender to her death. He has been enlisted by, and then double crossed by, Bat Lash in a plot to kill President Abraham Lincoln. A plan formed by Secretary of War Stanton. Scalphunter climbs back upon the platform and hears soldiers coming up the stairs. Three soldiers, two armed and one carrying a lantern have seen the bodies fall from the structure. As the round a turn near the top, Scalphunter hurls himself downward upon them. Crashing into the men a rifle is discharged but the bullet goes wild.

 

Scalphunter is grabbing and pummeling them. He flips over them, grabbing one and tossing him further down the stairs. One soldier finally gets ahold of Scalphunter from behind, choking him and tearing at his eyes. Scalphunter remembers the words of his teacher when he was with the Kiowas, a lesson about how dangerous a frightened man can be in a fight. Such a man cannot be beaten, he can only be killed. Sclaphunter reached behind himself, grabs the lantern and smashes it against the man face, setting him ablaze. The remaining soldiers try to give chase but Scalphunter has already made it out of the structure and into the darkness.

 

He finds his way through alleys and across rooftops until he arrives atop Stanton’s townhome. He hangs from the roof, listening in to where Bat Lash is demanding even more money from Stanton. Stanton understandably balks at the request but Lash says that Stanton has mucked things up by trying to kill Ke-Woh-No-Tey. Stanton tries to compose himself but Lash notices the shadow outside the window and puts a finger to his lips, signaling Scalphunter to remain quiet and wait.

 

Lash uses some fast talking to get Stanton to leave and Scalphunter climbs into the room. Lash apologizes for the pickle that he put Scalphunter in and gets a solid right hook to the jaw and some unrequested nap time for his troubles. When Lash comes to, Scalphunter says that he would have killed Lash for what he had done, but then remembered how this game was played when they saved the Gatling gun on their prior adventure.

 

Bat replies that he had no choice, if Scalphunter had hurt Stanton, they never would have learned who the other men in the plot are. He says that he never intended to take the money, he would never betray his country. Lash concocts a plan where he will keep an eye on Stanton and Scalphunter goes to be with Lincoln. While they are talking the butler is approaching the room with the bottle of wine that Lash had requested of Stanton earlier. As the butler enters, Scalphunter has already made his exit out the window.

 

Later, Lincoln is sitting in the Oval Office reading. Without looking up, he bids Scalphuner to enter, he has been expecting him.  Lincoln says that his eyesight is bad but his hearing is as good as ever, he heard Scalphunter when he slipped past the sentry. Scalphunter calmly explains the plot by Stanton and how Lash and he are working to foil it.

 

Lincoln sighs and says that he is not surprised. Lincoln states that for all of Stanton’s faults he is the best man to be Secretary of War, and that this treason is against Lincoln the man, not the Presidency. Lincoln says that Stanton still needs to be taught a lesson when this is over. Lincoln then calmly asks Scalphunter if he Indian wrestles.

 

The two men takes seats across a table and calmly place their elbows down, slowly grasping each other’s hand. Lincoln smiles as they each brace themselves and Lincoln quickly starts pressing downward. Ke-Who-No-Tey is surprised and almost drops his grasp. He fights back to the starting position. In the lantern lit room, the men stare at each other, not wavering, testing each other and testing themselves. This is not a fight to win but a test of trust. Suddenly, without a word, both men let go, a deep mutual respect now formed between them.

 

They stay together throughout the night, talking of each of their pasts and of the plan for tomorrow. Lincoln is slated to give an address the next day and he will proceed with it.

 

The next day Stanton arrives to escort Lincoln to the stage built on the Capitol steps for the address. Scalphunter stays behind in the shadows. As Lincoln steps outside, Stanton declines Lincoln’s offer to join him on the stage and leaves the Capitol. Scalphunter follows Stanton to a nearby wooded area where Bat Lash is tied up and guarded by two men.  Scalphunter suddenly jumps from a tree and hurls a knife into the chest of one of the men, a Union officer. The officer, his pistol already drawn, falls and shoots the other man who is smoking a cigar. As the other man falls, cigar in his hand falls upon the fuse, which quickly catches.

Scalphunter jumps to free Bat Lash but Bat tells him that the fuse leads to twenty sticks of dynamite, it's a fast burning fuse, it HAS to be stopped! Scalphunter takes off as only a Kiowa warrior can. The fuse snakes through the grass and up to the Capitol. Scalphunter continues to give chase to the dancing flame. The spark weaves it's way through the crowd towards the platform. Scalphunter pushes his way through the throng and then he dives under the platform upon which stands the President of the United States. He cuts the fuse with about a foot to spare.

Later Lincoln is talking to Scalphunter in a hushed whisper, stating he knows that Scalphunter and Bat Lash have saved his life but it must remain a secret. If it got out the scandal would tear the Union apart. The other two men, a general who graduated from West Point and  high society businessman from Boston are dead and Stanton has learned his lesson. Lincoln asks Scalphunter why Bat Lash isn't with them.

Scalphunter replies that Bat had business in Richmond, something about a card game and a woman. Scalphunter says he will miss Bat and Lincoln agrees but fears Richmond may prove to violent for a man such as Bat. Bothe men smile and nod.

Statistics for this issue

Men Killed by Scalphunter - two, the burned soldier and the General

Running Total - 101

Compared to Jonah Hex - 15th appearance and Scalphunter has 101 vs Jonah's 72

Scalps Taken - 0

Running Total - 14

Injuries - None

Timeline - Evening of July 1st and into July 2nd.

This one gets a lot of coverage regarding the bizarre cover (coverage/cover wink wink) when taken out of context. But, if a cover is to get you to buy a book, this one nails it. Lincoln is rather buff and I do enjoy the portrait of Washington in the corner with the What The look on his face.

Storywise, a really great tale. Lash and Scalphunter are a great pairing and the relationship between Ke-Woh-No-Tey and Lincoln was perfectly laid out.

I couldn't find anything about a speech that Lincoln gave on July 2nd so I'm assuming it was for Independence Day. Everything doesn't have to be historically accurate (Doesn't sound like me, I know.)

Next Issue: A secret mission from Lincoln, blockade runners, and the Trolley Problem.

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!!