Gunsmoke Western
Encyclopedia
Gunsmoke Western was an American
comic book
series published initially by Atlas Comics
, the 1950s forerunner of Marvel Comics
, and then into the 1960s by Marvel. A Western
anthology that ran 46 issues, it featured early stories of the Marvel Old West heroes Kid Colt
and the Two-Gun Kid
, and work by such artists as Jack Kirby
, John Severin
, Joe Maneely
, Doug Wildey
, and many others.
, the 1950s forerunner of Marvel Comics
. It ran 46 issues, taking over the numbering of a previous series, Western Tales of Black Rider
, beginning with #32 (cover-dated Dec. 1955). The series, which fell under the Marvel Comics banner with issue #65 (July 1961), ended with #77 (July 1963).
The publication had premiered in 1948 as the superhero
comic All Winners, a.k.a. All-Winners Comics, vol. 2, then after one issue immediately became All Western Winners, a.k.a. All-Western Winners, for three issues; Western Winners for three issues; Black Rider for issues #8-27; and Western Tales of Black Rider for #28-31. The series was one of several Atlas Westerns that included Frontier Western; Western Gunfighters
; and Western Thrillers and two successor series that took over its numbering, Cowboy Action and Quick-Trigger Western.
With the change to Gunsmoke Western, the series began starring Kid Colt
, drawn by its longtime artist Jack Keller
. The lesser-known Atlas frontiersman character Billy Bucksin served as a backup feature for three issues, with anthological Western
stories in-between. Issue #35 (June 1956) introduced the backup feature "Wyatt Earp", starring a version of the real-life lawman
, for two issues before back-up features were dropped in favor of Kid Colt plus standalone stories. The Earp feature returned in issue #43 (Nov. 1957), running as backup (and in one instance as the lead feature) through #58 (May 1960).
Clay Harder, introduced in 1948 as the first of Marvel's two Western heroes called the Two-Gun Kid
, was re-imainged and reintroduced in Gunsmoke Western #57 (March 1960), in a feature by writer-editor Stan Lee
and artist John Severin
. The feature ran through #63 (March 1961). The second Two-Gun Kid, Matt Hawk, would be introduced in Two-Gun Kid #60 (March 1961), which retcon
ned that Clay Harder was merely a dime novel
fictional character who inspired Hawk to become a masked Western crimefighter.
Occasional stories starred the Ringo Kid
, the Gunsmoke Kid, and others.
All cover art through issue #50 (Jan. 1959) was by either Severin or Joe Maneely
, except for one each by Russ Heath
, Sol Brodsky
, and Jack Davis
. Afterward, all covers were penciled by Jack Kirby
save for one each by Davis and Maneely. A wide range of artists drew the interior stories, with multiples drawn by artists including Keller, Kirby, Severin, Dick Ayers
, Gene Colan
, Don Heck
, and Al Williamson
, and at least two each by Matt Baker, Mort Drucker, Angelo Torres
, George Tuska
, and Doug Wildey
, among others. Spider-Man
co-creator Steve Ditko
, outside his normal realm of superhero
and fantasy
tales, drew one Gunsmoke Western story, "The Escape of Yancy Younger", written by Lee, in issue #66 (Sept. 1961).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
series published initially by Atlas Comics
Atlas Comics (1950s)
Atlas Comics is the term used to describe the 1950s comic book publishing company that would evolve into Marvel Comics. Magazine and paperback novel publisher Martin Goodman, whose business strategy involved having a multitude of corporate entities, used Atlas as the umbrella name for his comic...
, the 1950s forerunner of Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
, and then into the 1960s by Marvel. A Western
Western comics
Western comics is a comics genre usually depicting the American Old West frontier and typically set during the late nineteenth century...
anthology that ran 46 issues, it featured early stories of the Marvel Old West heroes Kid Colt
Kid Colt
Kid Colt is the name of two fictional characters in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The first is a cowboy whose adventures have taken place in numerous western themed comic book series published by Marvel...
and the Two-Gun Kid
Two-Gun Kid
The Two-Gun Kid is a fictional character, a cowboy gunslinger in the Wild West of Marvel Comics' shared universe, the Marvel Universe.-Publication history:...
, and work by such artists as Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby , born Jacob Kurtzberg, was an American comic book artist, writer and editor regarded by historians and fans as one of the major innovators and most influential creators in the comic book medium....
, John Severin
John Severin
John Powers Severin is an American comic book artist noted for his distinctive work with EC Comics, primarily on the war comics Two-Fisted Tales and Frontline Combat; for Marvel Comics, primarily on its war and Western comics; and for the satiric magazine Cracked...
, Joe Maneely
Joe Maneely
Joseph "Joe" Maneely is an American comic book artist best known for his work at Marvel Comics' 1950s predecessor, Atlas Comics, where he co-created the Marvel characters the Black Knight, the Ringo Kid, the Yellow Claw, and Jimmy Woo.An exquisite draftsman whose delicate yet solid, fine-line...
, Doug Wildey
Doug Wildey
Douglas S. Wildey was a cartoonist and comic book artist best known for his co-creation of the 1964 animated television series, Jonny Quest for Hanna-Barbera Productions.-Early life and career:...
, and many others.
Publication history
Gunsmoke Western was published by Atlas ComicsAtlas Comics (1950s)
Atlas Comics is the term used to describe the 1950s comic book publishing company that would evolve into Marvel Comics. Magazine and paperback novel publisher Martin Goodman, whose business strategy involved having a multitude of corporate entities, used Atlas as the umbrella name for his comic...
, the 1950s forerunner of Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
. It ran 46 issues, taking over the numbering of a previous series, Western Tales of Black Rider
Black Rider (comics)
The Black Rider is a fictional Western character in comic books published by Marvel Comics. He first appeared in All-Western Winners #2 , from the company's 1940s forerunner, Timely Comics.-Publication history:...
, beginning with #32 (cover-dated Dec. 1955). The series, which fell under the Marvel Comics banner with issue #65 (July 1961), ended with #77 (July 1963).
The publication had premiered in 1948 as the superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
comic All Winners, a.k.a. All-Winners Comics, vol. 2, then after one issue immediately became All Western Winners, a.k.a. All-Western Winners, for three issues; Western Winners for three issues; Black Rider for issues #8-27; and Western Tales of Black Rider for #28-31. The series was one of several Atlas Westerns that included Frontier Western; Western Gunfighters
Western Gunfighters
Western Gunfighters is the name of two American Western omnibus comic book series published by Marvel Comics and its 1950s forerunner, Atlas Comics....
; and Western Thrillers and two successor series that took over its numbering, Cowboy Action and Quick-Trigger Western.
With the change to Gunsmoke Western, the series began starring Kid Colt
Kid Colt
Kid Colt is the name of two fictional characters in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The first is a cowboy whose adventures have taken place in numerous western themed comic book series published by Marvel...
, drawn by its longtime artist Jack Keller
Jack Keller (comics)
Jack R. Keller was an American comic book artist best known for his 1950s and '60s work on the Marvel Comics Western character Kid Colt, and for his later hot rod and racecar series at Charlton Comics.-Early life and career:...
. The lesser-known Atlas frontiersman character Billy Bucksin served as a backup feature for three issues, with anthological Western
Western comics
Western comics is a comics genre usually depicting the American Old West frontier and typically set during the late nineteenth century...
stories in-between. Issue #35 (June 1956) introduced the backup feature "Wyatt Earp", starring a version of the real-life lawman
Wyatt Earp
Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp was an American gambler, investor, and law enforcement officer who served in several Western frontier towns. He was also at different times a farmer, teamster, bouncer, saloon-keeper, miner and boxing referee. However, he was never a drover or cowboy. He is most well known...
, for two issues before back-up features were dropped in favor of Kid Colt plus standalone stories. The Earp feature returned in issue #43 (Nov. 1957), running as backup (and in one instance as the lead feature) through #58 (May 1960).
Clay Harder, introduced in 1948 as the first of Marvel's two Western heroes called the Two-Gun Kid
Two-Gun Kid
The Two-Gun Kid is a fictional character, a cowboy gunslinger in the Wild West of Marvel Comics' shared universe, the Marvel Universe.-Publication history:...
, was re-imainged and reintroduced in Gunsmoke Western #57 (March 1960), in a feature by writer-editor Stan Lee
Stan Lee
Stan Lee is an American comic book writer, editor, actor, producer, publisher, television personality, and the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics....
and artist John Severin
John Severin
John Powers Severin is an American comic book artist noted for his distinctive work with EC Comics, primarily on the war comics Two-Fisted Tales and Frontline Combat; for Marvel Comics, primarily on its war and Western comics; and for the satiric magazine Cracked...
. The feature ran through #63 (March 1961). The second Two-Gun Kid, Matt Hawk, would be introduced in Two-Gun Kid #60 (March 1961), which retcon
Retcon
Retroactive continuity is the alteration of previously established facts in a fictional work. Retcons are done for many reasons, including the accommodation of sequels or further derivative works in a series, wherein newer authors or creators want to revise the in-story history to allow a course...
ned that Clay Harder was merely a dime novel
Dime novel
Dime novel, though it has a specific meaning, has also become a catch-all term for several different forms of late 19th-century and early 20th-century U.S...
fictional character who inspired Hawk to become a masked Western crimefighter.
Occasional stories starred the Ringo Kid
Ringo Kid
The Ringo Kid is a fictional Western hero in the Marvel Comics' universe, whose comic book series was originally released by the company's 1950s predecessor, Atlas Comics...
, the Gunsmoke Kid, and others.
All cover art through issue #50 (Jan. 1959) was by either Severin or Joe Maneely
Joe Maneely
Joseph "Joe" Maneely is an American comic book artist best known for his work at Marvel Comics' 1950s predecessor, Atlas Comics, where he co-created the Marvel characters the Black Knight, the Ringo Kid, the Yellow Claw, and Jimmy Woo.An exquisite draftsman whose delicate yet solid, fine-line...
, except for one each by Russ Heath
Russ Heath
Russell Heath, Jr. is an American artist best known for his comic book work — particularly his DC Comics war stories for several decades and his 1960s art for Playboy magazine's Little Annie Fanny featurettes — and for his commercial art, two pieces of which, depicting Roman and...
, Sol Brodsky
Sol Brodsky
Sol Brodsky was an American comic book artist who, as Marvel Comics' Silver Age production manager, was one of the key architects of the small company's expansion to a major pop culture conglomerate. He later rose to vice president, operations and vice president, special projects...
, and Jack Davis
Jack Davis (cartoonist)
Jack Davis is an American cartoonist and illustrator, known for his advertising art, magazine covers, film posters, record album art and numerous comic book stories...
. Afterward, all covers were penciled by Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby , born Jacob Kurtzberg, was an American comic book artist, writer and editor regarded by historians and fans as one of the major innovators and most influential creators in the comic book medium....
save for one each by Davis and Maneely. A wide range of artists drew the interior stories, with multiples drawn by artists including Keller, Kirby, Severin, Dick Ayers
Dick Ayers
Richard "Dick" Ayers is an American comic book artist and cartoonist best known for his work as one of Jack Kirby's inkers during the late-1950s and 1960s period known as the Silver Age of Comics, including on some of the earliest issues of Marvel Comics' The Fantastic Four, and as the signature...
, Gene Colan
Gene Colan
Eugene Jules "Gene" Colan was an American comic book artist best known for his work for Marvel Comics, where his signature titles include the superhero series, Daredevil, the cult-hit satiric series Howard the Duck, and The Tomb of Dracula, considered one of comics' classic horror series...
, Don Heck
Don Heck
Don Heck was an American comic book artist best known for co-creating the Marvel Comics character Iron Man, and for his long run penciling the Marvel superhero-team series The Avengers during the 1960s Silver Age of comic books.-Early life and career:Born in the Jamaica neighborhood of Queens, New...
, and Al Williamson
Al Williamson
Alfonso "Al" Williamson was an American cartoonist, comic book artist and illustrator specializing in adventure, Western and science-fiction/fantasy...
, and at least two each by Matt Baker, Mort Drucker, Angelo Torres
Angelo Torres
Angelo Torres is an American cartoonist and caricaturist whose work has appeared in many comic books, as well as a long-running regular slot in Mad magazine, typically film or television parodies.-Biography:...
, George Tuska
George Tuska
George Tuska , who early in his career used a variety of pen names including Carl Larson, was an American comic book and newspaper comic strip artist best known for his 1940s work on various Captain Marvel titles and the crime fiction series Crime Does Not Pay, for and his 1960s work illustrating...
, and Doug Wildey
Doug Wildey
Douglas S. Wildey was a cartoonist and comic book artist best known for his co-creation of the 1964 animated television series, Jonny Quest for Hanna-Barbera Productions.-Early life and career:...
, among others. Spider-Man
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
co-creator Steve Ditko
Steve Ditko
Stephen J. "Steve" Ditko is an American comic book artist and writer best known as the artist co-creator, with Stan Lee, of the Marvel Comics heroes Spider-Man and Doctor Strange....
, outside his normal realm of superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
and fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
tales, drew one Gunsmoke Western story, "The Escape of Yancy Younger", written by Lee, in issue #66 (Sept. 1961).
External links
- Gunsmoke Western at AtlasTales.com
- Gunsmoke Western at The Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators