"King of Stolen Valley"

Kid Montana was created at Charlton by Paul Masulli and Rocke Mastroserio back in 1957. I guess Pat Morisi felt that 13 years on the trail should age a guy, because he gave "Kid" Montana graying temples for this story from 1970.

I often wonder why "Kid" is such a common gunfighter monniker. Even in reality, ther was Billy The Kid, The Cherokee Kid, The Apache Kid and The Sundance Kid.

Anyway, here's Kid Montana in "King of Stolen Valley" from Outlaws of the West #81, May 1970.

A Promise To Clarissa- Texas Rangers In Action #72

At the request of an anonymous reader (Who was that masked commenter?) I'm presenting the cover story of Texas Rangers In Action #72 "A Promise To Clarissa".

The cover was done by Jim Aparo. The interior art for this story is uncredited and the GCD doesn't shed any light on it either. Was it Aparo? The young Ranger's ears and eyes look like some of Aparo's work, but the level of finish is far below that of the cover art.

I had previously assumed the story was drawn by Aparo... but now, I'm not so sure.

Well, y'all can judge fer yerselves:

Outlaw Girl! - Cowboy Love #29

cover by Ted Galindo

Today, I'm handing over the reins to my lovely and talented wife, Amy (aka Spectergirl). If you've never visited her comics blogs such as As Told To Stan Lee , Spectergirl's Crypt of Post-Code Horror or Gay for Lois Lane , stop by and treat yourself.

Along with Westerns, Romance comics carried a huge share of the comics market in the years after WWII and before the Silver Age got rolling. And what better example could there be of both than Cowboy Love. Since romance comics are really Amy's forte, I asked her to stop by the ol' ranch and share a great Western Romance with us:

There is nothing that I like better than a good romance comic. Now, put a cowboy hat on the leading man and, well, I guess I'll eventually get over the fact that he isn't Zorro.

Anyway, Aaron, our manly host, has been kind enough to allow me an opportunity to present everyone the more tender and loving side of the Old West.

Before the Rawhide kid was the prettiest belle at the ball, there was Outlaw Girl, Amy Carter - A beautiful blonde with pouty lips and a price on her head. But, ask yourself this, is there any problem that love CAN'T solve?

Originally presented in Fawcett Publishing's Cowboy Love #2 in August of 1949 and later published under Charlton's Cowboy Love title in April of 1955, this story holds some very nice art and a fun story to boot.























It don't hurt none that your boyfriend packs a wallop either!

The Man Called Loco. Texas Rangers in Action #72

cover by Jim Aparo

In my neighborhood, if you go by Loco, you're probably a wannabe Mexican Gangsta. In Charlton comics, you're the dashing western hero from South of the Border.

Pete Morisi drew this little shoot-em-up. Morisi was an NYPD Police Officer who moonlighted as an artist for Charlton, among many others. He signed his work "PAM" to maintain his anonymity (although he didn't connect the lines in the "M", so it sort of looks like "PAIII". Morisi is probably best know today for his creation, Peter Cannon, Thunderbolt.

Here's The Man Called Loco in "Homecoming" from June, 1969.

Gold Key Comics!: LANCER No. 3, September 1969

My amigo, Mykal Banta, that blogger's blogger and all-around nice guy, has done it again. It being post another fantastic Western comic at his blog Gold Key Comics.




Gold Key Comics!: LANCER No. 3, September 1969

But wait, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that Mykal also had a great Western post at his companion blog The Charlton Story:



The Charlton Story: THE GUNFIGHTERS No. 53, June 1979

The Comic Reading Library: Billy the Kid #21

Thanks to "Anonymous" for pointing this out, and thanks to John K. at the Comics Reading Library for posting it. That's right, a whole, danged issue of Charlton's Billy The Kid

You can read it here:


The Comic Reading Library: Billy the Kid #21

or download it below:

Hoping you'll like this comics. All credits go to

Star-Crossed Lovers and a Scout in White Pants.

I'm not sure how practical the Chyenne Kid's weird little over-the-shoulder knife sheath is, but I bet it makes more sense than his white pants! That guy should just be filthy-looking from the waist down.

From Cheyenne Kid #21, March 1960 here's "The Hostage" with art by John Severin.