Encyclopedia of Weird Westerns
Page 16
“FRONTIER JUSTICE” [#8; SFW]
First publication: 1987; Story: Rik Levins, Bill Black; Art: Rik Levins, Bill Black, Dan Davis, John Dell.
As the Haunted Horseman tells Nightveil the story of his origin, she comes to realize the Cloaks of Darkness worn by each are identical. But the two Cloaks cannot exist in the same time and space and when Nightveil touches the Haunted Horseman he dies.
The Latigo Kid's showdown with Kronon causes the Kid to confront his own future destiny.
“ARE YOU READY FOR BUCKAROO BETTY?” [#20; SFW]
First publication: 1989; Story: Bill Black, Rick Levins; Art: Bill Marimon, The All-Inker's Squad.
She-Cat persuades Dr. Jimenez to let her travel back in time to visit her Kiowa friends in Apache, Texas. She-Cat meets Sheriff Betty Bates alias Buckaroo Betty, who tells her the story of a Kiowa massacre by the cavalry.
“NIGHTMARE!” [#22; WW]
First publication: 1989; Story: Richard “The Count” Rome; Art: Richard Rome, Mark Propst, Bill Black.
The Black Shroud is the cause of terrifying nightmares for Joan Wayne as she imagines herself fighting old friends. In a nightmare set in the Old West, she is shot by Colt.
“YOU ONLY DIE TWICE” [#28; WW]
First publication: 1990; Story: Bill Black; Art: Norman Hardy Jr., Mark Propst, Marke Heike.
Brother and sister Roger and Laura Wright travel back in time to try to prevent the death of the Haunted Horseman and to fully restore Laura's powers. The Haunted Horseman is lured to Skull Rock by the kidnapping of Dr. Martin Stone; Nightveil tells him he will die if his Cloak of Darkness touches her Cloak.
The Cloak chases after Rex Fury and kills him. This event leads to the ghost of Rex Fury becoming the supernatural Haunter as Laura's power is restored.
“TRIAL OF THE BLACK PHANTOM” [#64-68; WW]
Story: Nick Northey, Mark G. Heike, Bill Black; Art: Nick Northey, Nar Castro, Sonny Delos Santos, Chris Allen.
When the Black Phantom is hanged by outlaws, she is rescued from Hell by the Great She-Spirit of the Sky who grants the Black Phantom her powers and returns her to Earth.
Fiction Clemens
[Comic book; SFW]
First issue: May 2008; Creator: Josh Wagner; Publisher: Ape Entertainment.
Surreal sci-fi Western featuring gunslinger Fiction Clemens and Tiberius Kitchens, caught in an alien conspiracy by the Clockmaker to bring the Old West into the Space Age.
Fire & Brimstone
[RPG book; WW]
Author: John “Salman” Goff; First publication: 1998; Setting: Deadlands: The Weird West; Publisher: Pinnacle Entertainment Group.
Sourcebook for the blessed characters of the Weird West with details of miracles, divine interventions, holy relics and enemies of the faith. Includes the adventure “The Mission.”
Firefly
(2002) [TV series; SW]
Premiere: September 20, 2002; Main Cast: Nathan Fillion as Captain Malcolm “Mal” Reynolds, Gina Torres as Zoë Washburne, Adam Baldwin as Jayne Cobb, Alan Tudyk as Hoban “Wash” Washburne, Summer Glau as River Tam, Ron Glass as Shepherd Book, Jewel Staite as Kaylee Frye, Morena Baccarin as Inara Serra; Gina Torres; Creator: Joss Whedon; Executive Producers: Joss Whedon, Tim Minear; Story: Joss Whedon, Tim Minear, Ben Edlund, Jose Molina; Directors: Joss Whedon, Tim Minear, Vern Gillum; 1 × 90 min., 14 × 45 min.; Mutant Enemy, 20th Century-Fox Television; Color.
This science fiction series from Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon features a heavy Western influence including saloon fights, gunfights, covered wagons and herds of cattle transported on the Firefly supply ship.
Season One [episodes with a
Space Western theme]
“SERENITY PILOT”
Air date: December 20, 2002; Story-Director: Joss Whedon.
The feature-length pilot introduces the characters and sets the stage for the series. It is the year 2517 AD and The Alliance controls central planetary systems. Captain Malcolm Reynolds is a veteran of the war against the Alliance. Reynolds and the crew of the Firefly-class cargo ship Serenity eke out a living outside of Alliance control.
Fox Network originally rejected the pilot episode in favor of “The Train Job” and finally broadcast the pilot following the cancellation of the series.
“THE TRAIN JOB” (1:01)
Air date: September 20, 2002; Story: Joss Whedon, Tim Minear; Director: Joss Whedon.
Hired to rob a train, Reynolds and his crew discover they've been tricked into stealing essential medical supplies intended for the local mining town of Paradiso. This episode begins with a Western-style saloon fight with a science fiction twist.
“OUR MRS. REYNOLDS” (1:03)
Air date: October 4, 2002; Story: Joss Whedon; Director: Vondie Curtis Hall.
Reynolds finds himself obligated to a gift of a wife named Saffron (Christina Hendricks) as payment for a shipment of livestock. But his wife is leading the ship and crew into a trap.
“JAVNESTOWN” (1:04)
Air date: October 18, 2002; Story: Ben Edlund; Director: Marita Grabiak.
To his amazement, Jayne Cobb discovers he's become a local folk hero following his last visit to the settlement of Canton.
“SAFE” (1:07)
Air date: November 8, 2002; Story: Drew Z. Greenberg; Director: Michael Grossman.
Delivering a herd of cattle to a Western-style town on an outlying planet, Reynolds and his crew find themselves in the middle of a shootout that leaves Shepherd critically wounded. Meanwhile River and her brother Dr. Simon Tam (Sean Maher) are kidnapped and River is accused of being a witch by the townspeople, who decide to burn her at the stake.
“OBJECTS IN SPACE” (1:10)
Air date: December 13, 2002; Story-Director: Joss Whedon.
Bounty hunter Jubal Early (Richard Brooks) seeks River Tam aboard Serenity.
“HEART OF GOLD” (1:12)
Air date: July 19, 2003 (Fox Latin America); Story: Brett Matthews; Director: Thomas J. Wright.
Reynolds and the crew of Serenity respond to a plea for help from the owner (Melinda Clarke) of a bordello on the moon of Deadwood. The bordello is under attack from Rance Burgess (Frederic Lehne), who claims the prostitute Petaline (Tracy Leah Ryan) is pregnant with his son.
See: Serenity
Firehair
[Comic book character]
First appearance: Showcase #85 (September 1969); Creator: Joe Kubert; Publisher: DC Comics.
After the Blackfoot Indian tribe attacks a wagon train on the Great Western Plains, they decide to raise the one survivor as one of their own. Chief Grey Cloud adopts the white infant boy with flaming red hair and introduces him to the culture of the Blackfoot.
Firehair was introduced in a three-issue mini-series in DC Comics' Showcase title.
“THE SHAMAN” [WW]
First publication: Showcase #87 (December 1969); Art: Joe Kubert; Publisher: DC Comics.
Recovering from an encounter with a cougar, Firehair has various mystical visions as a shaman nurses him back to health.
The First Bad Man
(1955) [Animated theatrical short; WW]
Premiere: September 30, 1955; Story: Heck Allen; Animation: Walter Clinton, Michael Lah, Ray Patterson, Grant Simmons; Producer: Fred Quimby; Director; Tex Avery; 6 min.; MGM; Color.
Tex Avery–animated short about dinosaur-riding Texas cowboys, one million years B.C. style, and the first outlaw Dinosaur Dan.
A Fist Full o' Dead Guys
[RPG book; WW]
Editor: Shane Lacy Hensley; First publication: 1999; Deadlands anthology with No Name #1; Publisher: Pinnacle Entertainment Group.
Anthology title includes “Hate: Part One” by Shane Lacy Hensley, “Reborn on the Bayou” by Matt Forbeck, “Homecoming” by John R. Hopler, “The Hex Files” by Don DeBrandt, “The Taste” by Clay & Susan Griffith, “A Resurrection, Three Hangings, and an Apache Arrow” by Kevin Ross, “The Drive” by T.G. Shepherd, “Let the River of Death
Wash Over Me” by Richard E. Dansky, “Behind Enemy Lines” by Jeff Mariotte, “Comes the Storm” by Ree Soesbee, “The Parker Panic” by Mike Stackpole.
A Fist Full o' Ghost Rock
[RPG book; WW]
Author: Shane Lacy Hensley; First publication: 1998; Setting: Deadlands: The Great Rail Wars; Publisher: Pinnacle Entertainment Group.
Scenario book for The Great Rail Wars. Includes campaigns, A Fist Full o' Ghost Rock involving feuding over the rail rights in Trouble, Colorado, Trail o' Blood featuring the forces of Ben Stern on the run from Marty Coltrane and The Many Tasks of Grimme featuring the City of Lost Angels, the Maze and the Reverend Ezekiah Grimme.
Fistful of Blood
[Comic strip; Graphic Novel; WW]
First publication: Heavy Metal Vol. 25 #2 (May 2001); Creators: Kevin Eastman, Simon Bisley; Publisher: Kevin Eastman.
The adventures of a mercenary female gunfighter doing battle with zombies and vampire outlaws in a semi-abandoned Western town.
This adult strip features a large-breasted “heroine” who has a preference for very little clothing. A black & white trade paperback-graphic novel edition collecting the previously published strips from Heavy Metal magazine was released in 2002.
Flaming Star
[Comic book character]
First appearance: Ghost Rider #1 (February 1967); Publisher: Marvel Comics.
Medicine Man Flaming Star is granted magical powers by the Native American Indian god Manitou. He was custodian of the glowing meteorite dust that he passed on to Ghost Rider.
Flesh
[Comic strip; UK; SFW]
First publication: 2000 A.D. #1 (1977); Creator: Pat Mills; Art: Ramon Sola; Publisher: I.P.C. Magazines.
Dinosaur meat is farmed by time-traveling cowboys from the 23rd century. Hunter Earl Reagan and his Rangers have a formidable foe in a Tyrannosaurus Rex named Old One Eye who threatens the sanctuary of domed trading post Carver City.
The Flight of Michael McBride
[Novel; WW]
Author: Midori Snyder; First publication: New York: Tor, 1994.
Irish-American cowboy Michael McBride moves West following the death of his mother and secures work as a ranch hand. But he also finds himself pursued by Irish demons.
For a Few Dead Guys More
[RPG book; WW]
Editor: Shane Lacy Hensley; First publication: 1999; Deadlands anthology with No Name #2; Publisher: Pinnacle Entertainment Group.
Foreword by Joe R. Lansdale; “Hate: Part Two” by Shane Lacy Hensley, “Head Games” by Matt Forbeck, “Providin' the Crick Don't Rise” by Susan Griffith and Clay Griffith, “A Load of Bull” by John Goff, “No Man's Law” by Lucien Soulban, “Some Mercy, Some Justice, Some Magic” by Ginger R. Senter, “Tyrants and Patriots” by Rob Vaux, “Nunna Daul Tsuny” by Zach Bush, “Cold Island” by Chris Snyder, “Hellbent for Leather” by Don DeBrandt, and “Paid in Full” by Hal Mangold.
For Texas and Zed
[Novel; SW]
Author: Zach Hughes; First publication: New York: Popular Library, April 1976.
Planet Texas, colonized by Texans from the Earth of centuries ago, has retained its independence. But now it finds its civilization and technology under threat from encroaching hostile empires.
The Forbidden God
[RPG book;WW]
Author: Tim Brown; First publication: 1998; Deadlands: The Weird West Dime Novel #7; Publisher: Pinnacle Entertainment Group.
Ronan Lynch encounters a Spanish galleon on the dry land of the Great Salt Flats of Utah.
Forbidden Worlds
[Comic book]
This successful supernatural and fantasy anthology title from ACG featured tales of specters, demons, monsters, giants, witches, aliens, time travel, dinosaurs, Magicman, Herbie and the occasional Weird Western.
“WHERE THE REDSKINS NEVER FELL” [WW]
First publication: #44 (July 1956); Editor: Richard E. Hughes; Art: Harry Lazarus, Tom Hickey; Publisher: American Comics Group (ACG).
“Deadly Peril Looms Out of the Past” as a group of tourists from 1956 are attacked by Indians from the Old West.
“THE VENGEANCE OF COYOTE CHARLIE” [WW]
First publication: #82 (September 1959); Story: Kurato Osaki; Art: Ogden Whitney.
An Indian drum defies the laws of nature.
“SOAPBOX ON WHEELS” [SFW]
First publication: #95 (May-June 1961); Story: Zev Zimmer; Art: Paul Reinman.
Young Lenny avoid arrows from an American Indian in the Old West when his soapbox ride turns into an adventure through time and space.
Fortress o' Fear: Devil's Tower 3
[RPG book; WW]
Author: Matt Forbeck; First publication: 1998; Setting: Deadlands: The Weird West; Publisher: Pinnacle Entertainment Group.
The final part of the Devil's Tower trilogy.
See: Heart o' Darkness: Devil's Tower 2
“Fountain of Youth”
[Pulp fiction; WW]
Author: Lon Williams; Character: Lee Winters; Real Western Stories (December 1952)
When the man who never slept met the stranger who claimed to be three hundred and eighty-seven years old, another gunsmoke headache was building up for the reluctant lawman of Forlorn Gap.
Four Feather Falls
(1960) [Children's TV series; UK; WW]
Premiere: February 25, 1960; Voice Cast: Nicholas Parsons as Sheriff Tex Tucker, Kenneth Connoras Dusty/Rocky/Pedro, David Graham as Grandpa Twink/Fernando, Denise Bryer as Ma Jones/Little Jake; Creators: Barry Gray, Gerry Anderson;Producer: Gerry Anderson; Directors: Gerry Anderson, David Elliott, Alan Pattillo; 39 × 15 min.; A. P. Films (APF) for Granada Television UK; b/w.
Sheriff Tex Tucker of Four Feather Falls, Kansas, has been given four magic feathers by Indian Chief Kalamakooya as a reward for sheltering his son. Two feathers give his dog Dusty and horse Rocky the ability to speak and two give his guns the power to swivel and shoot automatically.
The earliest example of Gerry Anderson's Supermarionation work that would reach its peak with Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons (1967).
Season One
How It All Began (1:01); Kidnapped (1:02); Pedro Has a Plan (1:03); Pedro's Pardon (1:04); A Close Shave (1:05); Indian Attack (1:06); Sheriff for a Day (1:07); Dusty Becomes Deputy (1:08); Gunrunners (1:09); Trouble at Yellow Gulch (1:10); Frame-Up (1:11); Gold Diggers (1:12); Gold Is Where You Find It (1:13); Trapped (1:14); Best Laid Schemes ... (1:15); Escort (1:16); The Toughest Guy in the West (1:17); Ghost of a Chance (1:18); Gunplay (1:19); A Lawman Rides Alone (1:20); Jailbreak (1:21); A Little Bit of Luck (1:22); Land Grabbers (1:23); Once a Lawman (1:24); Election Day (1:25); Gunfight on Main Street (1:26); A Bad Name (1:27); Horse Thieves (1:28); The Ma Jones Story (1:29); Bandits Abroad (1:30); A Cure for Everything (1:31); Teething Troubles (1:32); Buffalo Rocky (1:33); Safe As Houses (1:34); First Train Through (1:35); Happy Birthday (1:36); Fancy Shootin' (1:37); Ambush (1:38); Ride 'Em Cowboy (1:39)
Four Feather Falls (1960), a children's television series starring Sheriff Tex Tucker and his magic feathers.
Four of the Apocalypse
(1975) [Film; Italy; WW]
USA DVD release title for I Quattro dell'Apocalisse.
Fourth Horseman
[Comic book: WW]
First publication: August 2007; Story: Jeffrey Nodelman; Art: Tommy Castillo, Milen Parvanov; Four-part mini-series; Publisher: Fangoria Comics.
This violent and blood-spattered mini-series chronicles the story of how the Riders of the Apocalypse meet and plan to destroy the world.
Stories feature Bear the White Rider, a false Messiah who leads people along the wrong path; former Chinese slave Magog the Red Rider, deliverer of destruction; Prophet the Brown Rider, the fastest gunslinger on Earth and bringer of disease and pestilence; and the Black Rider, the bringer of death.
Fox, Gardner
(1911-1986) [Comic book writer]
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Gardner Fox bega
n his professional career as a lawyer before turning to writing for pulp magazines. In 1937 he was employed by Vincent Sullivan at National–DC Comics, creating Hawkman and the influential Justice Society of America for All-Star Comics. In the late 1940s and early 1950s Fox worked for Avon, EC and Magazine Enterprises where he resumed his working relationship with Vincent Sullivan. With the superhero in decline, Fox turned to the Western, working with artist Dick Ayers on Ghost Rider where he added supernatural elements to the origin story in Ghost Rider #1. Fox also worked on The Lemonade Kid with artist Bob Powell and Straight Arrow and created the short-lived Presto Kid after Ghost Rider was forced into a premature retirement by the newly formed Comics Code Authority which frowned on supernatural storylines. Fox wrote over 800 scripts during his time at ME.
Returning to National–DC Comics in the mid-1950s, Fox created Adam Strange for Mystery in Space and together with artist Carmine Infantino heralded a new Silver Age in comics. In 1961 Fox created the first Western superhero in DC Comics history with the short-lived Super-Chief strip. He worked on numerous superhero titles edited by Julius Shwartz including Justice League of America, Hawkman, Batman, Green Lantern, The Flash and The Atom, throughout the 1960s.