Encyclopedia of Weird Westerns
Page 17
Following a dispute over lack of health care provisions, Fox left DC Comics in 1968 and freelanced for Marvel Comics, including work on the Weird Western title Red Wolf. He retired from comics in the mid-1970s and concentrated on writing science fiction, sword & sorcery and romance novels. Throughout his career Fox adopted many pseudonyms including Jefferson Cooper (sword & sorcery novels), Lynna Cooper (romance novels), Bart Sommers, Paul Dean and Ray Gardner.
Frag Deadlands
[FPS Game; WW]
First publication: 2001; Development: Steve Jackson; Design: Philip Reed; Publisher: Steve Jackson Games.
First-person shooter board game combining Deadlands and Frag game rules in the Weird West setting.
Frank Reade & Frank Reade Jr.
[Dime novel characters; SPW]
Writer Harry Enton, and publisher Frank Tousey may have been the initial originators of Frank Reade but the credit for the success of the Reade family adventures has to rest with Luis Senarens. When Enton quit after four issues, Tousey hired Senarens to replace him.
Senarens had been writing for Tousey since the age of 14 under various pseudonyms. The departure of Enton coincided with the departure of Frank Reade Sr. from the title. His son Frank Reade Jr. replaced him, with “Noname,” alias Senarens, penning his nickel library stories. His 179 stories in total would see Reade Jr. and his steam-powered inventions traveling to various locations around the world, including the Old West.
Frank Reade and His Steam Horse. A Thrilling Story of the Plains
[Dime novel; SPW]
Frank Tousey's Boys Weekly Vol. 2 #46.
Frank Reade and His Steam Man of the Plains; or, The Terror of the West
[Dime novel; SPW]
Author: Harry Enton; The Boys of New York Vol. 1 #28 (February 28, 1876).
Influenced by the success of The Huge Hunter or The Steam Man of the Prairies by Edward Sylvester Ellis, Harry Enton wrote of the adventures of a new improved Steam Man equipped with eyes doubling as headlights and the ability to shoot missiles of fire and to travel at 50 miles per hour.
Charley Gorse beheld a metallic imitation of a man. The figure was about twelve feet high from the bottom of the huge feet to the top of the plug hat which adorned the steam-man's head. An enormous belly was required to accommodate the boiler and steam chest, and this corpulency agreed well with the height of the metallic steam chap. To give full working room to the very delicate machinery in the interior, the old giant was made to convey a sort of knapsack upon his shoulders. The machine held its arms in the position taken by a man when he is drawing a carriage.
Charlie glanced up at the face of the monster and beheld a huge pair of glass eyes and an enormous mouth.
“Now then,” said Frank, “the lamp will be in his head, and his eyes will be the headlights. His mouth holds the steam whistle. Here, in his belly, we open a door and put in fuel, and the ashes drop down into his legs and are emptied from the movable kneepan, and without injury to the oiled leg-shafts, for they are enclosed in a tube. That is why the fellow's limbs are so large. These wire cords increase the power in one leg, and cause that leg to go much faster, and in that manner we get a side movement and can turn around.”
“Go on,” said Charlie, who was intensely excited.
“Its feet are spiked like a baseball player's are spiked, to prevent the machine from slipping under speed,” said Frank. “Then you notice that its legs are very long, and very far apart, so as to give it balance. This stop-cock on the side will let on or shut off steam.”
Frank Reade and Sitting Bull; or, White Cunning versus Red
[Dime novel; SPW]
Author: “Noname” (Luis Senarens); Reprinted: Aldine Romance of Invention, Travel and Adventure Library #60 (1894).
Frank Reade Jr. and His New Steam Horse Among the Cowboys; or, The League of the Plains
[Dime novel; SPW]
Author: “Noname” (Luis Senarens); Frank Reade Library #8 (November 12, 1892).
Frank Reade Jr. and His New Steam Horse in the Great American Desert; or, The Sandy Trail of Death
[Dime novel; SPW]
Author: “Noname” (Luis Senarens); Frank Reade Library #9 (November 19, 1892); Publisher: Frank Tousey.
Frank Reade Jr. and His New Steam Horse in the Running Fight on the Plains
[Dime novel; SPW]
Author: Harry Enton; The Boys of New York (July 17, 1876).
Frank Reade, Jr., and His New Steam Man or, The Young Inventor's Trip to the Far West
[Dime novel; SPW]
Author: Harry Enton; Frank Reade Library Vol 1 #1 (September 24, 1892).
Frank Reade Jr. with His New Steam Horse in Search of an Ancient Mine
[Dime novel; SPW]
Author: “Noname” (Luis Senarens); Frank Reade Library #11 (December 3, 1892).
Frank Reade Jr. with His New Steam Horse in the North West; or, Wild Adventures Among the Blackfeet
[Dime novel; SPW]
Author: “Noname” (Luis Senarens); Frank Reade Library #13 (December 17, 1892).
Frank Reade Jr. with His New Steam Horse; or, The Mystery of the Underground Ranch
[Dime novel; SPW]
Author: “Noname” (Luis Senarens); Frank Reade Library #10 (November 26, 1892).
Frank Reade Jr. with His New Steam Man in Texas; or, Chasing the Train Robbers
[Dime novel; SPW]
Author: “Noname” (Luis Senarens); Frank Reade Library #4 (October 15, 1892).
Frank Reade Jr.'s New Electric Invention the “Warrior”; or, Fighting the Apaches in Arizona
[Dime novel; SPW]
Author: “Noname” (Luis Senarens); Frank Reade Library #30 (April 15, 1893).
Frank Reade Library
[Dime novel magazine; SPW]
First publication: September 24, 1892; Publisher: Frank Tousey.
This 32-page publication featured the dime novel adventures of young inventor Frank Reade Jr. by “Noname” alias Luis Senarens. Each issue featured a black-and-white engraving on the front cover.
Frank Reade with His New Steam Man Chasing a Gang of “Rustlers”; or, Wild Adventures in Montana
[Dime novel; SPW]
Author: “Noname” (Luis Senarens); Frank Reade Library #6 (October 29, 1892).
Frank Reade and His Steam Man of the Plains; or, The Terror of the West, Boys of New York #28 (February 1876).
From Dusk Till Dawn 3: The Hangman's Daughter
(2000) [Film; WW]
Premiere: January 18, 2000; Main Cast: Marco Leonardi as Johnny Madrid, Ara Celi as Esmeralda/Santanico Pandemonium, Michael Parks as Ambrose Bierce, Sonia Braga as Quixtla, Rebecca Gayheart as Mary Newlie; Executive Producers: Quentin Tarantino, Robert Rodriguez, Lawrence Bender; Story: Álvaro Rodríguez, Robert Rodriguez; Director: P.J. Pesce; 94 min.; A Band Apart; Color.
Escaping from the gallows, Johnny Madrid kidnaps the hangman's daughter Esmeralda. But when Madrid seeks shelter in an inn full of vampires, he discovers Esmeralda is the half-vampire princess Santanico Pandemonium.
Prequel to From Dusk Till Dawn (1996).
From the Earth to the Moon
(1958) [Film; SFW]
Premiere: 1958; Main Cast: Joseph Cotten as Victor Barbicane, George Sanders as Stuyvesant Nicholl, Debra Paget as Virginia Nicholl, Carl Esmond as Jules Verne; Story: Jules Verne (novels); Screenplay: Robert Blees, James Leicester; Producer: Benedict Bogeaus: Director: Byron Haskin; 101 min.; Waverly Productions; Color.
This confusing adaptation of the Verne novel is set in the post–Civil War America of 1868. It's a hybrid of 1950s science fiction, Victoriana, the American frontier spirit and bad special effects; the climax is reduced to a series of flares seen from a distance on the lunar landscape. RKO went bankrupt before the filming was completed.
From the Heart of the Storm
[Novel; WW]
Author: Kurt R. A. Giambastiani; First publication: New York: ROC, 2004.
Alternate history where George Armstrong Custer
is president of the United States of America, dinosaurs serve as steeds to the Cheyenne Indians and Spain occupies the Southwest.
Final novel in the Fallen Cloud Saga.
Frontier Gentleman
(1958) [Radio series; WMW]
An English reporter for the London Times documents life and death in the Old West.
“NASTY PEOPLE” A.K.A. “DEADLY HOMESTERS” A.K.A. “THE GROVER FAMILY” (1:39)
Air date: November 2, 1958; Main Cast: John Dehner as J. B. Kendall, Virginia Gregg; Story-Director: Anthony Ellis; 24:50 min; CBS.
Seeking shelter for the night, Kendall is offered lodging by the strange Grover family and a young woman (Gregg) who believes in ghosts. Atmospheric radio production with an undercurrent of sexual tension.
Frontier Secrets
[RPG book; WW]
Authors: Phil Brucato, Richard E. Dansky, Robert Hatch, Ian Lemke; First publication: 1997; Setting: Werewolf: The Wild West; Publisher: White Wolf Publishing.
A Storyteller Sourcebook for Werewolf: The Wild West. Realm of Texas Tarantulas, Storm Eater spirit minions and the Enlightened Society of the Weeping Moon located in the Savage West.
Frostbite
[RPG book; WW]
Author: Dave Blewer; Deadlands Reloaded Dime Novel #3; Publisher: Legion Publishing (POD 2006).
The Posse must discover the truth behind the murders of miners on Mount Frostbite near the town of Overhang.
Fudge: Deadlands
[RPG game; WW]
Author: Steffan O'Sullivan; Publisher: Grey Ghost Games.
Fudge conversion of Deadlands RPG game. The Fudge (Freeform Universal Do-it-Yourself Gaming System) roleplaying system, created in November 1992, was borne out of author Steffan O'Sullivan's perceived limitations of writing for GURPS.
Fury of Johnny Kid
(1967) [Film; Italy-Spain; WW]
U.S.A. release title for Dove si spara di più.
Futurama
(1999) [Animated TV series]
A pizza delivery boy, frozen in 1999, wakes up in New York City on New Year's Eve, 2999.
“WHERE THE BUGGALO ROAM” (4:06) [SW]
Air date: March 3, 2002; Creator: Matt Groening; Executive Producers: David X. Cohen, Matt Groening; Story: J. Stewart Burns; Director: Patty Shinagawa; 30 min.; 20th Century-Fox Television, The Curiosity Company; Color.
The Wong Ranch barbecue on Mars is interrupted by a dust storm. When the storm settles, the Wong family discover their herd of buggalo cattle has been rustled. Amy Wong's boyfriend Kif attempts to come to the rescue and ends up tangling with the Native Martians.
Futureworld
(1976) [Film; SFW]
Premiere: August 13, 1976; Main Cast: Peter Fonda as Chuck Browning, Blythe Danner as Tracy Ballard, Arthur Hill as Dr. Duffy, Yul Brynner as The Gunslinger; Executive Producer: Samuel Z. Arkoff; Story: George Schenck, Mayo Simon; Director: Richard T. Heffron; 104 min.; American International Pictures; Color.
Two reporters investigate the re-opened Delos resort after a colleague is murdered. Yul Brynner reprises his Westworld role as the Gunslinger in a bizarre cameo dream sequence where he plays the fantasy lover of Blythe Danner.
Galaxy Express 999
(1979) [Anime; Japan; SW]
International title for the animated TV series.
See: Ginga Tetsudô Three-Nine
Gallowwalker
(2009) [Film; WW]
Premiere: 2009; Main Cast: Wesley Snipes as Aman, Riley Smith as Fabulos, Kevin Howarth as Kansa, Steven Elder as Apollo Jones, Tanit Phoenix as Angel; Executive Producers: Andrew Brown, Stephen Hays, Harrison Kordestani; Story: Andrew Goth, Joanne Reay; Director: Andrew Goth; Sheer Films; Color.
A gunman (Snipes) whose victims return from the dead as zombies enlists the aid of a young warrior to break the curse.
A Gathering of Widowmakers
[Novel; SFW]
Author: Mike Resnick; First publication: Decatur, GA: Meisha Merlin, 2006.
The two surviving Nighthawk clones, the seasoned Jason Newman and the younger Jeff Nighthawk, clash as the original Jefferson Nighthawk takes on the role of mediator. In the meantime, Jefferson has plenty to contend with in the form of the villainous alien Younger Brothers, Hairless Jack Bellamy, the Wizard and Cleopatra Rome.
See: The Widowmaker; The Widowmaker Reborn; The Widowmaker Unleashed
Gemmell, David
(1948-2006) [Author]
Gemmell began his writing career in London as a freelance journalist with the Daily Mail, Daily Express and Daily Mirror. He turned to full-time writing in 1986 following the publication of his third novel Waylander. Gemmell built his reputation as a writer of heroic fantasy novels. Influences included J.R.R. Tolkien, Louis L'Amour and Stan Lee.
Gemmell passed away on July 28, 2006, from a heart attack following quadruple heart bypass surgery two weeks earlier.
Selected works: Legend (1984), Ghost King (1988), Last Sword of Power (1988), Wolf in Shadow (1987), The Last Guardian (1989), Bloodstone: A Jon Shannow Adventure (1994)
General Jack Cosmo Presents
[Comic book anthology; WW]
First publication: May 2007; Creator-Story: Aaron M. Shaps; Art: Nate Lovett, Dave Golding, Andrew Froedge, Dave McCaig, Sonny Leader, Gabe Pena; Publisher: General Jack Cosmo Productions.
Anthology title featuring science fiction, horror, action and Western adventures including the Red Ranger fighting werewolves in the Old West.
Generation Hex
[Comic book; SFW]
First appearance: June 1997; Story: Peter Milligan; Art: Adam Pollina, Mark Morales; Publisher: Amalgam Comics.
Malforms Jono Hex, Johnny Random, White Whip, Madame Banshee, Skinhunter, Twins Trigger and Retribution are hunted by Malform hunter Marshal “Bat” Trask and his Razormen.
Amalgam Comics combined DC and Marvel Comics characters to create new merged characters in an alternate universe. The one-shot Generation Hex merged DC's Western characters and Marvel's Generation X mutants.
Get Mean
(1975) [Film; Italy; WW]
Premiere: 1975; Main Cast: Tony Anthony as The Stranger, Diana Lorys as Princess Elizabeth Maria, Raf Baldassarre as Diego, Lloyd Battista as Sombra; Executive Producer: Ronald Schneider; Story: Lloyd Batista, Wolfe Lowenthal, Ferdinando Baldi; Director: Ferdinando Baldi; 84 min.; Cee Note, Stranger Productions Inc.; Color.
The Stranger is hired by a gypsy to escort a princess to her throne in Spain but encounters opposition from barbarians.
This bizarre, often violent Western includes unexplained time shifts between the Old West and Medieval Europe, a strange silver sphere that overlooks events, ghosts, Vikings and wild female warriors.
Ghost Busters
[RPG book; WW]
Author: Lucien Soulban; First publication: 2000; Setting: Deadlands: The Weird West; Publisher: Pinnacle Entertainment Group.
When the head of the Agency's Western Branch in Gomorra is kidnapped, the posse must track down the Ghost to save the Agency.
Ghost Dancers
[RPG book; WW]
Author: Paul Beakley; First publication: 1998; Setting: Deadlands: The Weird West; Publisher: Pinnacle Entertainment Group.
American Indians of the Weird West sourcebook. Includes the spirits of the Hunting Grounds and new Shamanic powers, Edges and Hindrances.
The Ghost Flyers
[Novel; SFW]
Author: Tom Townsend; First publication: Austin, TX: Eakin Press, 1993.
In the late nineteenth century, on a nighttime journey across the Texas countryside, thirteen-year-old Harlin meets the inventor of a strange airship and joins him in his flight from a greedy enemy.
Ghost of Hidden Valley
(1946) [Film; WMW]
Premiere: June 5, 1946; Main Cast: Buster Crabbe as Billy Carson, Al “Fuzzy” St. John as Al St. John, Jean Carlin as Kaye Dawson, John Meredith as Henry Trenton, Charles King as Ed “Blackie” Dawson, Jimmy Aubrey as Tweedle; Producer: Sigmund Neufeld; St
ory: Ellen Coyle; Director: Sam Newfield; 56 min.; Producers Releasing Corporation; b/w.
When Henry Trenton arrives from England to take charge of the Trenton Ranch, cattle rustler Ed “Blackie” Dawson has to make sure the ranch maintains its reputation of being haunted.
Ghost Patrol
(1936) [Film; WMW]
Premiere: August 3, 1936; Main Cast: Tim McCoy as Tim Caverly, Claudia Dell as Natalie Brent, Walter Miller as Dawson, Wheeler Oakman as Kincaid, Lloyd Ingraham as Professor Brent; Producers: Sigmund Neufeld, Leslie Simminds; Story: Wyndham Gittens, Joseph O'Donnell; Director: Sam Newfield; 60 min.; Puritan Pictures, Excelsior Pictures Corp.; b/w.