by Paul Green
Tales o' Terror: 1877
[RPG book; WW]
Authors: Steve Long, Christopher McGlothlin, John Hopler, Shane Lacy Hensley; First publication: 1998; Game: Deadlands: The Weird West; Publisher; Pinnacle Entertainment Group.
Updates the Player's Guide and Marshal's Handbook.
Tales of the Unexpected
[Comic book]
Science fiction, mystery and horror anthology comic book from DC Comics.
“MENACE OF THE INDIAN ALIENS” [SW]
First publication: Tales of the Unexpected #44 (December 1959); Art: Jim Mooney; Publisher: DC Comics.
Space Western adventure for Space Ranger alias Rick Starr where he encounters green-skinned, turtle-faced Indians living on a reservation on one of Saturn's moons. They tell Starr that American Indians befriended their ancestors after their spaceship crashlanded on Earth. Intrigued by the American Indians, the aliens adopted their culture when they returned to their home planet.
Teenage Monster
(1958) [Film; SFW]
Premiere: January 8, 1958; Main Cast: Gil Perkins as Charles Cannon, Stephen Parker as Charles Cannon as a boy, Anne Gwynne as Ruth Cannon, Stuart Wade as Sheriff Bob Lehman, Gloria Castillo as Kathy North, Charles Courtney as Marv Howell; Story: Ray Buffum; Producer-Director: Jacques R. Marquette; 65 min.; Marquette Productions Ltd.; b/w.
A young boy (Parker) grows into an extremely hairy psychopathic killer (Perkins) after being exposed to the rays from a fallen meteorite in the Old West of the 1880s.
This mix of science fiction, horror and Western genres was influenced by the success of American-International's I Was a Teenage Werewolf (1957) starring Michael Landon.
See: Meteor Monster
Terra-Man
[Comic book character; SFW]
1. First appearance: Superman #249 (March 1972); Creators: Cary Bates, Julius Schwartz; Publisher: DC Comics.
Abducted by an alien who accidentally killed his father in the American Old West town of Cripple Creek, Toby Manning was raised on an alien planet by the reptilian Collector. After Manning killed the alien in retaliation for his father's death, he returned to Earth but ultimately roamed the galaxies as an interstellar outlaw. Cosmic cowboy Terra-Man owned an array of futuristic weapons based on models of the Old West including atomic energy and sonic wave guns. His chewing tobacco created illusions and the smoke from his cigars had the effect of suffocating his victims. He rode Nova the white winged space-steed.
2. First appearance: Superman #46 (August 1990); Creators: Jerry Ordway, Dan Jurgens, Dennis Janke; Publisher: DC Comics.
Tobias Manning alias Terra-Man is a modern-day environmentalist who has the power to create teleportation vortexes and power blasts with the help of his technologically enhanced body armor. Together with his team of Terra-Men—robots dressed as Western outlaws—Manning causes environmental chaos and destruction while professing his innocence. Terra-Man died at the hands of Black Adam.
3. A Terra-Man unrelated to the previous incarnations but retaining his cowboy persona made his entrance as a cybernetic bounty hunter from the 41st century on the animated TV series Legion of Super Heroes in 2007. Able to regenerate his metallic skeleton, he is part-living tissue, part-robot.
See: Legion of Super Heroes; Superboy
Terra the Gunslinger
[TRPG game; Japan; SPW]
Release date: February 2001 (Japan); Design: Jun'ichi Inoue, FarEast Amusement Research [FEAR]; Publisher: Enterbrain, Gamefield.
For this game, set on the continent of Terra, players are passengers on the transcontinental railroad traveling to the Western frontier. Players choose between Gunslinger, Saloon Girl, U.S. Marshal and Preacher (among others) as they confront monsters known as the Dark. The game includes real-life Western characters Jesse James and Belle Starr.
Terra the Gunslinger: Gun Frontier
[TRPG game; Japan; SPW]
Release date: August 2002 (Japan); Design: Jun'ichi Inoue, FarEast Amusement Research [FEAR]; Publisher: Enterbrain, Gamefield.
Sequel to Terra the Gunslinger with an increased choice of characters as they continue to fight the demon of the darkness. Player characters include Gunslinger, Rocket Ranger, Shaman, Dark Hunter, Samurai, Private Eye, U.S. Marshal, Preacher, Boys & Girls, Bounty Hunter, Summoner, Saloon Girl, Gambler, Lt. Engineer, Steam Mage, Automata, Writer, Immortal, Avenger, Boxer, Cross Fire and Paladin.
Territory
[Novel; SFW]
Author: Emma Bull; First publication: New York: Tor Books, 2007.
Wyatt Earp uses magic and sorcery to achieve his goals in this alternate history of the figures and events at Tombstone's O.K. Corral.
Cover of Territory by Emma Bull (2007).
Tex and the Lord of the Deep
(1985) [Film; Italy; WW]
U.S. release title for Tex e il Signore Degli Abissi.
Tex Arcana
[Comic book strip; WW]
First appearance: Heavy Metal, March, 1981; Story-Art: John Findley; b/w; Publisher: Heavy Metal.
Adult horror Western comic strip with a touch of humor set in Hangman's Corners, involving the Mysterious Woman in White, vampires, the undead, witches, demons and werecoyotes. The Old Claim Jumper introduces each story in this throwback to E.C. horror comic books of the 1950s and the Warren titles of the 1960s.
Tex e il Signore Degli Abissi
(1985) [Film; Italy; WW]
Premiere: 1985; Main Cast: Giuliano Gemma as Tex Willer, William Berger as Kit Carson, Carlo Mucari as Tiger Jack, Isabel Russinova as Tulac, Riccardo Petrazzi as Lord of the Deep; Executive Producer: Enzo Porcelli; Story: Giovanni L. Bonelli; Director: Duccio Tessari; 90 min.; Radiotelevisione Italiana (RAI), SACIS; Color.
With the help of a demon god, American Indian tribes of the Sierra hope to join together and “build the new reign of the children of the sun,” reclaiming their tribal lands from the white man.
Based on the characters from the Italian comic strip Tex by Giovanni Luigi Bonelli.
Tex Willer
[Comic book character; Italy; WW]
First appearance: Tex #1, September 30, 1948; Creators: Giovanni Luigi Bonelli, Aurelio Galeppini [Galep]; Publishers: L'Audace, Sergio Bonelli Editore.
“The Great White Chief of the Navajos,” Texas Ranger Tex Willer fights outlaws and corruption in the Old West of the 1880s. His short marriage to Lilith, the daughter of the late Navajo Indian chief Red Arrow, enables him to see both sides of any racial conflict. A staunch, upright hero in the mold of Gary Cooper, he encounters the dark side of the supernatural through his greatest enemy Mefisto and son Yama.
Former outlaw Tex Willer is the longest-lived character in Italian comic book history with his stories still being published in 2009. Creator Giovanni Luigi Bonelli originally planned to name him Tex Killer but agreed to a compromise and named him Willer instead. Although the strip started out as a traditional Western, it has incorporated many weird aspects through the years including witch doctor El Morisco, immortal Egyptian Rakos, alien invaders, ghosts, zombies, werewolves and the ancient philosopher's stone.
Texas Strangers
[Comic book; SFW]
First publication: March 2007; Story: Antony Johnston, Dan Evans; Art: Mario Book; Three-issue series; Publisher: Image Comics.
In a weird Old West where magic and sorcery is the norm, the Free Nation of Texas is run by wizards, elves, goblins and monsters. Teenage twins Wyatt and Madara Houston encounter trouble and adventure as they attempt to dispose of their father's strange knife.
Texas Twister
[Comic book character; SFW]
First appearance: Fantastic Four #1977 (December 1976); Creators: Roy Thomas, Geoge Perez: Publisher: Marvel Comics.
When Texas-born Drew Daniels was caught up in a tornado that hit a nuclear reactor, he discovered he had the ability to generate tornadoes at will. He teamed up with Shooting Star as a rodeo double act for Cody's Rodeo, joining The Rangers initially to help Rick Jones and
The Avengers against the Incredible Hulk.
They Call Him Holy Ghost
(1971) [Film; Italy-Spain; WW]
U.S. release title for Uomo avvisato mezzo ammazzato ... parola di Spirito Santo.
13 Chambers
[Comic book; SFW]
First publication: September 2008; Creator: Christopher “mink” Morrison; Publisher: 12-Guage Comics.
Following Abraham Lincoln's death, President Jackson disbands a secret group of federal lawmen known as the 13 Marshals. The 13th Marshal is ordered to retrieve all 13 Territory Peace Keeper pistols and return them to Washington D.C. for retirement. But a mining baron named York stands in his way.
Alternative history Western.
Thor
[Comic book]
Adventures of Thor the mighty thunder god, son of Odin, lord of Asgard.
“EASY MONEY” [WW]
First publication: #370 (August 1986); Story: James Owsley; Art: John Buscema, P. Craig Russell; Publisher: Marvel Comics.
Card cheat Sundance is told by an old codger that if he will give a man on a white horse a claim check, he will receive one hundred dollars. Sundance knows the claim check must be worth more and decides to try his luck at poker instead when he is handed an enchanted deck of playing cards by god of evil Loki posing as an outlaw gang leader. Sundance is soon caught up in a battle for eternal youth involving Thor, Loki, a group of trolls and the golden apples of the goddess Idunn.
This story is a rare example of a Thor adventure taking place in the Old West.
See: Black Panther
“The Three Fates”
[Pulp fiction; WMW]
Author: Lon Williams; Character: Lee Winters; Real Western Stories (February 1958).
Then he saw an object which caused his scalp to creep and his hat to become loose on his head. On a scraped-out shelf of earth bare bones had been assembled to form a human skeleton. Winters and his horse were of one mind then, but before thought could be translated into homeward action, an apparition appeared, three ghosts marching in step over this ancient mound's curved summit.
The Three Supermen of the West
(1973) [Film; Italy-Spain; WW]
U.S. release title for ...e così divennero i 3 supermen del West.
Thunderbird
[Comic book character; SFW]
First appearance: Giant Size X-Men #1 (May 1975); Creators: Len Wein, Dave Cockrum; Publisher: Marvel Comics.
Apache John Proudstar first displayed his mutant abilities of heightened senses, speed, stamina and strength as a teenager. His time as an X-Men member was tragically ended when he died in a plane explosion during his second mission. His brother James Proudstar (Warpath) exhibits similar enhanced powers.
Tiger Lily
[Stage and book character; WW]
First appearance: Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up; Story: J. M. Barrie; First performance; December 27, 1904, Duke of York's Theatre, London.
Native Indian princess Tiger Lily is a supporting character in J.M. Barrie's three-act story of a boy refusing to become an adult. It is laced with Edwardian values and racist overtones in Barrie's characterization of the Native Indian Piccaninny tribe. Barrie based the tribe on Native American models. Some commentators have observed that Barrie represents the dominant white Anglo-Saxon culture that views native cultures as ignorant and violent and in need of educating and taming—the British Empire in Neverland.
After Peter Pan rescues Tiger Lily from the pirates, the Indians show their appreciation. The pigdgin-English of Tiger Lily sits uneasy with modern readers.
“Me Tiger Lily,” that lovely creature would reply. “Peter Pan save me, me his velly nice friend. Me no let pirates hurt him.”
She was far too pretty to cringe in this way, but Peter thought it his due, and he would answer condescendingly, “It is good. Peter Pan has spoken.”
Other commentators view Tiger Lily as an example of an empowered female who is a leader of her tribe. Her beauty attracts the males of her tribe, whom she repels with her hatchet. The true object of her desire is Peter Pan. She is therefore a model of a modern female who controls her environment and refuses to be controlled by it.
In 1911, Barrie expanded the play into the novel, Peter and Wendy. Barrie's play and novel has been adapted on numerous occasions for stage and screen.
Tim Holt
[Comic book; WW]
First issue: 1948; Art: Frank Bolle, Dick Ayers; Publisher: Magazine Enterprises.
Based on the RKO “Cowboy Star of the Movies” Tim Holt, this title (which began as Tim Holt Western Adventures) evolved into one of the first Weird Western comic books with the introduction of Ghost Rider in issue #11. Holt's alter-ego Red Mask a.k.a. Redmask, debuting in issue #20, also found himself in occasional Weird Western storylines and with a new partner, Black Phantom. The final issues featured “3-D Drawings with No Special Glasses Needed.”
Time Enough for Love, The Lives of Lazarus Long
[Novel; SW]
Author: Robert A. Heinlein; First publication: Putnam, New York, 1973.
Lazarus Long reflects on his 2,256-year life as he longs for death in the year 4272. The novel consists of three novella-length stories including the Space Western–themed “The Tale of the Adopted Daughter” which recalls Long's days as a pioneer.
Time Rider: The Adventure of Lyle Swann
(1982) [Film; SFW]
Premiere: December 11, 1982; Main Cast: Fred Ward as Lyle Swann, Belinda Bauer as Claire Cygne, Peter Coyote as Porter Reese, Richard Masur as Claude Dorsett, L.Q. Jones as Ben Potter; Producers: Lester Berman, Harry Gittes, Michael Nesmith; Story: William Dear, Michael Nesmith; Director: William Dear; 94 min.; Zoomo Productions; Color.
A champion off-road racer is transported back to 1877 when he accidentally crosses the radius of a time machine in the Mexican desert.
The Time Tunnel
(1966) [TV Series]
Dr. Tony Newman and renowned physicist Dr. Doug Phillips become trapped in time, unable to return to the present, when the top secret government project the Time Tunnel malfunctions.
This simple plot device allowed for numerous variations on the theme of attempting to change historic events in the past or the future. The reliance on 20th Century–Fox stock footage and one-dimensional characterization doomed the series to first season cancellation.
Main Cast: James Darren as Dr. Tony Newman, Robert Colbert as Dr. Doug Phillips, Lee Meriwether as Dr. Ann MacGregor, Whit Bissell as Lt. Gen. Heywood Kirk, John Zaremba as Dr. Raymond Swain; Executive Producer: Irwin Allen; 60 min.; Kent Productions Inc.; Color.
“MASSACRE” (1:08) [SFW]
Air date: October 28, 1966; Guest Cast: Joe Maross as Gen. George Armstrong Custer, Christopher Dark as Crazy Horse, Lawrence Montaigne as Yellow Elk; Story: Carey Wilber; Director: Murray Golden.
Tony and Doug are unable to prevent the 1876 massacre of General George Armstrong Custer and his troopers at Little Big Horn.
“VISITORS FROM BEYOND THE STARS” (1:18) [SFW]
Air date: January 13, 1967; Guest Cast: John Hoyt as Alien Leader, Byron Foulger as Williams, Jan Merlin as Centauri, Fred Beir as Taureg, Tris Coffin as Crawford, Ross Elliott as Sheriff; Story: Bob & Wanda Duncan; Director: Sobey Martin.
Silver-skinned aliens land in Mullins, Arizona, in 1885 with the intention of pillaging the Earth for its food supply. Doug becomes the slave of the aliens as they proceed to threaten the townsfolk with death if they don't hand over their food. Tony and the sheriff attempt to devise a plan to destroy the source of the aliens' power.
“BILLY THE KID” (1:22) [SFW]
Air date: February 10, 1967; Guest Cast: Robert Walker Jr. as Billy the Kid, Allen Case as Pat Garrett, Pitt Herbert as Tom McKinney, Harry Lauter as Wilson, John Crawford as John Poe; Story: William Welch; Director: Nathan Juran.
Billy the Kid swears revenge on Doug for attempting to kill him in Lincoln County, New Mexico, during a jail escape.
Timestalker
s
(1987) [Telefilm; SFW]
Premiere: March 10, 1987; Main Cast: William Devane as Scott McKenzie, Lauren Hutton as Georgia Crawford, Klaus Kinski as Dr. Joseph Cole, Forrest Tucker as Texas John Cody, John Ratzenberger as General Joe Brodsky; Executive Producers: Charles W. Fries, Milton T. Raynor; Screenplay: Brian Clemens; Story: Ray Brown, Brian Clemens; Director: Michael Schultz; 100 min.; Fries Entertainment; Color.
Dr. Joseph Cole spreads a path of destruction as he travels through time from the 26th century to 1980s America to the Old West of 1886. Scott McKenzie and Georgia Crawford chase Cole across time to stop him from altering history.
Tin Star
[Video game; SFW]
Release date: 1994; Developer: Software Creations; Publisher: Nintendo; Platform: SNES.
Robot sheriff Tin Star and his sidekick Mo Crash try to maintain law and order in East Driftwood in the Ol' West. But Black Bart and his Bad Oil Gang have other ideas.
Tin Star Void
(1988) [Film; SFW]
Alternative video release title for Death Collector.