In the late 1970s and early ’80s I worked in a bookstore for Ken S., who introduced me to Charlton’s Space Western Comics. Ken knew my taste, and knew I loved this sort of oddball stuff. He loved it too. Ken sometimes used the name Spurs Jackson as a pseudonym. Bless Ken...errrr...Spurs.
In this sizzling adventure with Spurs Jackson and his Space Vigilantes, the bad guys come from the Sun. Just a thought, do people who live on the Sun wear earthblock when going outside?
Scripter unknown, drawn by Stan Campbell for Space Western #42 (1953):
Here is Spurs Jackson’s first adventure, from Space Western Comics #40. Just click on the thumbnail:
Atomic bomb? Are you sure this is 1943 and not a few years later?
ReplyDeleteThe weird thing about this one -- for me, you'd think I wouldn't be able to get behind wild west cowboys fighting aliens -- is didn't Spurs just wipe out the last remnants of an entire race? He basically committed genocide!
ReplyDeleteSure, they were trying to kill us, but they were also the last guys left! At least just lock them up (and then steal their tech, let's be honest, we'd do it!)
Well, once again we have something perceived though it travels faster than the light by which it would be perceived. *sigh*
ReplyDeleteIn any case, I really just wanted to note that the appearance of cowboy Hank immediately reminded me of Cowboy Henk, even before I learned Hank's name.
Kirk, you're right. My mistake, and I have changed it. Thanks for your keen eye.
ReplyDeleteDaniel, thanks for introducing me to Cowboy Henk. I am always happy to see the spirit of underground comix alive and well.
ReplyDeleteBrian, so what's a little genocide when it's clearly "us" and "them" we're talking about?
ReplyDeleteIf there really are aliens from other planets buzzing our skies and making crop circles and giving medical exams in flying saucers, is it any wonder they don't announce themselves officially? Human beings have a reputation for kill first, talk later.
The idea of "Space Western" comics is just so kooky that it's cool. Reminds me of an independent comic years later, called "Cowboys and Aliens". You have to be smoking some good stuff to come up with comics like these. Pappy's excavations continue to amuse and entertain.
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