Western Gunfighters Vol 2 13

While riding through the desert the Black Rider spots a man crawling along the hard pan dying of thirst. He gives the man some water and takes him back to Leadville. There the Black Rider changes into his alter ego of Dr. Matthew Masters and treats the man for dehydration. The thankful man admits that he is part of a gang who was hired by Jack Grimes to blow up the rail bridge leading out of Leadville constructed by the Golden Coast Express in revenge for not buying the passage rights through his land. Unwilling to murder innocent people, the man refused and was left in the desert to die. Realizing that the train is due to leave town any minute, Masters changes into the Black Rider and goes to try and stop it. He arrives at the rail station too late and learns that Marie and Bobby Lathrop are aboard the train as well. Rushing to the bridge, the Black Rider attacks Grimes and his men before they can set the explosives. Killing the gang, the Black Rider chases Grimes onto the tracks where they struggle as the train speeds to ward them. With moments to spare, the Black Rider sends Grimes falling to his death, and then quickly dives over the side of the tracks, grabbing a hold of the beams underneath in order to avoid being struck by the train. While inside the train, Marie and Bobby remark about how dull things have been in Leadville, blissfully unaware how they just narrowly avoided death.

Appearing in "The Flaming Totem!"

Reprint of the 1st story from
Apache Kid #19

Featured Characters:

Apache Kid (Aloysius Kare)

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

Bruce Jennings
Flying Eagle

Other Characters:

Apache
United States Cavalry
- Lieutenant Pierce (Mentioned)

Races and Species:

Humans
Horses
Buffalo (Mentioned)

Locations:

Earth-616
- Earth
  - United States of America
    - Arizona
      - Fort Madison

Items:

Flaming Totem

Synopsis for "The Flaming Totem!"

Reprint of the 1st story from
Apache Kid #19

Believing that the white men have broken their word, Red Hawk chief of the Apache orders his braves to prepare to war, sending Flying Eagle to lead the army with the flaming totem. Elsewhere, Captain Bill Gregory and Aloysius Kare are out riding when Kare hears the approach of the Apache war party. They rush off to Fort Madison. There Mr. Jennings is hoping to force the US Army to allow him to hunt for buffalo on Apache land. Bill Gregory orders his men to defend the fort but don't shoot to kill any of the Apache. He then sends Aloysius Kare to try and appease the Apache.

Kare leaves the base and confronts Red Hawk and his men and asks them to explain why they are going to war. Red Hawk tells Kare that the promises made by the white men have been broken and they wish to drive the soldiers from their land. Red Hawk then asks Kare to send the Apache Kid to join them. Aloysius races to cover where he changes into his alter-ego of the Apache Kid. The Apache Kid tells his father that he will take them to war and takes the flaming totem from Flying Eagle and leads the charge.

However, the Kid races his horse Nightwind far ahead and wedges the flaming totem into the saddle and jumps off his horse so he can watch his people. Sure his enough his observations bare fruit as he witnesses Flying Eagle break off from the war party and head toward the Fort. Following Flying Eagle, he spies on the traitors meeting Mr. Jennings, learning that the pair are working together to force a war between the Apache and the US Army in the hopes it will give the government the right to take their buffalo hunting grounds, and that Flying Eagle would get a cut of the profits. When Flying Eagle expresses his concern about the Apache Kid getting involved. But Jennings tells him to deal with him alone. Flying Eagle then takes Jennings prisoner to force his help.

As they rush toward Nightwind on horseback, Jennings tries to shoot the Apache Kid but finds that he is not on the horse. His shots jars the Flaming Totem loose and it is about to fall on Jennings when the Apache Kid races in and grabs it. Shocked that the Apache Kid is not burned by the totem, he surrenders. The Apache Kid then removes the contract between Flying Eagle and Jennings and shows it to both Bill Gregory and Red Hawk, ending aggression and installing peace. When Jennings asks Red Hawk how the Apache Kid did not get burned, Red Hawk explains that the totem only burns those who are unjust.

Appearing in "Mark of the Gunman!"

Reprint of the 1st story from
Matt Slade, Gunfighter #2

Featured Characters:

United States Marshals
- Matt Slade

Supporting Characters:

Matt Slade's Horse
Helen Kellog
Mr. Kellog

Antagonists:

Flash Kellog
Macklin
Bard Forst

Other Characters:

Unnamed Doctor

Races and Species:

Humans
Horses
Dogs (Mentioned)

Locations:

Earth
- United States of America
  - Mongollon Mountains
  - Weaver County
    - Kellog Ranch

Synopsis for "Mark of the Gunman!"

Reprint of the 1st story from
Matt Slade, Gunfighter #2

Matt Slade is on the trail of outlaw Flash Kellogg chasing him down a trail on horseback. The chase comes to an abrupt end when Kellogg's horse trips and sends both falling to their deaths at the bottom of a cliff. Slade goes down and takes the body back to town. Meeting with the local doctor, Slade decides to go and inform Kellogg's next of kin to claim the body when the doctor points out that Matt and Flash bare an uncanny resemblance.

He arrives at the Kellogg ranch just as Flash's sister Helen is dealing with Mr. Forst who has a document signed by Flash eleven years ago giving him title over the ranch. Bard still cannot take hold of the ranch as Flash's father -- although on his death bed -- is still alive and has main ownership. Matt is held back by Macklin the foreman until Bard leaves and then he allows Slade to go in and talk to Mr. Kellogg. Meeting with the ill old man, Matt is surprised when the elder Kellogg confuses Slade with his wayward son who had been gone for over a decade. Kellogg is happy to see "Flash" there as well as Helen who identifies Matt as her brother and welcomes him back.

Macklin, also makes a mistake, and asks to talk to "Flash" and berates Slade for coming to ruin their plans. Explaining that Bard wants to take the land as it is rich with gold and offered Kellogg a share. Slade fights back and forces Macklin to take him to Bard's property. When they arrive there, Bard points out that "Flash Kellogg" is an impostor and orders his men to kill him. Slade however is a faster draw and easily out shoots them. He then subdues Bard and recovers the document that Kellogg signed all those years ago and then warns Bard to stay away from the Kellogg family or he will come after him again.

When Slade returns to the ranch, Helen informs him that her father just died, and is shocked when Helen informs him that she knew that he wasn't her brother the entire time but only played along so that her father could die happy knowing that his son came to see him on his deathbed. Informing Helen of what happened, Matt burns the legal document and then departs, although he was happy to fell like he belong to a family again at least for a short while.

Appearing in "War"

Reprint of the 1st story from
Western Outlaws #6

Featured Characters:

Ethan Fuller
Nancy Fuller
Ethan and Nancy Fuller's Daughter

Supporting Characters:

Cavalry

Antagonists:

Steve Weldon
Weldon's Gang
- Benton
- Chadd

Other Characters:

Unnamed Rebel
Unnamed Farmer (Death)
Farmer's son
Greystones
Carvers

Races and Species:

Locations:

Earth
- United States of America
  - Fuller Cabin

Synopsis for "War"

Reprint of the 1st story from
Western Outlaws #6

Post Civil War there are still some individuals who can't put aside their anger to the other side, some of those individuals are Steve Weldon and his gang who devoted themselves to running out anyone from the South. Weldon's Gang pushed out a handful or native Southerners from the land even killing some of the farmers but the Fuller's remained behind to fight for what was theirs. Just as Weldon had the family dead to rights the true heroes of the Civil War descended upon them as the Cavalry game to the Fuller's aid and ended up killing Weldon while his men surrendered. It turns out Weldon was a deserter and the stance of the Cavalry is that the war is over and their goal is to bring peace to everyone, not just those from the north.

Links and References

References

Western Gunfighters Vol 2 13

Appearing in "The Doomed Express!"

Synopsis for "The Doomed Express!"

Appearing in "The Flaming Totem!"

Synopsis for "The Flaming Totem!"

Appearing in "Mark of the Gunman!"

Synopsis for "Mark of the Gunman!"

Appearing in "War"

Synopsis for "War"

See Also

Links and References

References