I saw bullet holes in the bar at Tombstone, haunted ghost towns, hung out in the mining town of Bisbee’s “Copper Queen” hotel, and nearly croaked from the heat when the radiator blew outside Kingman, Arizona. I spent six years in New Mexico as a result of a love affair with the Western. I wasn’t -much, so I decided to move “out West” and soak it up for myself. Who read this stuff? Science fiction novels had their scientists and engineers, I figured Western readers were the outdoorsmen. I soon moved into paperback territory, exploring plots and locales among the myriad titles offered in the 1960s. I also discovered the “dime novel” format magazines from even earlier, from the days when youthful adventure in the great out-of-doors meant something to a kid, whether as a makebelieve Arizonian cowboy or one of the Canadian Mounted. Maybe it was old age or senility, but soon enough I was starting on solid food-old pulp Western magazines from the 1940s. I never cared much for Westerns until something hit me one day. And to my final contributor, best-selling Weird Western Romance author Madeline Baker-thanks for her kind cooperation. Fred Berney and his wife Ellen for taking the time to scan Captain Z-Ro photos and giving me the opportunity to watch vintage footage and to speak with Captain Z-Ro actor Roy Steffensen. Paul Guinan for supplying vintage Frank Reade Jr. Bill McLoughlin from Dundee, Scotland, for granting permission to publish artwork on behalf of D.C. Scott Bieser, director of Big Head Press. Dan Forcey, vice president of Content Development at Platinum Studios Inc. Chris Ryall, publisher and editor-in-chief of IDW Publishing. Jackie Smith, senior public relations manager from FUNimation Productions Ltd.
DEADLY SIN RPG MAKER CONTROLS SERIES
Producer Clément Calvet at Gaumont-Alphanim for providing artwork of their animated series Cosmic Cowboys. Russian-born artist Alex Sheikman and Italian artist Walter Venturi for providing artwork of their Weird Western strips.
DEADLY SIN RPG MAKER CONTROLS PLUS
Italian writer Enrico Teodarani for sharing his knowledge of Italian Weird Westerns and comic book strips plus information on his own work. Artist and writer Mike Hoffman for sending me a large box of his artwork and comic books for research and answering my questions. Bill Black, editor, writer, artist and publisher of AC Comics, who kindly contributed comic books and extensive information on Magazine Enterprises and AC Comics Western characters. Jean-Marc Lofficier, editor of Hexagon Comics, for providing me with a history of various Weird Western strips from France. Certain comic book artists, writers and publishers were particularly helpful in supplying me with their work and granting permission to publish it. I would like to thank many people for their kind cooperation in the research for my book. On the cover: Madame Tarantula artwork by Mike Hoffman McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers Box 611, Jefferson, North Carolina 28640 Acknowledgments All rights reserved No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. West (U.S.)–In popular culture–Encyclopedias. West (U.S.)–In motion pictures–Encyclopedias. Western comic books, strips, etc.-Encyclopedias. Includes bibliographical references and index.
Green, Paul, 1955– Encyclopedia of weird westerns : supernatural and science fiction elements in novels, pulps, comics, films, television and games / Paul Green foreword by Mike Hoffman. McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers Jefferson, North Carolina, and London Supernatural and Science Fiction Elements in Novels, Pulps, Comics, Films, Television and Games Acknowledgments Foreword by Mike Hoffman Preface Introduction The Weird Westerns Appendix Bibliography Index of TermsĪLSO BY PAUL GREEN AND FROM MCFARLAND _ Pete Duel: A Biography (2007 softcover 2009 large print, 2009) A History of Television’s The Virginian, 1962–1971 (2006 softcover 2009)