Encyclopedia of Weird Westerns Page 7

  Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure

  (1989) [Film; SFW]

  Premiere: February 17, 1989; Main Cast: Keanu Reeves as Ted “Theodore” Logan, Alex Winter as Bill S. Preston, Esq., Dan Shor as Billy the Kid, Jim Cody Williams as Bearded Cowboy; Executive Producers: Robert W. Cort, Ted Field; Story: Chris Matheson, Ed Solomon; Director: Stephen Herek; 90 min.; DeLaurentiis Entertainment Group, Nelson Entertainment, Orion Pictures; Color.

  Two dim-witted teenagers travel back in time in a telephone box to do research for their oral history examination. An amusing film that explores the Old West when Logan and Preston meet Billy the Kid and return him to present-day California.

  Billy the Ghost and Me

  [Juvenile book; WW]

  Authors: Gery Greer, Bib Ruddick; Illustrator: Roger Roth; First published: 1997; Publisher: Newfield Publications Inc., HarperCollins.

  Sarah has a special friend, a practical-joking ghost called Billy that only she can see. When the Cactus Junction Bank is robbed, Sarah and Billy the Ghost decide to catch the robbers in their own unique way.

  Cover of Billy the Ghost and Me by Gery Greer and Bob Ruddick (1997). Illustrated by Roger Roth.

  Billy the Kid Versus Dracula

  (1966) [Film; WW]

  Premiere: April 1966; Main Cast: John Carradine as Dracula, Chuck Courtney as William H. Bonney alias Billy the Kid, Melinda Plowman as Betty Bentley, Virginia Christine as Eva Oster; Producer: Carroll Case; Story: Carl Hittleman; Director: William Beaudine; 73 min.; Circle Productions, Embassy Pictures; Color.

  The fiancée of Billy the Kid attracts the attention of Dracula, who poses as her uncle.

  Carradine resorts to his usual theatrical performance as the vampire Dracula who turns into a bat and can appear and disappear at will. Veteran director William Beaudine was 74 years of age when he filmed his two horror Westerns (this and Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter). Nicknamed “One Shot Beaudine” for his fast turnaround, he retired from directing in 1967.

  Billy the Kid's Old Timey Oddities

  [Comic Book; WW]

  First issue: April 2005; Creators: Eric Powell, Kyle Holtz; Four-issue mini-series; Publisher: Dark Horse.

  Billy the Kid and a group of circus freaks known as “Sproule's Biological Curiosities” join forces against Dr. Frankenstein as he searches for the heart of the Golem.

  Cover of Billy the Kid's Old Timey Oddities #1, by Eric Powell and Kyle Hotz. Published by Dark Horse Comics, Inc. Dark Horse Comics & the Dark Horse logo are registered trademarks of Dark Horse Comics, Inc.

  The Bird Man

  [Comic book character; WW]

  First appearance: Weird Comics #1 (April 1940); Creator: Arnold Mazos; Publisher: Fox Features Syndicate.

  Over the vast wilderness of the great Western canyons swoops the Bird Man, winged hunter of the plains. A descendant of an ancient Indian god, the Bird Man was gifted with the ability to fly and the keen senses of a bird of prey.

  Birdman and the Galaxy Trio

  (1967) [Animated TV series; SW]

  The adventures of solar-powered crime fighter Birdman. Although the animation was crude and the stories juvenile, Birdman did include an example of the animated science fiction Western decades before the genre gained in popularity.

  The Galaxy Trio was a separate show within the 30-minute format of three cartoons per episode.

  “THE WILD WEIRD WEST” (1:18)

  Air date: December 30, 1967; Voice Cast: Keith Andes as Birdman/Ray Randall, Don Messick as Falcon 7; Executive Producers-Directors: William Hanna, Joseph Barbera; 7 min.; Hanna-Barbera Productions, NBC; Color.

  Jesse Jons and his gang use mechanical horses and advanced guns invented by the evil Dr. Kordo to terrorize communities. Birdman and Falcon 7 track these descendants of Old West outlaws to a Western town but fall into a trap.

  Bisley's Scrapbook

  [Comic Book; WW]

  First issue: 1993; Stories: Dave Elliott, Simon Bisley; Art: Simon Bisley; Publisher: Atomeka.

  Anthology title featuring three supernatural stories including a Western about a zombie riding into the wrong town on his dead horse to seek revenge.

  “Black Amazon of Mars”

  [Pulp fiction; SW]

  Author: Leigh Brackett; First publication: Planet Stories (March 1951); Publisher: Love Romances, Inc.

  Eric John Stark is entrusted with a stolen holy talisman that guards the Gates of Death in the city of Kushat. But when Stark is captured by the mysterious masked and armored Ciaran, he learns of plans by the clans of Mekh to attack Kushat. Stark escapes to warn the Kushat leaders but his words go unheeded and Kushat falls to Ciaran and the Mekh. Stark unmasks Ciaran and discovers her to be a beautiful red-haired woman otherwise known as the Black Amazon.

  The Gates of Hell are seen as the town's salvation until Stark discovers that evil creatures lurk beyond the gates. The talisman can destroy the creatures but at great risk to Stark.

  The story was revised and expanded into the novel People of the Talisman in 1964.

  See: “Queen of the Martian Catacombs”

  Black, Bill

  (1943- ) [Comic book artist, writer, editor, publisher]

  Born in Tarentum, Pennsylvania, Bill Black is a graduate of Florida State University. From 1964 to 1966 he was associate editor of Charlatan magazine, a renegade college humor publication. Black worked as an artist for James Warren's Creepy and Eerie comic book magazines in 1969 and at Marvel Comics in the late 1970s. He also worked for Charlton Comics where he provided cover artwork for Billy the Kid and Gunfighters, and interior art for Nightshade. In the 1990s Black worked for several comic book publishers, including an eight-year run on Star Wars at Dark Horse.

  Black's desire to be in control of his creations led to the forming of Paragon in 1969, followed by Americomics (later AC Comics) in 1982. AC Comics gave Black an outlet to keep his favorite Western strips from Magazine Enterprises alive after he obtained permission to reprint their entire output including Best of the West (71 issues), The Durango Kid, Red Mask, Haunted Horseman (Ghost Rider), Presto Kid, B-Bar-B Riders and Tim Holt. Other Western titles published by AC Comics included Roy Rogers, Tom Mix, Lash LaRue, Bob Steele, Great American Western, TV Western, Blazing Western and Western Movie Heroes.

  Black also created new strips and characters for AC Comics with Femforce, Paragon, Nightveil, Bolt, Sentinels of Justice, Black Diamond, Scarlet Scorpion, Commando D and Fighting Yank. In total Black has created over 130 comic book titles. He incorporated ME Western characters such as Black Phantom into the female superhero comic book Femforce and updated her character by introducing supernatural elements. He is currently producing and directing live-action films based on his comic book creations Nightveil, Blue Bulleteer and Garganta.

  Black Bison

  [Comic Book character; WW]

  First appearance: Fury of Firestorm #1 (June 1982); Creators: Gerry Conway, Pat Broderick; Publisher: DC Comics

  The spirit of Bison-Black-as-Midnight-Sky, former shaman of the Bison Cult tribe, possesses the body of Black-Cloud-in-Morning a.k.a. John Ravenhair through a mystic talisman worn around his neck. The talisman used in unison with a wooden coup stick allows Black Bison to control the weather and animate stuffed animals and objects.

  Black Blaze

  [Comic book character; SW]

  “COWGIRLS IN SPACE”

  First publication: Star Fems #2 (1982); Story: Bill Black; Art: Paul Gulacy; Publisher: Paragon Publications.

  Blaze Brand alias Black Blaze is a descendant of Steve Brand alias The Durango Kid. The colonization of planets is the new frontier for these cowgirls in space as they combat the natives and seek to expand their version of civilization.

  The Black Circle: Unholy Alliance

  [RPG Book; WW]

  Author: John Goff; First publication: 2000; Game: Deadlands: The Weird West; Publisher: Pinnacle Entertainment Group.

  Plot and background book to Weird West villains Black River, Bayou V
ermillion, the Whateleys and their organizations plus an introduction to the Cackler.

  Black Crow

  [Comic book character; WW]

  First appearance: Captain America #292 (April 1984); Creators: J.M. DeMatteis, Paul Neary; Publisher: Marvel Comics.

  Navajo Indian Jesse Black Crow, paralyzed after an accident on a construction site, was visited in the hospital by the Earth spirit and transformed into an Indian warrior. Remaining crippled and confined to a wheelchair as Jesse Black Crow, he assumes superhuman strength as Black Crow the warrior. He also has the ability to metamorphose into a black crow, a bolt of lightning or mist, travel to ancestral dimensions, create visions and engage in magic and mysticism.

  Black Noon

  (1971) [Telefilm; WW]

  Premiere: November 5, 1971; Main Cast: Roy Thinnes as the Rev. John Keyes, Lynn Loring as Lorna Keyes; Yvette Mimieux as Deliverance, Ray Milland as Caleb Hobbs, Gloria Grahame as Bethia; Producer-Story: Andrew J. Fenady; Director: Bernard L. Kowalski; 74 min.; Andrew J. Fenady Productions, Screen Gems Television; Color.

  An Old West preacher (Thinnes) and his wife (Loring) are offered refuge in a small town after they become stranded in the desert. But unknown to the reverend, the townspeople are devil worshippers who are practicing voodoo on his wife.

  Black Noon (1971), a telefilm starring Roy Thinnes and Lyn Loring (Andrew J. Fenady Productions, Screen Gems Television).

  Black Panther

  [Comic book]

  “SADDLES ABLAZE” [SFW]

  First publication: #46-47 (October-November 2002); Story: Christopher Priest Art: Jorge Lucas; Publisher: Marvel Comics.

  Bizarre time-travel adventure set in the Old West town of Buzzard Gulch featuring Black Panther, Loki, Thor, Kid Colt, Two-Gun Kid and Rawhide Kid. In the climax in Asgard, the cowboys do battle with trolls.

  The story is a continuation of Thor #370 which was also set in the Old West town of Buzzard Gulch but didn't feature Kid Colt, Two-Gun Kid or Rawhide Kid.

  Black Phantom

  [Comic book character; WW]

  First appearance: Tim Holt #25 (September 1951); Creators: Ray Krank, Frank Bolle; Publishers: Magazine Enterprises, AC Comics.

  Masked female partner of Tim Holt's Red Mask. She was given her own title in November 1954. In her original Magazine Enterprise adventures she was a standard Western outlaw-turned-good with fighting and gun skills but no supernatural powers.

  When Bill Black resurrected the character for his AC Comics line, he reprinted her Magazine Enterprise strips before incorporating her in Femforce and making her a true phantom.

  Black Phantom in Femforce #69 “Chasing Phantoms” page 1 (1994). Story by Bill Black, Art by Dick Ayers and Mark Heike. © 2009 AC Comics/Nightveil Media, Inc. Used with permission.

  The Black Range; or, Frank Reade Jr. Among the Cowboys with His New Electric Caravan

  [Dime Novel; SPW]

  Author: “Noname” (Luis Senarens); Frank Reade Library Vol. III #68 (January 6, 1894)

  Black Rider

  [Comic book character; comic book]

  First appearance: All Western Winners #2 (Winter 1948); Art: Syd Shores; Publisher: Atlas Comics.

  When the infamous Cactus Kid kills the Luke Davis Gang who were holding the town of Jezebel, Texas, hostage, he is granted a pardon for his past crimes. Matthew Masters turns to a peaceful life as a doctor but when one of his patients, foreman Charlie Maddock, is murdered, he is branded a coward for doing nothing to prevent it. Masters decides to adopt the persona of the Black Rider to combat evil with the help of his steed Satan. Black Rider was occasionally featured in Weird Western stories.

  “THE MYSTERY OF THE VALLEY OF THE GIANTS” [WW]

  First publication: Black Rider #8 (March 1950); Art: John Severin.

  Professor Chalis' invention is capable of turning men into giants and of shrinking cattle.

  “THE TOWN THAT VANISHED” [WW]

  First publication: Black Rider #12 (January 1951); Art: Al Hartley.

  A Spanish colonial town reappears through a rift in time populated by Spanish Conquistadors from an earlier era.

  “THE SPIDER STRIKES!” [WW]

  First publication: Black Rider #27 (March 1955); Art: Syd Shores.

  An “immortal” insane killer named The Spider apparently rises from the grave only to die in flames.

  “THE SPIDER RETURNS” [WMW]

  First publication: Western Tales of Black Rider #28 (May 1955); Art: Syd Shores; Publisher: Atlas Comics.

  The Spider returns from the grave once again only to meet death for the second time at the hands of the Black Rider.

  This issue featured a toned-down version of The Spider from his previous appearance due to the newly formed Comics Code Authority's required stamp of approval.

  “SPECTER OF DOOM” [WMW]

  First publication: Wild Western #37 (October 1954); Art: Al Hartley; Publisher: Atlas Comics.

  Mad Dog Murdock returns from the dead as a glowing specter complete with mask and cape. But it's all down to a can of phosphorous paint.

  See: Strange Westerns Starring the Black Rider

  “Black Thirst”

  [Pulp fiction; SW]

  Author: C. L. Moore; First publication; Weird Tales (April 1934).

  An attractive Minga girl named Vaudir leads Northwest Smith into a world where the Alendar feeds on the beauty of women.

  Northwest Smith falls prey again to a beautiful young woman leading him astray.

  Blackbow the Cheyenne

  [Comic book character; UK; WW]

  First appearance: Swift (1961); Creator: Edward Holmes; Story: Edward Cowan; Art: Frank Humphris; Don Lawrence; Publisher: Hulton Press.

  Raised by Cheyenne chief Grey Cloud, Blackbow eventually settled in Powder Creek where he was taken under the care of Dr. Tad Barnaby. Adopting the name of Jim Barnaby, he began to practice medicine while secretly trying to maintain law and order as Blackbow, the last of the Cheyenne warriors.

  Weird Western elements were introduced into the storylines as the series progressed, including a plot involving an evil “Master Plant” on the rampage in the Old West.

  Blackbow was based on the 1953 strip “Strongbow the Mowhawk” featured in Comet comic. Each character had the same alter-ego and back-story but the setting was moved forward from the frontier period to the Old West.

  Blackfoot Braves Society: Spirit Totems

  [Children's book; WW]

  Author: Christopher E. Long; Illustrator: Michael Geiger; First publication: Boston: Komikwerks, 2006.

  Privileged youngster Jackson Brady makes two new friends at the Blackfoot Braves Society Summer Camp. On a treasure map hike, the three take refuge from a storm in a cave and encounter a Ghost Shaman who teaches them to harness their animal spirits to fight hostile supernatural forces.

  Blazin' Barrels

  [Manwha; Korea; SFW]

  First publication: June 2005; Creator: Min-Seo Park; Publisher: Tokyo Pop

  In a futuristic Wild West, Sting hunts down the all-girl outlaw gang, Gold Romany.

  Blood

  [Video Game; SFW]

  Release date: 1997; Voice Cast: Stephan Weyte as Caleb, Jason Hall as The Voice; Executive producer: Jace Hall; Perspective: First-Person; Developer: Monolith Productions, Inc.; Platform: DOS; Publisher: GT Interactive Software Corp.

  Resurrected Old West gunslinger Caleb is out for revenge on the dark god Tchernobog and his minions who betrayed his cult “The Chosen.”

  This excessively violent and gory first-person shooter was originally divided into four episodes. Two extra episodes were released in 1997.

  1: The Way of All Flesh (8 levels); 2: Even Death May Die (9 levels); 3: Farewell to Arms (8 levels); 4: Dead Reckoning (9 levels); 5: Post Mortem (9 levels); Cryptic Passage (10 levels).

  Blood and Shadows

  [Comic book; WW]

  First appearance: January 1996; Story: Joe R. Lansdale; Art: Mark A. Nelson; Four-issue mini-series; Publishe
r: Vertigo

  East Texas Shamus Chet Daly tracks the demon god of the Razor to his lair and faces his own demons as he unearths secrets from the past and the future.

  Blood Meridian or The Evening Redness in the West

  [Novel; WW]

  Author: Cormac McCarthy; First publication: New York: Random House, 1985.

  The story of the Glanton Gang, Judge Holden and a fourteen-year-old runaway known as “the kid” as they journey through a nightmarish landscape of violence and horror in the Texas-Mexico borderlands of 1851.

  The men as they rode turned black in the sun from the blood on their clothes and their faces and then paled slowly in the rising dust until they assumed once more the color of the land through which they passed.

  Blood Trail

  (1997) [Film; WW]

  Premiere: 1997; Main Cast: Adrian Pasdar as Chase Leonard, Raoul Trujillo as Bloody Hands Spirit, Barry Tubb as Need Hawks, R.J. Preston as Ben Logan; Story: R. J. Preston, Barry Tubb; Producer-Director: Barry Tubb; 81 min.; Color.

  Supernatural Western about a group of cowboys possessed by evil spirits after they lay claim to a sacred Indian burial ground.