by Paul Green
It has been something of a revelation to me exactly how much Weird Western material there is out there. The cross-pollination with the “weird” of the supernatural is partly just for the fun of it. Supernatural stuff is fun to draw and contemplate. I just think an undying Gunslinger is a great idea, especially if he's conflicted, like Frankenstein's Monster or Swamp Thing. But also, the supernatural elements can really allow for a lot of deep philosophical rumination on the metaphorical level, while bullets fly and magic spells are cast on the surface to keep the reader distracted. It just so happens we live in an era that is on the cusp of a biotech revolution that may well bring such formerly mad concepts as “life extension” out of the realm of the manic fever-dreamer and into the clinics and supermarkets. We'll see if it happens, but it makes discussions of immortality and its consequences timely indeed.
Surprisingly, I never actually read any Weird Western stuff growing up, although I knew there was something called Jonah Hex. But I never cared for the art, so I never picked it up. I used to read a lot of Weird War comics from DC, and the juxtaposition of war and the supernatural may have been the real impetus for Dead Rider's strange combination of genres. Or it may simply have been EC comics plus Peckinpah. But it probably all goes back to the Greek legend of Tithonus, and the German legend of Faust, if we want to be scholarly about it.
Cover of The Dead Rider by Kevin Ferrara. Text and illustrations of Dead Rider TM and © Kevin Schnaper. Published by Dark Horse Comics, Inc. Dark Horse Comics & the Dark Horse logo are registered trademarks of Dark Horse Comics, Inc.
The Dead Rider #2. Story-Art: Kevin Ferrara. © Kevin Ferrara. Used with permission.
Dead West
[Graphic novel; WW]
First appearance: September 2005; Creators: Rick Spears, Rob G; Story: Rick Spears; Publisher: Gigantic Graphic Novels.
The one Indian who survived a massacre vengefully places a curse on the town in which the dead rise from their graves to prey upon the living. Meanwhile, a bounty hunter with no conscience is on the prowl.
Deadlands: Coffin Rock
[RPG book; WW]
Author: Sean Michael Fish; First publication: 2008; Setting: Deadlands; System: Savage Worlds; Publisher: Pinnacle Entertainment Group
Deadlands: Reloaded
adventure set in the mining town of Coffin Rock, Colorado. Elements include a posse protecting the town from a serial killer, ghosts roaming the streets, and a troublesome preacher and outlaws.
Deadlands: Hell on Earth
[RPG game; WW]
Publication date: 1998; Role-Playing Game (RPG); Writer & Design: Shane Lacy Hensley, B. D. Flory; Publisher: Pinnacle Entertainment Group.
The supernatural Reckoners have left a Wasted West in their path of destruction. Conflicting groups that include Junkers, Sykers, Templars and Doomsayers gather to restore some vestige of civilization.
Post-apocalyptic setting for Deadlands: The Weird West.
Deadlands: Hell on Earth d20
[RPG game; WW]
Publication date: 2002; Role-Playing Game (RPG); Writer & Design: Fred Jandt with Shane Lacy Hensley, John Hopler; Publisher: Pinnacle Entertainment Group.
Sequel to Deadlands: The Weird West in the d20 rules system.
Deadlands: Hell on Earth: The Wasted West
[RPG book; WW]
Designer: Shane Lacy Hensley; First publication: 1998; Publisher: Pinnacle Entertainment Group.
Authors: Shane Lacy Hensley, Ron Spencer, Charles Ryan; First publication: 1998; Publisher: Pinnacle Entertainment Group.
Worldbook featuring updates and facts on the Last War, the fate of the Maze and the Cult of Lost Angels, and the inner secrets of the Combine.
Core rules and settings for Deadlands: Hell on Earth RPG game.
Deadlands: Lost Colony
[RPG game; RPG book; WW]
Publication date: 2002; Role-Playing Game (RPG); Writer & Design: Shane Lacy Hensley; Publisher: Pinnacle Entertainment Group. Author: John R. Hopler; First publication: 2002; Publisher: Pinnacle Entertainment Group.
The third and final installment of the Deadlands setting, Lost Colony combines science fiction, horror and Western genres.
The Tunnel between Earth and the planet Banshee is no more. Colonists from Earth are trapped on a world of howling winds and warring aliens and the Reckoners are not far behind.
Deadlands One Shot
[Comic book; WW]
First appearance: August 1999; Story: Matt Forbeck; Art: Kevin Sharpe, Richard Pollard, Chris Dreier, Jason Baumgartner; Publisher: Image.
Strip based on the role-playing game featuring Ronan Lynch, Bad Luck Betty and Velvet van Helter against the Weird West's notorious Hangin' Judge.
Deadlands: Reloaded
[RPG game; WW]
Publication date: May 2006; Role-Playing Game (RPG); Writer & Design: Shane Lacy Hensley; Publisher: Pinnacle Entertainment Group.
Savage Worlds game engine version of Deadlands: The Weird West.
Deadlands Territory Guide
[RPG book; WW]
First publication: 2004; #1 Newfoundland: Rock of Ages; Setting: Deadlands: The Weird West; Publisher: Legion Publishing.
Guide for exploring the Newfoundland area of the Great Weird North.
Deadlands: The Epitaph
[RPG magazine; WW]
First publication: 2000; Editors: Shane Lacy Hensley, John Goff; Setting: Deadlands: Hell on Earth; Publisher: Pinnacle Entertainment Group.
A magazine featuring new dime novels, adventures and rules that ran to four issues.
#1. Deadlands: Hell on Earth dime novel “Story's End” by John Hopler; Deadlands adventure “Trouble at Table Rock” by Joseph Wolf; “Ronan Lynch” comic book by Clay and Susan Griffith.
#2. Deadlands: Hell on Earth adventure “Biodome 2” by Jay Kyle; “The Medicine Bag” by John Hopler; “A Little Knowledge” by John Goff; “Hellhole” comic book by Clay and Susan Griffith.
#3. Deadlands: Hell on Earth dime novel “Devil's Night” by John Hopler; “Guess Who's Coming to Donner?” by John Goff.
#4. Deadlands: Lost Colony adventure “High Noon on the High Seas” by Rob Lusk and the Flatlands Game Group; Deadlands: “Range Wars Solo!” by Tony Van.
Deadlands: The Great Rail Wars
[MBG game; WW]
Author: Shane Lacy Hensley; First publication: 1998; Miniatures Battle Game; Publisher: Pinnacle Entertainment Group.
Heroes and posses of metal miniatures battle to decide the fate of the Weird West.
Deadlands: The Weird West
[RPG game; WW]
Publication date: 1996; Role-Playing Game (RPG); Writer & Design: Shane Lacy Hensley; Publisher: Pinnacle Entertainment Group.
Alternate history RPG set in the year 1876 where the Reckoners have changed time and the South has won its independence. California is a shattered state of flooded sea canyons and the power source known as “ghost rock” fuels steampunk machines and is the cause of war between various factions wanting control of the rock.
Players are gunfighters, sorcerers known as hucksters, shamans, savage braves, mad scientists, and others who attempt to prevent the “Reckoning.”
Deadlands: The Weird West d20
[RPG game; WW]
Authors: John Goff, Shane Lacy Hensley, John Hopler; First publication: 2001; Setting: Deadlands: The Weird West; Publisher: Pinnacle Entertainment Group.
D20 rules system version updated to the year 1879.
“The Deadly Slowpoke”
[Pulp Fiction; WW]
Author: Lon Williams; Character: Lee Winters; First publication: Real Western Stories.
Why should a man be running around on all fours and growling like a dog? Lee Winters found out when he encountered Dr. Mesmer Ludwig....
Deadshot
[RPG book; WW]
First publication: 2006; Deadlands: Reloaded Dime Novel #2; Publisher: Legion Publishing.
Hoba Hills is home to a deadly competition financed by
Fargus O'Driscoll. The price is $5,000 or your life.
Deadwood Dick
(1940) [Film serial; WMW]
Premiere: July 19, 1940; Main Cast: Don Douglas as Dick Stanley/Deadwood Dick, Lorna Gray as Anne Butler, Harry Harvey as Dave Miller, Marin Sais as Calamity Jane; Producer: Larry Darmour; Story: Morgan B. Cox, George Plympton, Wyndham Gittens, John Cutting; Director: James W. Horne; 285 min.; Columbia Pictures Corporation; B/W.
Following the death of his star reporter. newspaper editor Dick Stanley alias Deadwood Dick protects the town of Deadwood in Dakota territory from “The Skull” and his gang.
Chapter Titles: 1. A Wild West Empire; 2. Who Is the Skull?; 3. Pirates of the Plains; 4. The Skull Baits a Trap; 5. Win, Lose or Draw; 6. Buried Alive; 7. The Chariot of Doom; 8. The Secret of Number Ten; 9. The Fatal Warning; 10. Framed for Murder; 11. The Bucket of Death; 12. A Race Against Time; 13. The Arsenal of Revolt; 14. Holding the Fort; 15. The Deadwood Express
Death Collector
(1988) [Film; SFW]
Premiere: 1988; Main Cast: Daniel Chapman as Wade Holt, Ruth Collins as Annie Northbride, Loren Blackwell as Hawk, Frank Stewart as Jack Holt; Executive Producers: Gianfranco Galluzzo, Tom Gniazdowski; Story: John McLaughlin; Director: Tom Gniazdowski [Tom Garrett]; 95 min.; Six-Shooter Films Inc.; Color.
Wade Holt seeks revenge on Hawk, leader of the gang who murdered his brother (Stewart), in the Old West town of Hartford City where townsfolk drive 1950s roadsters.
See: Tin Star Void
Death Comes to Dillinger
[Comic book; WW]
First appearance: 2006; Story: James Patrick; Art: Se7enhedd; two-issue mini-series; Publisher: Silent Devil.
When Death rides into Dillinger, the local banker fears that Death has come to take his ill daughter. He will do his best to postpone his daughter's death.
Death Walks in Laredo
(1966) [Film; Italy, Algeria; WW]
See: Tre pistole contro Cesare
Demon Gun
[Comic book; WW]
First appearance: 1996; Story: Gary Cohn; Pencils: Barry Orkin; Inks: Peter Palmiotti; three-issue mini-series; Publisher: Crusade.
Reverend Howe seeks vengeance on the Comancheros who destroyed his church and congregation by bargaining with evil spiritual powers posing as good.
Demoniaca
(1992) [Film; South Africa-UK; WW]
Re-edited Italian version of Dust Devil.
The Demons
[Comic strip; WW]
First appearance: Eerie #72; Story: Bill DuBay; Art: Jose Ortiz; Publisher: Warren Publishing.
Crucifixion Hill, New Mexico territory, 1912. Jedediah Pan reclaims one of two hellbands capable of summoning demons and swears revenge on the townsfolk who murdered his beautiful wife and young daughter in 1892 unless they return the second hellband. Subsequent issues featured Pan's estranged son Jeremiah Cold.
Following a five-issue run in Eerie, the story of the hellbands continued into the modern day with demon-possessed Cryssie Collins in Vampirella issues #92–93 (December 1980–January 1981).
Denver
[RPG book; WW]
Author: Jay Kyle; First publication: 2001; Deadlands: Hell on Earth: The Wasted West; Publisher: Pinnacle Entertainment Group.
Location sourcebook for Denver, General Throckmorton's Combine and the resistance to Throckmorton's attempts to dominate the Wasted West. Includes the adventure “Air Force One Is Down.”
Derailed!
[RPG book; WW]
Authors: Stephen Crane, Shane Lacy Hensley & John Hopler; First publication: 1998; Publisher: Pinnacle Entertainment Group.
Vehicle rules for The Great Rail Wars.
“A Desert Hippocrates”
[Pulp Fiction; WW]
Author: Lon Williams; Character: Lee Winters: First publication: Real Western Stories (August 1953).
Winters did not lift his hands. He felt a jab in his back, heard a sixgun click to full cock. He saw Spurlock's right hand move gracefully and swiftly to an under-arm holster.
“And your reason for being here,” said Sir Jared, "is your ownership of a lovely head of hair, which of course, you shall give to me. Your predecessors have made their donations. New lips from dear Hodge; new ears from dear Mr. Fuller; a new nose from poor, sorrowful Mr. Winthrop. And now, from you, Mr. Winters—"
Desert Phantom
(1936) [Film; WMW]
Premiere: March 10, 1936; Main Cast: Johnny Mack Brown as Billy Donovan, Sheila Manors as Jean Halloran; Producer: A. W. Hackel; Story: E. B. Mann, Earle Snell; Director: S. Roy Luby; 60 min.; Supreme Pictures, William Steiner Productions; B/W.
The Desert Phantom kills in order to gain control of an abandoned gold mine near the Double Bar-A Ranch. This movie has some mild Weird Western elements including a scene of a crippled man able to walk while sleepwalking. A remake of The Night Rider (1932), it was later remade as The Range Busters (1940).
Desert Punk
[Manga; Anime; Japan; SFW]
DVD release title (U.S.A.) for Sunabozu.
Desperadoes
[Comic book; WW]
First issue: September 1997; Story: Jeff Mariotte; Art: John Cassaday; Five-issue mini-series; Publisher: Image-Homage Comics.
Las Vegas, New Mexico Territory, 1879. Pinkerton detective Race Kennedy is pursuing a killer. Gideon Brood is on the trail of the same killer, with the help of Jerome Alexander Betts and Abby Degrazia. Brood is on a personal quest to avenge the brutal murder of his wife and son. But Leander Peik is no normal killer and each murder serves to increase his supernatural powers.
This five-issue mini-series was published by Homage Comics in graphic novel form in 1998 under the title Desperadoes: A Moment's Sunlight.
Desperadoes: Banners of Gold
[Comic book; WW]
First issue: December 2004; Story: Jeff Mariotte; Art: Jeremy Haun; Five issue mini-series; Publisher: IDW Publishing.
The Desperadoes become entangled with spiritualist Sarah Williams, murders, messages from beyond the grave and the psychotic Montana Donnie.
Cover of Desperadoes: Banners of Gold #3. Story: Jeff Mariotte Art: Jeremy Haun. © 2009 Jeff Mariotte and Idea and Design Works, LLC. Used with permission.
Desperadoes: Buffalo Dreams
[Comic book; WW]
First issue: January 2007; Story: Jeff Mariotte; Art: Alberto Dose; Four issue mini-series; Publisher: IDW Publishing.
A mystical cave that serves as the gateway for buffalo to enter our world is blocked. Geronimo and Lozen call upon the Desperadoes to discover the cause of the blockage and to remedy the situation.
Cover of Desperadoes: Buffalo Dreams #1. Story: Jeff Mariotte Art: Alberto Dose. © 2009 Jeff Mariotte and Idea and Design Works, LLC. Used with permission.
Desperadoes: Epidemic!
[Graphic Novel; WW]
First publication: November 1999; Story: Jeff Mariotte; Art: John Lucas; Publisher: Homage Comics.
Trapped in the town of Naciemento during an influenza epidemic, Gideon Brood, Jerome Alexander Betts, Abby DeGrazia and Race Kennedy encounter demonic priest Padre Montalvo and his minions.
Desperadoes: Quiet of the Grave
[Comic book; WW]
First issue: 1997; Story: Jeff Mariotte; Art: John Severin; Five-issue mini-series; Publisher: Homage-Image Comics.
Still on the run for accidentally shooting Sheriff Kelton's wife, Gideon Brood seeks to protect his friends from harm. But they are soon in greater danger from a new threat lurking in Luttrel, New Mexico Territory: a gunslinger who refuses to die.
The Devil and Miss Sarah
(1971) [Telefilm; WW]
Premiere: December 4, 1971; Main Cast: Gene Barry as Rankin, James Drury as Gil Turner, Janice Rule as Sarah Turner, Charles McGraw as Marshal Duncan, Slim Pickens as Stoney; Producer: Stanley Shpetner; Story: Calvin Clements Jr.; Director: Michael Caffey; 90 min.; Universal Television; Color.
Rankin, demon-possessed outlaw, attempts to possess the s
pirit of Sarah Turner in order to escape from her husband Gil. But Gil has powers of his own to combat Rankin's.
Devil's Engine
[Novel; WW]
Author: Mark Sumner; First publication: New York: Ballantine Books, 1997.
Magic powers exist in an alternate Old West where Jay Gould is planning to lay the tracks of his railroad through Medicine Rock in order to rob the town of its magic.
Second book in the Devil's Tower series.
The Devil's Mistress
(1966) [Film; WW]
Premiere: March 1, 1966; Main Cast: Joan Stapleton as Athaliah, Robert Gregory as Frank, Douglas Warren as Joe, Arthur Resley as Jeroboam, Forrest Westmoreland as Charlie; Producer: Wes Moreland; Story-Director: Orville Wanzer; 66 min.; Holiday Pictures; Color.
Fugitive cowboys go on a rampage of death, destruction and rape in Apache territory but one of the Indian females (Stapleton) they rape has a deadly supernatural secret.
