by Paul Green
Author: Susan Torian Olan; First publication: 1989; Publisher: TSR Inc.
Post-apocalyptic tale set in a future American Southwest that resembles the Old West with Comanches and underground mutants fighting the corrupt government of Tesharka.
Ehi amico ... c'è Sabata, hai chiuso!
(1969) [Film; Italy; WW]
Premiere: 1969; Main Cast: Lee Van Cleef as Sabata, William Berger as Banjo, Franco Ressel as Hardy Stengel, Nick Jordan [Aldo Canti] as Indio, Pedro Sanchez [Ignazio Spalla] as Carrincha, Linda Veras as Jane; Producer: Alberto Grimaldi; Story: Gianfranco Parolini, Renato Izzo; Director: Frank Kramer [Gianfranco Parolini]; 111 min.; Produzioni Europee Associati (PEA); Color.
When Sabata confronts Banjo in a showdown, Banjo fires three bullets into a bag Sabata has placed in front of his body. But Sabata continues walking as dirt pours out of the bag. Sabata then proceeds to fire from the handle of his gun in another homage to the gimmicky trick shooting of Sartana that is reminiscent of James Bond and The Wild Wild West television series.
Sabata reflects director Gianfranco Parolini's other creation Sartana who also appeared to be invulnerable to bullets and relied on gimmicky weapons.
See: Sabata
El Borak
[Pulp fiction character; WMW]
Author: Robert E. Howard; First appearance: Top Notch, December 1934, “The Daughter of Erlik Khan.”
The adventures of a former Texas gunslinger turned adventurer in the Middle East in the early decades of the 20th century. While the exploits of Francis Xavier Gordon a.k.a. El Borak the Swift owe more to the swashbuckling genre than the Western, references to his Western past create a link between genres.
El Borak was traditional adventure fiction but he did encounter apparent supernatural forces of the evil djinn in the Weird Menace adventure “The Three-Bladed Doom,” which was later adapted by L. Sprague de Camp as a Conan the Barbarian adventure and re-titled “The Flame Knife” (1955).
El Diablo
[Comic book character; WW] First appearance: All-Star Western #2 (October 1970); Creators: Robert Kanigher, Gray Morrow; Publisher: DC Comics.
After bank teller Lazarus Lane is revived from a near-fatal coma by Apache shaman Wise Owl, he is possessed by a vengeance-seeking demon and becomes feared vigilante El Diablo.
Ellis, Edward Sylvester
(1840-1916) [Dime novel author] Born in Geneva, Ohio, on April 11, 1840, Ellis taught at Red Bank and Raritan, New Jersey, and became vice-principal of the largest grammar school in Trenton.
Ellis was editor of Public Opinion, a Trenton daily (1874-75), Golden Days (1878-81), where he met his second wife, Clara Spaulding Brown, and The Boys' Holiday a.k.a. The Holiday (1890-91). In 1887 he received the degree of Master of Arts from Princeton College.
Ellis established the genre labeled as Edisonade and was one of the first writers to introduce science fiction in popular culture through the dime novel with The Huge Hunter or The Steam Man of the Prairies (1868). He passed away at Cliff Island, Casco Bay, Maine, on June 20, 1916.
Selected works: Seth Jones: or the Captives of the Frontier (1860), The Rangers of the Mohawk; A Tale of Cherry Valley (1863), The Huge Hunter or The Steam Man of the Prairies (1868), The Red Eagle (1901), Deerfoot in the Forest (1905), River and Forest (1905), Off the Reservation (1908), The Cruise of the Deerfoot (1915).
Empty Saddles
(1936) [Film; WMW]
Premiere: December 20, 1936; Main Cast: Buck Jones as Buck Devlin, Louise Brooks as Boots Boone, Harvey Clark as Swap Boone, Charles Middleton as Cim White, Lloyd Ingraham as Lem Jessup/Jim Grant, Frank Campeau as Kit Kress; Producer: Buck Jones; Story: Cherry Wilson; Screenplay: Frances Guihan; Director: Lesley Selander; 67 min.; Buck Jones Productions, Universal Pictures; B/W.
Buck Devlin converts the Ranch of Empty Saddles into a dude ranch with the assistance of Swap Boone and his daughter Boots, (Boots is played by former silent film sex symbol Louise Brooks). But they soon discover a group of sheep men have plans of making claims on his land. This B Western features a scene involving Buck Devlin and a ghost.
The yarn has plenty of suspense, numerous spooky situations, a good love theme and enough of the western touch to top a western dualer or fill out the action requirements of a mixed bill and leave the cash customers well satisfied.—Daily Variety, October 14, 1936.
“Enchantress of Venus”
[Pulp fiction; SW]
Author: Leigh Brackett; First publication: Planet Stories (Fall 1949); Publisher: Love Romances, Inc.
The search for his friend Helvi takes Eric John Stark to the Venusian harbor town of Shuruun. Stark's first impressions fill him with apprehension.
There was a smell about the place he did not like, a damp miasma of mud and crowding bodies and wine, and the breath of the vela poppy. Shuruun was an unclean town, and it stank of evil.
There was something else about it, a subtle thing that touched Stark's nerves with a chill finger. Fear. He could see the shadow of it in the eyes of the people, hear its undertone in their voices. The wolves of Shuruun did not feel safe in their own kennel. Unconsciously, as this feeling grew upon him, Stark's step grew more and more wary, his eyes more cold and hard.
The feelings of dread are confirmed when Stark becomes a slave of the Lhari in the city of the Lost Ones.
See: “Queen of the Martian Catacombs”; “Black Amazon of Mars”
Enton, Harry
(1854-1927) [Dime novel author]
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Enton graduated from Long Island College Hospital in 1885 and practiced medicine between his dime novel work.
Enton's creation Frank Reade made his debut on February 28, 1876. Enton penned three adventures before an argument with Frank Tousey over the removal of name credit led to his resignation from the series.
He continued writing on the Old Cap Collier series for Norman Munro and for the Boy's Champion serial “Young Sullivan; or, Knocked Out in Four Rounds.” Pseudonyms used by Enton included Mickey Free, Val Versatile, Ironclad and Harry Harrison. He died in March 1927 following a cerebral hemorrhage.
It has been stated that Enton's real name was Harold Cohen but this is disputed by others.
Selected works: Frank Reade and The Steam Man of the Prairies (1876), The Sky Detective; or, A Boy's Fight for Life and Honor (as Mickey Free,1883).
Eric John Stark
[Pulp fiction character; SW]
First appearance: “Queen of the Martian Catacombs” (Summer 1949); Creator: Leigh Brackett.
Civilization had brushed over Stark with a light hand. Raised from infancy by half-human aboriginals, his perceptions were still those of a savage.—“Enchantress of Venus”
When Eric John Stark's Earthborn parents die in a cave-in on one of Mercury's mining colonies, a native aboriginal tribe adopt's him. The young Stark adapts to life in the Mercurian Twilight Belt with his new name of N'Chaka—He With No Tribe. But he finds his life shattered once again when the tribe members who raised him are murdered by Terran (Earth) miners who capture and imprison Stark. Terran official Simon Ashton rescues Stark and becomes his educator and mentor.
Eric John Stark's origins can be viewed in terms of the classic Western theme of the white orphan raised by Indians who feels trapped between opposing cultures as an adult. Brackett explores Western themes of frontier life and of colonial settlers destroying native culture in their quest for domination of natural resources and territory.
Stark's path as an adult takes him along the road of a mercenary outlaw, often working both sides for his own benefit. He lives in a brutal solar system populated by angry Martians and Venusians who feel exploited by the Terran colonizers and their own ruling classes. In many ways Stark is a forerunner of the amoral spaghetti Western anti-heroes of the 1960s and a successor to the earlier pulp fiction space outlaw Northwest Smith.
Despite the fact Stark had black skin due to the intensity of the sun on Mercury, pulp artists of the day continued to depict Stark as white or merely tanne
d.
Escape from High Doom
[Juvenile book; WW]
Authors: Hilary H. Milton, Paul Frame; First publication: New York: Wanderer Books, 1984.
Noose City, Texas, is a ghost town where the specters of executed criminals appear on the anniversaries of their deaths. In Plot-It-Yourself Horror Stories #5, the readers' choices decide the outcome of the plot.
El Extraño hijo del sheriff
(1982) [Film; Mexico; WW]
Premiere: 1982; Main Cast: Mario Almada as Dr. Jack Miller, Eric del Castillo as Sheriff Frederick Jackson, Rosa Gloria Chagoyán as Julia, Alfredo Gutiérrez as Jeremías Santos, Luis Mario Quiroz as Fred and Eric Jackson, Alicia Encinas as Mary Jackson; Executive Producer: Armando Duarte; Screenplay: Eric del Castillo, Bárbara Gil; Director: Fernando Durán; 90 min.; ATA, Conacite Dos, Artistas y Técnicos Asociados-Estudios; Spanish; Color.
Supernatural Mexican Western influenced by The Other, The Exorcist and The Omen, set in the American Old West of the 1890s. After giving birth to conjoined twin boys, Sheriff Jackson's wife dies. When Jackson forces the doctor to separate the twins some years later, only one boy (L Quiroz) survives the operation. But the dead son has an evil influence over the surviving twin and guides his thoughts and actions from beyond the grave.
Fairy BrewHaHa at the Lucky Nickel Saloon
[Novel; WW]
Author: Ken Rand; First publication: Waterville, Maine: Five Star, 2005.
The patrons of the Lucky Nickel Saloon, Second Avenue, Laramie, Wyoming, confront a gang of faeries who plan to rob the circus of payroll gold.
See: Dadgum Martians Invade the Lucky Nickel Saloon
Fallen Cloud Saga
[Book series; WW]
Alternate history series by Kurt R.A. Giambastiani where Cheyenne Indians ride dinosaur mounts in a 19th century America ruled by President George Armstrong Custer with an agenda for expansion into the West.
See: The Year the Cloud Fell; The Spirit of Thunder; The Shadow of the Storm; From the Heart of the Storm
Fantastic Four
[Comic book]
The adventures of Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic), Benjamin Grimm (The Thing), Susan Richards (Invisible Girl) and Johnny Storm (The Human Torch). Following exposure to cosmic rays, they attain unique superpowers and form The Fantastic Four. One of the key comic book titles that kick-started the superhero boom of the 1960s.
“A TOWN CALLED REVELATION” [SFW]
First publication: Vol. 3 #33-34 (September-October 2000); Story: John Moore; Art: Salvador Larroca, Art Thibbert: Publisher: Marvel Comics.
The Fantastic Four are forced to land their Fantasti-Car in the Arizona town of Revelation after an atmospheric disturbance. They all have strange experiences, with Sue transported through time to 1873 where she meets Kid Colt, Outlaw.
Fantasy Island
(1978) [TV series]
Main Cast: Ricardo Montalban as Mr. Roarke, Hervé Villechaize as Tattoo; Executive Producer: Aaron Spelling; Spelling-Goldberg Productions; 157 × 60 min; Columbia Pictures Television; Color.
Fantasy Island is a resort where dreams and fantasies literally come true thanks to the mysterious, charismatic owner Mr. Roarke and his dwarf assistant Tattoo.
Weird Western episodes:
“THE SHERIFF” (1:03) [SFW]
Air date: February 11, 1978; Story: Robert Hamner; Director: Phil Bondelli; Guest: Harry Guardino as John Burke.
New York detective Burke wants to go back in time to be a sheriff and hand out Old West justice to the man who murdered his partner.
“BUTCH AND SUNDANCE” (1:07) [SFW]
Air date: March 18, 1978; Story: James Schmerer; Director: Cliff Bole; Guest Stars: James MacArthur as Alex Farelli/Sundance Kid, Christopher Connelly as Bill Cummings/Butch Cassidy, William Smith as Wyatt Earp.
Two friends' desire to be Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid makes them come to a new appreciate of their present lives.
“KID COREY RIDES AGAIN” (5:02) [SFW]
Air date: October 17, 1981; Guest Stars: Arte Johnson as Ned Plummer, Cameron Mitchell as Sheriff Matt, Jack Elam as Kid Corey; Story: Don Ingalls; Director: Don Chaffey.
Ned Plummer wishes to ride with legendary outlaw Kid Corey in the Old West.
“THE LAST COWBOY” (5:04) [SFW]
Air date: October 31, 1981; Guest Star: Stuart Whitman as Joel Campbell; Story: Larry Forrester; Director: Don Chaffey.
Joel Campbell's wished for adventure in the Old West prove to be far different from his fantasy image.
Far West
[Graphic novel; WW]
First publication: 2001; Creator: Richard Moore; b/w; Publisher: Nantier Beall Minoustchine Publishing.
Scantily clad elf bounty hunter Ra'Meghan Val'Norium (a.k.a. Meg) and sidekick Phil the bear hunt evil elf Voss. A dragon complicates matters further in this adult Weird Western adventure.
Farmer in the Sky
[Juvenile Novel; SW]
Author: Robert A. Heinlein; First publication: New York: Scribner, 1950; Illustrated by Clifford Geary; Originally serialized as Satellite Scout in Boy's Life (August-November 1950)
A “new frontier” pioneer theme runs through the story of Boy Scout Bill Lerner, his widowed father George, stepmother Molly Kenyon and stepsister Peggy as they strive to survive on one of Jupiter's moons, Ganymede. Heinlein stresses the power of community and the unique nature of mankind's talent for adapting to new situations and environments.
[T]hey had controlled their environment, they weren't animals, pushed around and forced to accept what nature handed them; they took nature and bent it to their will.
“The Fastest Draw”
[Short story; WW]
Author: Larry Eisenberg; First publication: Amazing Stories (October 1963); Publisher: Ziff-Davis.
A man keeps improving his robot gunslinger to test his gun-shooting skills.
See: Out of the Unknown
Fear Agent
[Comic book]
Heath Huston, a Texan with a serious drinking problem, roams the universe exterminating aliens who threaten the security of Earth.
“I AGAINST I” PART 1 & 2 [SFW]
First publication: Fear Agent #22 (June 2008); Story: Rick Remender; Art: Tony Moore; Publisher: Dark Horse Comics.
Heath Huston is adrift on a desert world, located in a shadow universe where he is pursued by killers after being shot in the back. But when rescuers come to his aid Huston is split between helping them and returning to Earth.
Fear Itself
(2008) [TV anthology series]
Horror anthology series that was cancelled mid-season.
“SKIN & BONES” (1:09) [WW]
Air date: July 31, 2008; Creator: Mike Garris; Main Cast: Doug Jones as Grady Edlund, Molly Hagan as Elena Edlund, Gordon Tootoosis as Eddie Bear; Story: Drew McWeeny, Scott Swan; Director: Larry Fessenden; 40 min.; NBC; Color.
A cattle herder (Jones) returns to his ranch after being lost in a mountain storm for ten days. But the man is now possessed by an evil spirit.
A Feather in the Wind
[Novel; WWR]
Author: Madeline Baker; First publication: New York: N.Y. Leisure Books, 1997.
After accepting an eagle feather from an aging American Indian who tells her it will answer her prayers, Susannah awakes in the year 1870. In a South Dakota army camp she meets prisoner Black Wind, whom she recognizes from a photograph she owns. And Black Wind recognizes Susannah as the beautiful woman in his visions.
Felix the Cat
(1958) [Animated TV series]
Premiere: 1958; Voice Cast: Jack Mercer as Felix, Poindexter, Vavoom, The Professor, Rock Bottom, The Master Cylinder; Producer: Joseph Oriolo; 30 min.; Trans-Lux Productions; Color.
Joe Oriolo's revisionist version of Felix the Cat complete with his “Magic Bag of Tricks” included episodes set in the American West that often featured surreal imagery involving Felix's magic bag: Felix Out West; Oil and Indians Don't Mix; Sheriff Felix Vs. the G
as Cloud; Out West With Big Brownie; Chief Standing Bull; Felix and Poindexter Out West.
Felix the Cat in Eats Are West
(1925) [Animated theatrical short; WW]
Premiere; November 15, 1925; Director: Otto Messmer; Pat Sullivan Studios; Silent; b/w.
Felix converts a trolley into an airplane to capture the Pony Express and eats all the sausages on board. But Felix finds trouble with the gang of cowboys whose sausages he ate.
Femforce
[Comic book]
First appearance: Femforce Special, Fall 1984; Publisher: AC Comics.
The adventures of this female super-team featured occasional Weird Western stories starring the Haunted Horseman, Buckaroo Betty and Black Phantom.
“THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE PARANORMAL” [#7; SFW]
First publication: 1987; Story: Bill Black, Rik Levins, Don Secrease; Art: Rik Levins, Don Secrease, Bill Black, Tom Grindberg, Howard Bender, Steve Vance, Dan Panosian, Bill Anderson, Dan Davis, Mark Heike.
Femforce travel's through time via the Time Triangle to the town of Apache, Texas, in 1874. Using the aliases Calamity Kate, Black Phantom, Cherokee, and Frenchy King, they attempt to track down Captain Paragon, not aware that Klyness the Kronon have also arrived on the same quest. Guest stars include The Hooded Horseman, Tim Holt, Lemonade Kid, Durango Kid, Angel Eyes Barcroft, Marshall Steve Brand, Chief White Cloud, Bullseye, Old Sure-Shot, Bat Masterson, Rocky Lane, Wild Bill Elliott and Black Diamond.
