by Paul Green
Cover of The Key to the Indian by Lynne Reid Banks (1998).
Khon fai bin
(2006) [Film; Thailand; WW]
Premiere: December 21, 2006; Main Cast: Dan Chupong as Jone Bang Fai, Leo Putt as Lord Wang, Panna Rittikrai as Nai Hoi Dam, Samart Payakarun as Nai Hoi Singh, Kanyapak Suworakood as E-sao; Producer: Prachya Pinkaew; Director: Chalerm Wongpim; 103 min.; Sahamongkol Film International Co. Ltd.; Color.
Martial arts Western set in Siam in the 1890s. A young warrior (Chupong) searches for the tattooed man who killed his parents. His journey brings him into contact with a Black Wizard (Rittikrai).
See: Dynamite Warrior
Kid Colt and the Arizona Girl
[Comic book; WW]
First publication: September 2006; Story: Jimmy Palmiotti, Justin Gray, Jim McCann; Art: Federica Manfredi, Jimmy Palmiotti, David Williams.
Escorting a stagecoach through Apache territory, Kid Colt and Arizona Annie quickly come to realize that one town is filled with weird townsfolk.
Kid Colt, Outlaw
[Comic book character; Comic book; WW]
1. First appearance: Kid Colt Hero of the West #1 (August 1948); Publisher: Timely-Atlas–Marvel Comics.
Blaine Colt's reputation with a six-gun preceded him as he fled from the law rather than face trial for a murder he didn't commit.
Early stories were standard Western adventures with the occasional Weird Menace Western plot.
“CURSE OF THE CHINESE IDOL” [WMW]
First publication: Wild Western #7 (May 1949); Story: Ernie Hart; Art: Russ Heath.
When Kid Colt hears of an accursed Chinese idol that brings death to anyone who comes into contact with it, he investigates.
In the early 1960s with the cross-over from Atlas to Marvel Comics, Kid Colt stories became increasingly weird, beginning with:
“THE GHOST OF MIDNIGHT MOUNTAIN” [WW]
First publication: Kid Colt Outlaw #93 (October 1960); Story: Stan Lee; Art: Jack Keller.
When Kid Colt encounters three “ghosts” on Midnight Mountain, he quickly discovers they are the cloaked figures of outlaw Caleb and his gang. But when Caleb and his men freeze in terror at the sight before them, Kid Colt wonders if the stories about the mountain being haunted are true.
“WHEN THE WITCH DOCTOR STRIKES” [WMW]
First publication: Kid Colt Outlaw #100 (September 1961); Story: Stan Lee; Art: Jack Keller.
Stage magician Rack Morgan claims he possesses supernatural powers and is a witch doctor. Comanche Indian Black Feather further perpetuates the reputation of Waroo the witch doctor to overthrow Chief Tall Bear. Meanwhile, Kid Colt is hiding out among the Comanche to escape the law.
“THE GHOST OF SILVER CITY” [WMW]
First publication: Kid Colt Outlaw #102 (January 1962); Story: Stan Lee; Art: Jack Keller.
Outlaw Johnny Ringo fakes his death and returns as his ghost in a scheme to trap Kid Colt on a murder charge.
“THE INVISIBLE GUNMAN” [WMW]
First publication: Kid Colt Outlaw #116 (May 1964); Story: Stan Lee; Art: Jack Keller.
The “partner” of Doctor Danger, the Invisible Gunman strikes terror into the townsfolk by appearing as a hat and a gun with a disembodied voice. But it is all an illusion of skilled ventriloquist Doctor Danger, who throws his voice and controls the hat and gun with a powerful magnet.
“THE GIANT MONSTER OF MIDNIGHT VALLEY” [SFW]
First publication: Kid Colt Outlaw #107 (November 1962); Story: Stan Lee; Art: Jack Keller.
The Weird Menace plot device with a logical explanation for seemingly supernatural events was common in Western comic books of the period. This issue from the early 1960s stands out as a genuine Science Fiction Western.
A gigantic telepathic and telekinetic alien creature is stranded in the Old West after its spacecraft is struck by a comet and is forced to crashland in the vicinity of Midnight Mountain.
Kid Colt Outlaw also featured borderline Weird Menace villains including hypnotists Bennington Brown and Orville Jones and the armored and seemingly invulnerable Iron Mask.
The longest-running Western comic book character spanned 31 years, although the majority of issues from #140 (November 1969) onward were reprints of earlier issues with new cover art. Kid Colt later appeared as a guest star in various Marvel comic books including The Avengers, Black Panther and Fantastic Four.
2. First appearance: Heroes Reborn: Young Allies #1 (January 2000); Creators: Fabian Nicieza, Mark Bagley; Publisher: Marvel Comics.
A weird twist on the original Kid Colt character. Elric Freedom Whitemane undergoes government experiments that result in him becoming a humanoid horse! Fascinated by stories of the Old West, Elric decides to name himself after outlaw Kid Colt. In human form, Elric wears a cowboy costume to emulate his hero.
Killer Clowns
[RPG book; WW]
Author: John Goff; First publication: 1999; Deadlands: Hell on Earth #3 Dime Novel series; Publisher: Pinnacle Entertainment Group.
Teller, gunslinger Gabriel Roth and female sniper Brooks enter Dempsey Island amusement park in their search for hostages held by a renegade road gang. But the amusement park has dangers of its own in the form of monsters.
“King Solomon's Throne”
[Pulp fiction; WMW]
Author: Lon Williams; Character: Lee Winters; First publication: Real Western Stories (October 1952)
Lee Winters encounters a person claiming to be King Solomon in Alkali Flats.
“Follow us, Winters, to King Solomon's throne. Ride hard, too, or we shall outdistance you.”
They dug with spurs, and their horses pounded away. Winters, cursing himself for a great fool, raced after them, determined to get under this crazy business.
Meanwhile, he was scared stiff. Sweat popped, and his face began to sting.
In fifteen minutes they arrived. King Solomon sat upon a rocky throne, a lantern on a ledge beside him, a corpse—Lightning Latimer—stretched at his feet, pointing south.
King, Stephen
(1947–) [Author]
A native of Portland, Maine, Stephen Edwin King established himself as a master of horror and fantasy fiction with the publication of his first novel Carrie (1974). King has proved to be a prolific writer novels and short stories, including those published under the pseudonym Richard Bachman between 1977 and 1984.
Many of his novels have been adapted into films and mini-series. To date he is the most successful horror author of all time with worldwide sales exceeding 100 million copies.
Selected works: Salem's Lot (1975), The Shining (1977), The Dead Zone (1979), Misery (1987), The Green Mile (1996), Dolores Claiborne (1992). Novel series: The Dark Tower (1982-2004).
Kolchak the Night Stalker
[TV series]
Investigative reporter Carl Kolchak pursues supernatural forces, creatures and spirits in Chicago.
Creator: Jeffrey Grant Rice; Main Cast: Darren McGavin as Carl Kolchak, Simon Oakland as Tony Vincenzo; 60 min. × 20; Francy Productions, Universal TV; Color.
“BAD MEDICINE” (1:08) [WW]
Air date: November 29, 1974; Guest Stars: Richard Kiel as the Diablero, Victor Jory as Charles Rolling Thunder, Alice Ghostley as Dr. Agnes Temple; Creator: Jeffrey Grant Rice; Executive Producer: Cy Chermak; Story: L. Ford Neale, John Huff; Director: Alexander Grasshoff; 60 min.; Francy Productions, Universal TV; Color.
A shape-shifting Native American Indian known as a Diablero walks the earth for eternity gathering valuable jewels. The Diablero's power of hypnotism that results in the suicide of his victims must be turned against itself by Kolchak in order to destroy it.
“THE ENERGY EATER” (1:10) [WW]
Air date: December 13, 1974; Guest Stars: Ruth McDevitt as Emily Cowles, William Smith as Jim Elkhorn, Michael Strong as Walter Green, Elaine Giftos as Nurse Janice Eisen; Executive Producer: Cy Chermak; Story: Arthur Rowe, Rudolph Borchert; Director: Alexander Grasshoff.
Kolchak investigates a ho
spital built by Native American Indians where he is told patients are dying from fear. Medicine man Jim Elkhorn tells Kolchak of the legend of the Indian bear-god Matchemonedo and his resurrected spirit that feeds on energy. Kolchak knows he is in trouble when attempts to destroy the spirit only result in it feeding on the energy of the radioactive cobalt in the hospital.
Kung Fu
(1972) [TV Series; WW]
Forced into exile following the murder of the emperor's nephew, Kwai Chang Caine (David Carradine) is pursued by bounty hunters and Chinese assassins in the Old West of 1870s America. After learning of a half-brother, Danny Caine, he decides to locate him.
An Emmy Award winning martial arts Western series. David Carradine's performance as Chinese-American Shaolin monk Kwai Chang Caine was in stark contrast to the prevalent Hollywood Western hero of the time. Carradine's unconventional offscreen lifestyle added to the mystique of the character who preached peace and love but wasn't averse to defending himself in spectacular fashion when required.
While early seasons emphasized traditional Western storylines with a kung fu twist, the third season explored supernatural Weird Western themes.
Premiere: October 14, 1972; Main Cast: David Carradine as Kwai Chang Caine, Radames Pera as Young Kwai Chang Caine; Keye Luke as Master Po, Philip Ahn as Master Kan; Creator: Ed Spielman; Executive Producer: Jerry Thorpe; 62 × 50 min. + 75 min. pilot; Warner Bros. Television; Color.
Weird Western episodes:
“SUPERSTITION” (1:12)
Air date: April 5, 1973; Story: Dave Moessinger; Teleplay: Ed Waters; Director: Charles S. Dubin.
Caine encounters prisoners at a labor camp who are held captive by both their deeds and their belief in an ancient Indian curse. Convinced that uncovering human bones results in death, they live in constant fear.
“THE BRUJO” (2:19)
Air date: October 25, 1973; Guest Star: Henry Darrow; Special Guest Star: Benson Fong; Teleplay: Katharyn Terry & Michael S. Michaelian; Director: Richard Lang.
At the request of his dying mother, Caine escorts a young boy to the village of San Martin where Caine attempts to break the curse of a Brujo that has been cast on the townsfolk and himself.
“BLOOD OF THE DRAGON PART ONE AND TWO” (3:07; 3:08)
Air date: September 14, 1974; 120 min; Special Guest Stars: Eddie Albert, Edward Albert; Teleplay: John T. Dugan; Director: Richard Lang.
Caine's premonition that his grandfather has died comes true. Meanwhile a group of Chinese assassins with the ability to summon demons are tracking him.
“CRY OF THE NIGHT BEAST” (3:01)
Air date: October 19, 1974; Special Guest Star: Stefanie Powers; Story: Abe Polsky, Ed Waters; Teleplay: Ed Waters; Director: Richard Lang.
A distressed baby buffalo and the cry of a young child become joined in time as Caine protects the buffalo calf and its mother from hunters.
“THIS VALLEY OF TERROR” (3:03)
Air date: September 28, 1974; Special Guest Star: Howard Duff; Story: Katharyn & Michael Michaelian; Teleplay: Katharyn Michaelian; Director: Harry Harris.
Caine befriends a young woman who has visions of future events and of the signs of the dragon and the tiger burned into his forearms.
“THE DEMON GOD” (3:09)
Air date: December 13, 1974; Story: George Clayton Johnson; Teleplay: George Clayton Johnson, David Michael Korn; Director: David Carradine.
The delirium caused by a scorpion sting takes Caine back to his time as a temple student in China when a member of the royal family poisoned him to discover what awaited his dying father beyond death.
“THE VANISHING IMAGE” (3:06)
Air date: December 20, 1974; Guest Star: Lew Ayres; Teleplay: Gustave Field Director: Barry Crane.
An Indian attacks Caine and seeks to kill a photographer for taking a picture of him that he believes has stolen his spirit.
“ONE STEP TO DARKNESS” (3:15)
Air date: January 25, 1975; Story: Gerald Sanford; Teleplay: Robert Sherman, Theodore Apstein; Director: Marc Daniels
A drug addicted Army wife introduces Caine to a demon who makes claims on his life.
“BATTLE HYMN” (3:17)
Air date: February 8, 1975; Special Guest Star: Julian “Cannonball” Adderly; Story: D. C. Fontana; Teleplay: Herman Miller; Director: Barry Crane.
Traveling musicians meet up with Caine as they search for a magical cave.
Kung Fu (1972), a television series starring David Carradine as Kwai Chang Caine.
Kung Fu: The Legend Continues
(1993) [TV series]
Modern-day sequel to the original series. The grandson (David Carradine) of the original Kwai Chang Caine and his son Peter Caine (Chris Potter) are reunited fifteen years following a fire that destroyed the Shaolin Temple in California where they both lived.
Main Cast: David Carradine as Kwai Chang Caine, Chris Potter as Peter Caine; Executive Producer: Michael Sloan; 88 × 44 min.; Warner Bros. Television; Color.
“GUNFIGHTERS” (3:06) [WW]
Air date: February 27, 1995; Guest Cast: Clint Walker as Cheyenne Bodie, James Drury as Deacon, Clu Gulager as Deputy Clay Hardin, Robert Fuller as McBride; Story: Michael Sloan; Director: Jon Cassar.
Kwai Chang Caine travels through time to the Old West where he exchanges places with his grandfather Kwai Chang Caine. This offbeat episode marks the return of Clint Walker as Cheyenne Bodie and features former The Virginian stars James Drury and Clu Gulager.
“COOL RIDE” (4:11) [WW]
Air date: September 30, 1996; Guest Cast: James Drury as Dr. Frieze, David Hewlett as Dr. Nickie, William Campbell as Wolfe, Deborah Duchene as Xenia, William Dunlop as Chief of Detectives Frank Strenlich, Belinda Metz as Detective Jody Powell; Writer: Phil Combest; Director: Jon Cassar.
Contemporary Western starring Drury as Dr. Freize, a carnival ride barker who happens to be the reincarnation of Deacon from “Gun-fighters.” Frieze uses mind control on chosen people who go on the ride and scares them to death. After their demise, he steals their souls to keep him alive.
Lansdale, Joe R.
(b. 1951) [Comic book writer; Author]
Born in Gladewater, Texas, Lansdale began his writing career on Mike Shayne's Mystery Magazine before turning to horror, Westerns and adventure stories. His best-known comic book work includes stories for Batman and Jonah Hex. Apart from his Weird Western novels and stories, Lansdale continues to work in the mystery genre with a series of novels featuring Texas sleuths Hap Collins and Leonard Pine.
Selected works: Dead in the West (1983), The Magic Wagon (1986), Savage Season (1990), Mucho Mujo (1994), Bad Chili (1997), The Bottoms (2000), A Fine Dark Line (2002).
Lansdale and Truman's Dead Folks
[Graphic novel; WW]
First publication: June 2004; Story: Joe R. Lansdale; Art: Tim Truman; Publisher: Avatar.
A bounty hunter must contend with zombies after he captures his prey.
“Lantern in the Sky”
[Pulp fiction; WW]
Author: Lon Williams; Character: Lee Winters; Real Western Stories (June 1955)
Two strangers in a tavern claim to be reincarnations of the same famous poets.
Lash LaRue
[Comic book character]
A comic strip character based on the popular Western film actor.
“THE CASE OF THE SUPERNATURAL” [WW]
First publication: Six-Gun Heroes #13 (March 1952); Art: Doug Wildey; Publisher: Fawcett Publications.
When a skeptical Lash LaRue travels to Carson Gulch to investigate deaths attributed to a vampire, he is amazed to discover vampires really do exist.
Lash LaRue in “The Case of the Supernatural” from Six-Gun Heroes #13 (March 1952); Art: Doug Wildey. © 2009 AC Comics/Nightveil Media, Inc. Used with permission.
The Last Crusaders
[RPG book; WW]
Author: Shane Lacy Hensley; First publication: 1998; Setting: Deadlands: Hell on Earth the Wasted West; Publisher:
Pinnacle Entertainment Group.
Secrets of the men and women of the righteous order of the Templars revealed. Includes the Wasted West adventure “The Destroyer.”
The Last Guardian
[Novel; SFW]
Author: David Gemmell; First publication: London: Random, 1990.
The last guardian, Jon Shannow the pistoleer, must close the portal of time between past and present to stop immeasurable evil from being unleashed. But to accomplish this, Shannow travels through the City of Beasts and the realm of the Dark Queen to find and take possession of the Sword of God.
See: Jerusalem Man; Bloodstone: A Jon Shannow Adventure
The Last Sane Cowboy and Other Stories
[Graphic novel; WW]
First publication: April 2007; Story-Art: Daniel Merlin Goodbrey; Publisher: AiT/Planet Lar.
Anthology of Weird Western stories, including ones about a man who bleeds scorpions, talking horses, a girl who can smell the future and a cowboy scorpion.
El Latigo en las Momias Asesinas
(1980) [Film; Mexico; WW]
Premiere: October 2, 1980; Main Cast: Juan Miranda as El Latigo, Rosa Gloria Chagoyán, Marcko D'Carlo; Executive Producer: Lic. Rafael Perez Grovas; Story: Ángel Rodríguez; Producer-Director: Roberto Rodríguez; 82 min.; Novelty Internacional Films S.A.., Películas Latinoamericanas S.A.; Spanish; Color.
