Clicking on the following links or images will take you to the various Western, War and Action/Adventure comic collections covered in this section:
This section contains an assortment of comics from three different genres which all fall broadly into the following categories: (a) Western, (b) war, and (c) action/adventure. The listed comics are from different publishers: Marvel, DC, Dell/Gold Key and Charlton. Note that this section only includes regular full-color comics published in the U.S.; additional comics in these same genres can be found in the British B&W Comics section.
Please see below for a brief summary of the different comic series covered in this section, separated by genre and in order of publication date.
Western comics
Lone Ranger (1945): First published by Dell and later by Gold Key, the Lone Ranger comics were inspired by the popular radio show and newspaper strips featuring the character. The comic books featured the action-packed adventures of the Lone Ranger, capturing his strict moral code and his sense of justice.
Kid Colt (1948): First published by Leading Comics and later by Marvel, Kid Colt became the longest-running comic book featuring a cowboy star, lasting over 30 years after his debut. Stan Lee, the iconic co-creator of many Marvel characters, played a significant role in the development of Kid Colt, helping to establish his mythos and develop his compelling stories that have enthralled fans of Western stories for a long time.
Two-Gun Kid (1948): Published by Marvel, the Two-Gun Kid comics were a prominent part of the Western comic book genre for a long time. However, the character went through a complete reboot in 1962, when Two-Gun kid got a new masked look and identity (Matt Hawk) The previous character called Two-Gun Kid (Clay Harder) is now largely forgotten.
Rawhide Kid (1955): Published by Marvel, The Rawhide Kid had a publication history that spans over two decades. Like the Two-Gun Kid, the Rawhide Kid was reimagined by Marvel in 1960 as a diminutive redhead outlaw, and he became part of the ‘big three’ in their Western comic book line. Among the key contributors to Rawhide Kid were the Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, two of the most influential comic book creators of all time.
Texas Rangers in Action (1956): Published by Charlton, Texas Rangers in Action had a relatively short publication history of fewer than 15 years. The series focused on the thrilling adventures of the Texas Rangers, capturing the essence of the lawmen’s daring exploits in the Old West. Although the Ranger stories were mostly fictional, they did a good job in capturing the spirit of adventure and justice in the Wild West.
Outlaws of the West (1957): Published by Charlton, Outlaws of the West lasted for over two decades after its debut. The series focused on thrilling tales set in the Old West, featuring a diverse range of characters and narratives. Many of the stories on the comic-book series were based on real-life outlaws, though the actual stories are probably more fiction than fact.
Action/Adventure comics
Tarzan (1947): First published by Dell and later by Gold Key, the Tarzan comics featured the character introduced and made famous by Edgar Rice Burroughs three-and-a-half decades earlier. The action-packed stories and dynamic artwork brought the lush jungles of Africa and the iconic figure of Tarzan to vibrant life. The Gold Key era saw the adaptation of many of Burroughs’ popular Tarzan novels into the comic-book realm and solidified his place as a beloved and enduring character in popular culture.
Zorro (1949): First published by Dell and later by Gold Key, the Zorro comics brought into to the comic book medium the swashbuckling masked vigilante created by Johnston McCulley three decades earlier. Zorro’s daring exploits in Old California as depicted in the comic books solidified his place in popular culture and ensured the character’s enduring popularity among readers.
War comics
Sgt. Rock (1959): Published by DC, Our Army at War featuring Sgt. Rock had a long publication history spanning several decades. The war narratives featuring Sgt. Rock had depth and authenticity, while the gritty artwork captured the intensity and brutality of the battlefield. These comic books made Sgt. Rock a celebrated figure in the war story genre and a beloved character in the DC Comics universe.