Decent Comics: "The Hangman Never Loses!" by Kanigher and Aparo

Howdy there, Groove-ophiles! Here we are with the grand finale of Outlaw from All-Star Western #5 (February 1971)! With "The Hangman Never Loses!" writer/series co-creator Robert Kanigher goes out with a bang (literally) as he's joined by artist Jim Aparo (whooo!) and cover artist Neal Adams (whooo-whooo)!

Decent Comics: "No Coffin for a Killer!" by Kanigher and Kane

Howdy, Groove-ophiles! We're back with another Robert Kanigher/Gil Kane Outlaw extravaganza! This is one action-packed western tale, baby, and Gil Kane is at the top of his game! That waterfall sequence...wow!! If you love great comicbook art and a rousing western, you're gonna dig "No Coffin for a Killer!" from All-Star Western #4 (December 1970)!

Cover art by Neal Adams

Decent Comics: "Death Deals the Cards!" by Kanigher and Kane

Howdy, Groove-pahdners! Time to get back in the saddle with Outlaw! Kanigher's All-Star Western creation's second outing was short, but beautifully illustrated by the one and only Gil Kane! From All-Star Western #3 (October 1970)..."Death Deals the Cards!"

If You Blinked You Missed: Outlaw in All-Star Western

Greetings, Groove-ophiles, between the time Bat Lash's mag rode off into the sunset and Jonah Hex mosied into town, DC tried a few more western comics. One of them, which Ol' Groove still digs to this very day (mainly for the cool concept and amazing art) is Outlaw, which ran in All-Star Western issues 2-5 (August 1970-February 1971). Created by Bob Kanigher, Rick Wilson, The Outlaw, was the son of a Texas Ranger. Rick wanted to follow in his "ramrod" father's footsteps, but made some extremely bad decisions as a young man. Getting with the "wrong crowd", his dreams of becoming a Texas Ranger were shattered--and he became The Outlaw--hunted by his own father! The stories were fun, and the son-hunted-by-his-father is a different twist for a comicbook western, but it was the art that stole the show with this series. Tony DeZuniga in ish 2, Gil Kane for issues 3 and 4, and Jim Aparo in ish 5. Oh, and of course, the selling-point-of-all-selling-points, Neal Adams on the covers! Here's the debut from ish #2 by Kanigher and DeZuniga..."Draw Death!"

Did you catch El Diablo's cameo? How weird is it to see a character make his debut as a cameo in the lead feature--in the same comic his first solo story appears? Talk about your cross-overs!