Weird Western Tales is a Western genre comics anthology published by DC Comics from June–July 1972 to August 1980. It is best known for featuring the adventures of Jonah Hex until #38 (Jan.–Feb. 1977) when the character was promoted to his own eponymous series. Scalphunter then took Hex's place as the featured character in Weird Western Tales.
Publication history Original series The original title ran for eight years and 59 issues. It started with issue #12 (June–July 1972), continuing the numbering from the second volume of All-Star Western two issues after the first appearance of Jonah Hex. The title's name was partially inspired by the sales success of Weird War Tales, and signaled the loosening standards of the outdated Comics Code Authority.
When Jonah Hex received his own eponymous series,McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 173: "In true nomad fashion, disfigured gunman Jonah Hex rode his horse out of Weird Western Tales and into his own comic". he was replaced as the lead feature of Weird Western Tales by Scalphunter as of issue #39 (March–April 1977).McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 173: "With scarred gunslinger Jonah Hex riding off into his own series, writer Michael Fleisher and artist Dick Ayers produced a new outcast to headline Weird Western Tales. Scalphunter was 'a man who lived in two worlds, but was at home in neither'". The character Cinnamon was introduced in issue #48 (Sept.–Oct. 1978) by writer Roger McKenzie and artist Jack Abel. The final issue was #70 (August 1980).
Revival Weird Western Tales was revived in 2001 as a four-issue limited series. This series had no relation to the earlier title, instead featuring a series of one-shot Western-based stories.
Blackest Night A one-shot revival of the series utilizing the original numbering #71 (March 2010) was published as a tie-in to the Blackest Night limited series.
Collected editions Showcase Presents: Jonah Hex Volume 1 includes Weird Western Tales #12–14 and 16–33, 528 pages, November 2005, Volume 2 includes Weird Western Tales #34–38, 544 pages, March 2014,
See also High Moon Weird West, the cross-genre
References
External links
Weird Western Tales and Weird Western Tales vol. 2 at Mike's Amazing World of Comics