Evan Lewis's Blog, page 118

CROCKETT'S DEVIL: A Rip-Roaring Review by Larry Paschelke

My friend Larry Paschelke, whom you know as the patron for my access to the early run of Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, has offered his take on this modern-day epic. Thanks Larry!
From the cover of the book (using the original cover of the April 1949 Dime Western pulp magazine) to the final two pages presenting the interesting and important “About the Author” essay, this book is a good addition to the list of novels involving the mix of real and fictional characters.
The time and site is 1813 in the Mississippi Territory, with the ongoing Creek War raging. Davy Crockett, Andrew Jackson, Red Eagle and the great horse Arrow are among the real, while a supporting cast of fictional characters—including a huge dog, Samson—fit together well. A separate type of character is the “demon” referred to in the title.
The book was published in both trade paperback and hardback, and while it might take some extra effort to track down the hardback, as a book collector I have gone for it. Besides, the little additional cost may help Lewis and his wife Irene to occasionally get off their usual diet of bear-grease and buffalo chips. Also, I heard there something called an eBook edition, but it is probably just a figment of someone’s imagination. I know Davy Crockett got along without such a thing, so I guess I can, too.
After finishing the book I would definitely recommend the reader the peruse the two Afterwords: The “Historical Note” is where Lewis outlines his mix of real and fictional characters and events. He seems to have done a good job of it.
The second Afterword is “About the Author,” where Lewis admits being under a life-long spell of Davy Crockett and lists some of the Davy “stuff” he’s collected over the years. I think this is an important part of his ability to write the book so well. I must admit that I have known him for over 40 years as both a friend and collector. Just recently he told me there were two songs he would want played at his funeral. I would hope they would play all fifty-some versions of “The Ballad of Davy Crockett” that he mentions in this Afterword, if only to drown out his other chosen song, “Louie, Louie.” But don’t hold that against him while you’re going out to get this book!

World Adventurers: DAVY CROCKETT - A Three-Part Text Article (1949)

This feature appeared in three consecutive issues of Rangers Comics, beginning with #46 in April 1949. It offers a brief sketch of Davy's Indian fighting and Congressional career, then focuses on the Alamo. It's not too bad, considering the state of Crockett and Alamo scholarship at the time, which was really in its infancy.

THE LONE RANGER follows "The Code of the West" (1951)

This adventure comes riding at us from The Lone Ranger #32, dated Feb 1951. It features some action-packed art by the Ranger's longtime comic strip artist, Charles Flanders. Was this story adapted from a strip? I wish I knew. There would be four more issues before TLR tossed out his old red shirt and bought a blue one.

HAMMETT HERALD-TRIBUNE: In the Army Now, Cont'd (1943)

Scranton Times-Tribune, July 3, 1943
Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph, July 4, 1943
Wisconsin State Journal, Oct. 10, 1943
Pottsdown Mercury, Oct. 11, 1943
Circleville Herald, Oct. 13, 1943
Oakland Tribune, Nov. 22, 1943
Harrisburg Telegraph, Dec. 15, 1943
San Mateo Times, Dec. 23, 1943

"Remember the Alamo!" (1966)

Alamo history as seen in Texas Rangers in Action #55, June 1966. Pencils and inks by Rocco Mastroserio. Scanned for ComicBookPlus by jodyanimator. 

Pulp Gallery: DETECTIVE FICTION WEEKLY

1938
1938
1936
1940
1930

Another Round of Movie Posters of 1934

BAT MASTERSON Comic Strip - Week 12 (1959)

Our story concludes next Saturday!

WYATT EARP has "Tin Star Trouble" (1958)

From Four Color #890, Feb. 1958. The artist is unrecorded.

JACK KIRBY shows how "Jim Bowie Makes a Magic Knife" (1955)

From Western Tales #33, here's another tale illustrated by Jack Kirby. Sorry I can't bring you the whole story in color. It was mighty hard to find it even in black and white.