The Outlaw Kid becomes... an outlaw? Part 1

cover art by Gil Kane

Well, the Outlaw Kid's publication history isn't as complicated as the multiple versions of Ghost Rider we looked at last week, but it still manages to weave around a bit.

The character was created for Atlas Comics (the future Marvel Comics) in 1954 by Doug Wildey, running for 19 issues. Marvel began reprinting these issues in 1970, with new (and generally awesome) covers by John Severin and Herb Trimpe.

The reprint series sold well, so starting with Outlaw Kid #10 (June 1972), the series began running original stories. The first one, written by Mike Friedrich and drawn by Dick Ayers, includes a flashback recounting the Outlaw Kid's origin.

Like Marvel's Two-Gun Kid, Outlaw Kid wears a mask and maintains a secret identity. Outlaw is really Lance Temple, who lives with his blind father "Hoot" Temple. Hoot disapproves of violence and has made Lance promise never to resort to violence. But Lance wants to fight the bad guys threatening to overrun the West. So his masked identity is both to protect his dad from vengeful outlaws and protect himself from his dad's disappointment. The guilt he feels in lying to Hoot is what inspires the name Outlaw Kid.

It's a pretty nifty origin story, though it is sandwiched a little awkwardly into the another plot. When wealthy Jack McDaniels arrives in Caliber City (Outlaw Kid's base of operations), he quickly takes over, waving enough cash around to pay for damages during a celebration in the saloon, but still being disruptive and a bit of a jerk.

The sheriff is out of town and McDaniel's bodyguards easily disarm a couple of deputies. So the Outlaw Kid takes a hand. McDaniels puts on a "let's be reasonable" act effectively enough to get the Kid to drop his guard. The Kid is jumped and knocked out.

It's while he is unconscious that we get a flashback to his origin. As I mentioned above, this is a bit awkward, as the origin story has no real thematic connection to the main plot. But, taken on its own, it is a strong origin story.

Lance and Hoot are cominig west to settle when they are jumped by outlaws. The elder Temple tries to fight back, but a bullet hits a barrel of explosives he has rather unwisely strapped to the side of his wagon. The explosion leaves him blind.

Lance takes on his masked idenity to track down the outlaws without endangering Hoot, then keeps it when Hoot decides that there has been enough violence and swears Lance to complete pacifism.

The Kid regains consciousness and tracks McDaniels to the general store. Another fight ensues in which McDaniels' bodyguards are easily disposed of and the Kid manages to take down the larger, stronger, McDaniels.

The sheriff returns, so it seems like this story should be over. But it's not. It's here that the story takes a really strong and effective twist. It turns out that McDaniels owns half the town, inherited from Federal land grants that his father had been given. He has the power to destroy the town and says he'll do so unless the Outlaw Kid is arrested. The sheriff caves under pressure and the issue ends with him demanding the Kid surrender.

Does the Kid meekly give up? Well, of course not. But that's a story for next week when we look at the next issue.