After the heavily cartoon- and slapstick cinema-inspired first adventures, Morris turned towards the tradition of Westerns to flesh out his hero's world. In Under a Western Sky, Lucky Luke versus Pat Poker and Outlaws there is a lot of Hollywood and John Ford, and while Luke hasn't quite settled into his current look, he's certainly closer to the phlegmatic cowboy we know and love. Outlaws also marks the first appearance of the Daltons; the historical Dalton brothers here, who will later return as their decidedly stupider cousins. Throw in 48 pages of extra material on Morris's experience in the United States, and this is a book you won't want to miss.
This third volume in the collection brings us to the very edge of absolute greatness, with two later, far more mature solo outings: Doc Doxey's Elixir (including Manhunt) and Phil Wire (including Lucky Luke and Pill) were first published in 1955 and 1956, and already Luke was much closer to the cowboy that we now have in mind , followed by Rails on the Prairie, the first collaboration between Morris and Goscinny, that would usher in 30 years of a legendary collaboration. These stories are prefaced by a staggering 46 pages of extra material including biographies, essays, interviews, and illustrations that will delight every fan.
Passing through New Orleans, Lucky Luke stumbles upon a heated argument between two steamboat captains. The argument soon turns into a wager: whichever boat reaches Minneapolis first after steaming up the Mississippi will win the exclusive rights to the route. Captain Barstow quickly invites Luke to travel on his Daisy Belle, fearing that his opponent will cheat. And while he's not wrong, the biggest danger to both boats remains Old Man River himself.
The Old West was full of itchy trigger fingers, but also had its share of hemp necktie enthusiasts. Lucky Luke is not a fan of such summary justice, and when he interrupts an improvised hanging with no less than three ropes for a single man, he runs afoul of an unpleasant individual with a knack for manipulating bored and drunk crowds. Seven short stories by Goscinny and his friends and illustrated by Morris himself - pure Lucky Luke concentrate!
At last Lucky Luke is getting a hardback collected edition,with the first adventures of the Lonesome Cowboy. After 70 years of life and almost 70 translated volumes, it was high time English-speaking readers were offered a hardback collected edition. This first volume contains the first seven adventures of Lucky Luke, previously published as volumes Arizona, Rodeo, and Dick Digger's Gold Mine, and offers an unrivalled insight into the evolution of the character in terms of design as well as personality. The extras available make up a whooping 48 pages of illustrations, photographs, biographies, essays and anecdotes on Morris and the origins of Luke. A must read for any true fan of this legend of the West!
He's the dumbest dog west of the Pecos River, and even when he's not sharing one of Lucky Luke's adventures, he's still a walking disaster! The first solo adventure of the only dog stupider than his own shadow. In a fort on the Frontier, the 7th Cavalry keeps a vigilant watch over the Wild West. It is a time of peace with the local Natives, and all is well, thanks-at least in the colonel's mind-to the regiment's lucky mascot. But when that dog mysteriously vanishes and bad luck begins to plague the unit, it becomes necessary to find a replacement. The colonel picks Rin Tin Can for the job... and then the real trouble begins!
He's the dumbest dog west of the Pecos River, and even when he's not sharing one of Lucky Luke's adventures, he's still a walking disaster! After inadvertently thwarting a convict's escape attempt, Rin Tin Can flees the penitentiary and ends up with two sheep herders who are being targeted by wool thieves. The robbers, Giuseppe and Aldo, are actually looking for a specific sheep skin tattooed with a treasure map, in order to post their father's bail. Unwittingly-as usual-Rin Tin Can becomes first the accomplice of the two not-too-bright brothers, then their godfather.
