The Adventures of Sarah Walker aka "Six Gun Sarah"!

 Written By Ken Hulsey

The townspeople of Alamito, a small town in southwest Texas, faced a serious problem. For over a month, a group of seven robbers had been raiding the town, stealing everything they could get their hands on. The residents of Alamito didn't have much to begin with; they were a group of settlers eking out a meager existence by raising a few cattle and tending small farms. These bandits were stripping away everything the townspeople needed to survive on the arid plains.

Solo: Where the hell do you suppose? To rob a train!

As most of you know the latest trailer for "Solo: A Star Wars Story" dropped on Sunday. Upon watching it I was immediately struck by an impression that seems to have escaped both fans and critics alike. Solo is a western, or more over heavily inspired by westerns.

To me this was blatantly obvious from the first sound that we hear, a guitar twang that sets a tone that what is about to follow is story about a gunslinger plain and simple. The imagery was unmistakable to guy like me who grew up in household where my father watched every John Wayne movie that came on TV with as much glee as I watch science fiction classics like "The Day The Earth Stood Still." Oh yes, I've seen them all a hundred times and I can tell you that "Solo" is as much a western as it is a space opera. The scene on the beach where Han reaches down to unstrap his gun with a band of outlaws fanned out in front of him is an homage to a scene that I've seen in at least a dozen westerns before. The poker game with Lando, that's a western staple as well. Then we see Han, Tobias Beckett (Woody Harrelson) and the rest of the "outlaws" in a scene gathered around a campfire, again a scene from countless westerns. Let us not forget that the whole thing is leading up to a train robbery and nothing says cowboy flick more than that.

This is actually a brilliant play on the part of the filmmakers when you take into account that when George Lucas originally conceived the Han Solo character way back in the seventies John Wayne's character Rooster Cogburn from "True Grit" (1969) was mentioned as one of his inspirations along with Gary Cooper in "High Noon" (1952). Ron Howard knew this and wisely crafted "Solo" to be an equal part cowboy flick as it is sci-fi epic.

Han Solo has been a cowboy from the beginning.

Watch the trailer with this in mind and tell me what you think:

LADY RAWHIDE / LADY ZORRO #3 (OF 4)

LADY RAWHIDE / LADY ZORRO #3 (OF 4)



Cover A Main: Joyce Chin
Writer: Shannon Eric Denton
Art: Rey Villegas
Genre: Western, Action/Adventure
Format: Comic Book
Page Count: 32 pages
UPC: 725130228598 03011

Now in hot pursuit of the slavers, Lady Zorro and Lady Rawhide run into a surprise winter storm just as they find the enemy! With foul weather in the mountains, it may not be bullet or blade that ends their lives but nature itself!

LADY RAWHIDE / LADY ZORRO #2 (OF 4)

LADY RAWHIDE / LADY ZORRO #2 (OF 4)



Cover A Main: Joyce Chin
Writer: Shannon Eric Denton
Art: Rey Villegas
Genre: Western, Action/Adventure
Publication Date: April 2015
Format: Comic Book
Page Count: 32 pages
UPC: 725130228598 02011

Lady Rawhide and Lady Zorro set out to find the men responsible for the abduction of the village girls but their trail leads them into a remote mining camp! Death is at every turn in a town full of men with nothing to lose but none of it is as dangerous as the women running the brothel! Have Lady Zorro and Lady Rawhide finally met their match?

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT FORGES A NEW LEGEND OF THE WEST IN THE LADY RAWHIDE / LADY ZORRO MINISERIES, DEBUTING IN MARCH

From Dynamite Entertainment

Dynamite Entertainment proudly announces the March 2015 debut of Lady Rawhide / Lady Zorro #1, the first chapter of a four-part miniseries that will see two of the comic book industry's Western heroines cross paths for the first time. Written by Shannon Eric Denton and featuring interior artwork by Rey Villegas, Lady Rawhide / Lady Zorro #1 features cover artwork by acclaimed artist and Lady Rawhide co-creator, Mike Mayhew.

In Lady Rawhide / Lady Zorro #1, the two female vigilantes must live up to the legend of Zorro after the inspirational hero is murdered! When brutal slavers descend upon a village and steal away all its adolescent girls, Lady Zorro and Lady Rawhide - who would sooner ride alone than ride together - must put aside their ideological and methodical differences to free the missing girls from a fate worse than death.

Writer Shannon Eric Denton says, "Women were a huge part in the settlement of the Old West but are often overlooked in the historical context. With characters like Lady Rawhide and Lady Zorro, they don't let you overlook them. They're two powerful characters with equally powerful personalities that tamed what is now Southern California. As a current Los Angeleno, I couldn't be happier to contribute to their mythology and the mythology of this part of California."

Lady Rawhide (along with her alter-ego Anita Santiago) was introduced into the Zorro mythos by writer Don McGregor and artist Mike Mayhew in 1994, a masked vigilante skilled with swords, guns, and her signature bullwhip. Driven to avenge her brother's suffering at the hands of a crooked government, she first had an antagonistic relationship with Zorro, but eventually became his confidante and staunch ally. Lady Rawhide's popularity as a Zorro regular grew, leading to her headlining several Lady Rawhide comic series.

Lady Zorro is a more recent addition to the Zorro mythos, created in 2012 as a strong supporting cast member of the Zorro Rides Again series by Matt Wagner and John K Snyder III. Seeking vengeance after her husband was murdered by corrupt government officials, Lady Zorro cut a bloody swath across the countryside until the elder swordfighter calmed her rage. The character appeared in a successful 2014 self-titled series by Alex De Campi and Rey Villegas.

The violent origins of the fictional heroines very much reflects the history of the region, which will be incorporated into the new series. Denton says, "There was so much hardship and adventure in the Old West, even when you aren't dealing with heroes like Lady Zorro and Lady Rawhide, so adding them to the mix really sets the stage for truly captivating story. I'm trying to tell a good story first, and trying to be as true to the history of the period as I can without being beholden to it."

Regarding his contribution to the overall Zorro mythos, Denton says, "I'm honored and thrilled. Outside of growing up loving the comics and TV shows, my life has intersected with the character several times. I've lived in places where they filmed Zorro like Cerrillos, NM, and my current home in Los Angeles. I currently live near frequent movie site Vasquez Rocks, which is named after notorious bandit Tiburcio Vasquez, the inspiration for Don Diego de la Vega (Zorro). Zorro roamed what is now Los Angeles, so I'm surrounded by his mythology all the time. Being able to contribute to characters within Zorro's mythology, like Lady Rawhide and Lady Zorro, is incredibly rewarding!"

"The folks here at Dynamite love two-fisted, gun-blazing, whip-cracking action, and that's exactly what Lady Rawhide / Lady Zorro delivers," says Nick Barrucci, CEO and Publisher. "With his flair for pulp action, Shannon is a perfect choice to take up the reins on the new miniseries. And there's no one better suited for bringing these two pistoleras together than Rey Villegas, whose supreme skill brought both characters to life in their respective solo series. Buckle up, comic fans - it's going to be a wild ride!"

Lady Rawhide / Lady Zorro #1 will be solicited in Diamond Comic Distributors' January 2015 Previews catalog, the premiere source of merchandise for the comic book specialty market, and slated for release in March. Comic book fans are encouraged to reserve copies of Lady Rawhide / Lady Zorro #1 with their local comic book retailers. Lady Rawhide / Lady Zorro will also be available for individual customer purchase through digital platforms courtesy of Comixology, Dynamite Digital, iVerse, and Dark Horse Digital.

LADY RAWHIDE, THE COMIC INDUSTRY'S ICONIC WESTERN HEROINE, RETURNS IN AN ALL-NEW MINISERIES BEGINNING IN AUGUST

Source: Dynamite Entertainment

Dynamite Entertainment proudly announces the August 2013 debut of LADY RAWHIDE #1, the first chapter of a five-part miniseries that will dynamically reintroduce the iconic Western heroine to comic book fans. Written by Eric Trautmann (RED SONJA, VAMPIRELLA) and featuring interior artwork by Milton Estevam, LADY RAWHIDE #1 features cover artwork by the preeminent "good girl" artist, Joseph Michael Linsner (DAWN).

In LADY RAWHIDE #1, the masked heroine faces not only the corrupt forces of the government - bent on intimidating the populace through privation and cruelty - but also a new team of vigilantes known as the Sisters of the White Rose. The Sisters, inspired by the legends of Zorro and Lady Rawhide, have taken up the struggle against tyranny. While Lady Rawhide supports their goals, she cannot condone their bloody methods and finds herself facing off against her own devotees!

"Lady Rawhide is a thief, a bandit, a rogue," explains Eric Trautmann, writer of the five-part miniseries. "But she exists in a time and place where, as a woman, society has strictly defined what her behavior should be. Her vigilante, Robin Hood-esque actions are subversive, and her overtly flamboyant costuming rejects those social conventions. She's driven by a desire to control her environment on her terms… and society's encumbrances be damned."

(More After The Break)



Having contributed stories to both RED SONJA and VAMPIRELLA, Trautmann is no stranger to writing strong female characters, especially those that have iconic status in the comic book medium. "Red Sonja will never simper or back down. Vampirella will never admit defeat. Lady Rawhide will never turn her back on someone in need," says Trautmann. "My job is to make sure that I'm delivering the most authentic take on the characters I'm capable of, and not betray those kinds of fundamental, core elements."

Lady Rawhide (along with her alter-ego Anita Santiago) was introduced into the ZORRO mythos in 1994, a masked vigilante skilled with swords, guns, and her signature bullwhip. Driven to avenge her brother's suffering at the hands of a crooked government, she first had an antagonistic relationship with Zorro, but eventually became his confidante and staunch ally. Lady Rawhide's popularity as a ZORRO regular grew, leading to her headlining several LADY RAWHIDE comic series.

Trautmann explains, "I want to capture a sense of fun - this isn't a grim, gritty book. It's pulpy, swashbuckling fun at heart."

LADY RAWHIDE #1 is solicited in the Diamond June Previews catalog for release in August. Joseph Michael Linsner, the critically acclaimed creator of DAWN, provides the cover artwork for both the Regular and Subscription-Only editions of the first issue. Each edition is available to retailers for individual order, although the Subscription-Only edition (presented in a "Black & White Line Art" style) is limited to initial orders as a reward for dedicated Dynamite fans.

Hey, sheriff, you forgot your pants.

The movie 'Rio Bravo' (1959) had an interesting preview trailer. In the trailer, Ricky Nelson finishes playing his guitar, then he turns to the camera and talks about the exciting nature of the film. After some clips are shown, they cut back to Nelson who lists the cast members. When he does not mention his own name, we hear the voice of Dean Martin say off camera "What about Rick Nelson"?

On May 8th 1958, just one week into shooting Ricky Nelson celebrated his 18th birthday. As a gift, John Wayne and Dean Martin gave him a 300 lb. sack of steer manure, which they then threw Nelson into as a rite of passage.

Quentin Tarantino has said that before he enters into a relationship with a girl, he always shows her 'Rio Bravo' and if she doesn't like it, there is no relationship.

When Chance (John Wayne) wants to deputize Colorado he asks Stumpy (who is off camera) where he keeps the deputies' badges. While Chance is looking for the badges, Stumpy (Walter Brennan) still off camera tells him to look after his own props. Wayne started off in movie as a prop man and was known to get irate if the props were not where they were supposed to be. - IMDB

The Monstrous Movie Quote Of The Day: Lili Von Shtupp (Blazing Saddles 1974)

"Here I stand, the goddess of desire
Set men on fire
I have this power
Morning, noon, and night, it's dwink and dancing
Some quick womancing
And then a shower.
Stage door Johnnies constantly suwwound me
They always hound me, with one wequest
Who can satisfy their lustful habits?
I'm not a wabbit.
I need some we...
...est

I've been with thousands of men
again and again
they promise the moon
they're always coming and going and going and coming... and always too soon.

Right, girls?"

- Lili Von Shtupp (Madeline Kahn)(Blazing Saddles)(1974)

The Monstrous Movie Quote Of The Day: Jim (Blazing Saddles 1974)

"What did you expect? "Welcome, sonny"? "Make yourself at home"? "Marry my daughter"? You've got to remember that these are just simple farmers. These are people of the land. The common clay of the new West. You know... morons."

- Jim (Gene Wilder)(Blazing Saddles)(1974)

Bonus (because I'm in a good mood ... you lucky dogs!):

"Well, it got so that every piss-ant prairie punk who thought he could shoot a gun would ride into town to try out the Waco Kid. I must have killed more men than Cecil B. DeMille. It got pretty gritty. I started to hear the word "draw" in my sleep. Then one day, I was just walking down the street when I heard a voice behind me say, "Reach for it, mister!" I spun around... and there I was, face to face with a six-year old kid. Well, I just threw my guns down and walked away. Little bastard shot me in the ass. So I limped to the nearest saloon, crawled inside a whiskey bottle... and I've been there ever since. "