Frontier Western #9
In "The Life and Death of the Abilene Kid!", the lonely gunslinger Clay Sanders—better known as the Utah Kid—tries to leave his past behind by settling on a ranch under a new name. As he courts Molly Forbes and avoids drawing his weapons, the quiet life he seeks is upended when an old enemy, Hank Jelks, arrives and forces him to confront his legacy. Jay Scott Pike handles both art and inks with gritty precision, while Joe Maneely’s dynamic cover captures the tension of a man at a crossroads. A 10-cent Western gem from 1957.
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Gunslinger Utah Kid is hired whenever trouble comes round, but no one wants him settling in their community. He wanders around feeling lonely and dejected until he decides to buy a ranch under his given name of Clay Sanders. He courts Molly Forbes, but his refusal to wear guns generates a lot of speculation among members of the community. When an old adversary, Hank Jelks, come to town, Sanders tries to hide, but Jelks recognizes him and forces him to straps on guns. Sanders outdraws and outshoots them with ease, and he gains the respect of the community for both his skill and retraint.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).