John Wayne Adventure Comics #2

When the heavyweight champion Gib Horn comes to town offering prize money to anyone who can last three rounds in the ring, the local strongman Hank Howell steps up—but a twist of fate puts a reluctant substitute in his place. John Wayne finds himself facing off against a cunning fighter and a rigged match, armed with nothing but grit and the desperation of a town that's bet everything on his shoulders.

This two-page educational feature traces the fascinating history of horses in the American West, from their introduction by Spanish conquistadors in 1540 through their evolution as vital partners to Native peoples. Discover how wild herds multiplied across the frontier, how Indians mastered horsemanship and raiding tactics, and how the horse transformed from a symbol of wealth and power into a working animal of everyday life on the reservations.

When a stagecoach vanishes en route from Death Ridge to Tombstone—along with gold, passengers, and eventually a U.S. Marshal sent to investigate—John Wayne volunteers to track down the mystery, joined by Monica, the Sheriff's missing daughter, and his partner Bonanza Bill. As the trio pursues clues through treacherous terrain, they uncover a hidden canyon and a dangerous conspiracy that's far darker than anyone suspected.

When Jeb Rackley steals Johnny Montana's legendary guns—the Blue Lightnin' Twins—and uses them to challenge John Wayne to a dawn showdown in Stone Ridge, one man's vendetta threatens to reignite the old West's deadliest traditions. Wayne accepts the call, but discovering that Montana's reputation wasn't built on the firearms alone sets the stage for a final confrontation that will test more than just quick reflexes. This 1950 tale pits pride, gunslinging skill, and the true measure of a gunman against each other in a tense frontier duel.