Le Journal de Spirou #37/1939

In this brief 1939 western tale from *Le Journal de Spirou*, Red Ryder leads his expedition through peaceful Native American territory, where tensions simmer beneath the surface. As Red asserts his authority over the restless miners Boxby and Grath, the two men grow suspicious of the pair’s secretive whispers—and the distant smoke signals warning another tribe of the white men’s approach.

In a quiet moment between heroics, Superman uncovers a financial fraud at the local grocery, where Lyman is skimming money by falsifying records. As he prepares to confront the man, Loïs Lane slips into the orphanage through a window, drawn by the sound of Frankie Dennis crying out as Lyman’s punishment grows worse.

In a tense twist of deception, Dick Tracy confronts the unsettling truth that the two princes he’s been tracking—Murphy and Prince Jerg—are not who they claim to be. With the captain’s help, he uncovers a hidden message in a recovered shirt revealing the real princes are held captive aboard a mysterious vessel. As tensions rise and the coast guards press to board, Tracy must navigate a web of lies, keeping the truth hidden while the real danger unfolds beneath the surface—where a hidden cuve fills with water and oil, and a masked conspirator welcomes an unsuspecting guard.

In a tense moment on the edge of a cliff, the giant captures Lulu while Zizette and Manekine follow in pursuit. With Lulu bound and the dark giant drawing a knife, Zizette hesitates, but Bonus rushes forward to confront the two men, leaving the outcome uncertain.

When Sam Latour’s cart is attacked by the men of the Andes Spider, the group flees—only to stumble upon a hidden stash of gin. Unaware that Panthère Jaune is watching from within the cart, they drink and pass out. Once sober, the Panther alerts Jim Latour, who leads a daring raid on the bandits’ camp. As the Andes Spider rushes to kill the prisoners, Sus and Flup manage to subdue him.

Freddy Fred, pursued by monkeys, escapes into the trees and finds Coco, the parrot interpreter, who tells him the king of the monkeys wants him to stay forever. Torn between rest and the urgent need to find the temple without his maps or weapons, Freddy must decide whether to trust Coco’s guidance — but the path ahead remains shrouded in mystery.

In a quiet moment of mystery, Freddy Fred sketches a forgotten temple for his clever parrot Coco, who instantly recognizes the drawing—only to point to the eerie Forest of Leafless Trees, leaving Freddy bewildered and the path ahead shrouded in intrigue.

When Grusha escapes with the Mogis, she sets a trap to stop the white elephant Luc and Odette are leading back to the Maharajah. The duo falls into a strange enclosure, but the elephant refuses to break through—leaving their fate uncertain.

In a high-stakes 1939 adventure, Dino and Dario prepare a daring plan to extract gold using magnetic alloy, while Mark Park and Bill face a grim fate—thirty years at Alcatraz. Their transport by hydroplane becomes a battleground when a band of ruthless bandits launch a surprise assault to free the prisoners, sparking a chaotic shootout with the guards.

Tif and Tondu find themselves in a tense standoff with Mokoko’s accomplice, who’s armed and threatening them. Just as the situation seems dire, Tondu springs from behind and disarms the man, leading to a chaotic escape that ends with their captor being released—humiliated and penniless. But after hours of walking, Tondu begins to hallucinate, and a passing priest realizes he’s dangerously ill. Tif carries him to the nearby mission, where help may still be found.