Kid Colt Outlaw #80
The Return of Sam Hawk, Manhunter!
In San Pecos, Texas, the bounty hunter named Sam Hawk continues his endless quest to bring the outlaw Kid Colt to justice. He has been following Kid Colt as far as Red River, but has lost the trail, but vows to not stop until he’s finally caught his prey. At that very moment, Kid Colt has the unfortunate luck of arriving in San Pecos, exhausted from behind on the run from Sam Hawk.[1] Another outlaw named Craw Bates warns Kid Colt that Sam Hawk is in town. When the Kid asks Bates why he would help him, Craw explains that he was once captured by Sam Hawk when he used to run with the Laramie Gang and wants revenge. Surprisingly, Kid Colt defends Sam Hawk, saying that he is a good and honest man and he’ll treat him as such. Before leaving, Craw Bates figures that if Kid Colt won’t get Sam Hawk, the local Comanche tribe will as they have been on the warpath recently. After Craw heads out, Kid Colt decides to hide out in a nearby barn.
Meanwhile, Craw Bates decides to double-cross Kid Colt by telling Sam Hawk that Kid Colt is hiding in the area. When Sam Hawk goes outside and demands that Kid Colt surrender, the outlaw sends his horse running out of town in order to trick the bounty hunter into following his horse. When Kid Colt comes out of his hiding place, Craw convinces a mob to try and capture him. While Kid Colt is dealing with this mob of people, Craw decides to run out of town. However, Bates ends up running into the Comanches.
Kid Colt ends up keeping people at bay all night and into the morning and he soon grows tired and fears he might fall asleep and get captured. That’s when Steel returns to town to rescue him. Kid Colt notices that the horse has a Comanche feather on his saddle and Kid Colt knows this means that the Comanches have captured Sam Hawk. Kid Colt gets on his horse and rides out of town, but stops short of leaving the area as his conscience won’t allow him to leave Sam Hawk at the mercy of the Comanches. While at the Comanche camp, both Sam Hawk and Craw Bates are being held, prisoner. It’s here that Sam Hawk remembers that Craw used to be a member of the Laramie Gang. When the Comanche leader, Chief Thunder Cloud decides to kill them both and leave them for the soldiers that are pursuing them, Craw begins pleading for his life. That’s when Kid Colt arrives and challenges Thunder Cloud to a one-on-one fight if Kid Colt wins he lets his prisoners go.
Kid Colt wins the fight and Thunder Cloud agrees to let Craw go free, saying that they will keep the lawman prisoner so Kid Colt can escape. Kid Colt insists that they free both men. That’s when Craw tries to shoot Kid Colt with his rifle, only to be gunned down by Sam Hawk. Although Hawk refuses to stop hunting Kid Colt until he’s brought to justice, he does oblige to give the Kid a headstart in getting away as thanks for freeing him from the Comanches.
Recurring Characters
Kid Colt, Sam Hawk, Steel
Continuity Notes
Sam Hawk has been hunting Kid Colt since Kid Colt Outlaw #78.
The Trail to Tombstone!
Riding the trail to Tombstone, Kid Colt is ambushed by a gang out outlaws looking to rob him. However, one of the highwaymen makes the mistake of getting too close to Kid Colt and he manages to grab him in a headlock and use his as a human shield. Quick thinking, the leader of the gang threatens to shoot Kid Colt’s horse, Steel, if he doesn’t let his friend go. When Kid Colt complies, the leader of the gang introduces himself as Hunk Yancy and that he could use someone like Kid Colt in his gang.
Kid Colt refuses the offer and is about to be shot when one of the other gang members hears a stagecoach approaching. Instead of shooting the Kid, they tie him up and race off to intercept the coach. When alone, Kid Colt calls over his horse and Steel chews through the ropes in order to free his master. Kid Colt then ambushes out the highwaymen as they attempt to rob the stagecoach. After the rest of his gang is disarmed, Hunk Yancy tries to make a run for it but Kid Colt snares him with is lasso. With the outlaws now in custody, the coach drivers try to thank Kid Colt for his help but he has already ridden away.
Recurring Characters
Kid Colt, Steel
The Fastest Gun in the West!
While camping out for the night, Kid Colt thinks that it was on a night like this that he met one of the fastest guns in the west….
Kid Colt was getting a drink in the Sagebrush saloon when someone recognizes him and calls for the sheriff prompting a hasty retreat. Although he managed to get away before a posse can be formed, Kid Colt sees a lone rider in the distance and decides to confront him. This rider introduces himself as Will Brown, who claims that he is the fastest gun in the west and is looking forward to the chance of matching his guns with Kid Colt. Demonstrating his quick draw, Kid Colt admits that Will is a faster draw then he is and asks how he learned to draw so fast. Brown explains he has come from out east and was part of Bates Brothers Carnival and that he came out west to earn himself a reputation.
Kid Colt won’t let himself become a victim of Will Brown’s guns and jumps him. The two struggle for a bit when suddenly Kid Colt gets up and orders Will to draw. Although Will Brown is a faster draw he finds that he can’t bring himself to kill a man. Kid Colt stands down and tells Will that there is no shame in not wanting to take a life, and it says it takes more courage not to take a life and that since he stood his ground he’s braver than most. Kid Colt then tells him to go back home, saying that he earned the right to say he is the fastest gun in the west.
… Finishing his recollection, Kid Colt goes to sleep thinking that there would be less outlaws on the trail if they were as brave as Will Brown.
Recurring Characters
Kid Colt, Steel
