Two-Gun Kid #41
Origin of the Two-Gun Kid!
After a long time away from his home of Sundown, Arizona, Clay Harder is bullied by Bull Yaeger, the local trouble maker. Despite his growing anger and desire to draw his guns, Clay manages to control his temper and stands down, leaving Yaeger to believe that he is a coward. When he talks to the local sheriff, he asks to be directed to the home of his father Seth Harder. When Clay returns home he is father comes out with a gun and almost shoots his own son until he recognizes the boy. He tells Clay that he has been harassed by Bull Yaeger and his men who want to take over his ranch, but he refuses to give it up.
When Clay offers to deal with Bull for him, Seth reminds his son of the vow he made never to raise his guns to another man, reminding Clay that he was crippled in a gunfight. Suddenly a shot rings out and Seth is shot dead. It was fired by Bull Yaeger, who tells Clay that he and his friends will claim that they killed his father in self defence, then order Clay to bury Seth and clear off the land. Clay holds his anger and buries his father. After he is done he believes that he is no longer bound to the promise he made with his father and waits for Bull and his men to return. When they do, Clay uses his superior shooting skill easily disarming Bull. The two just duke it out, and easily defeats him, dunking his father's killer in the well and holds him down there until he surrenders. After turning the outlaws over to the sheriff, the lawman remarks how Clay is a real "Two-Gun Kid", Clay decides to take the name and rides off onto the range, wanting to help anyone in need.
Recurring Characters
Two-Gun Kid
Cyclone
Continuity Notes
The origin story told here contradicts the origins that were depicted in Wild Western #34, and Two-Gun Kid #36.
Regardless, this is the first story where the Two-Gun Kid is identified as Clay Harder and is commonly accepted as the “true” origin of the character as this story is retold multiple times (but with different artists) in Two-Gun Kid #48, 52, and 58.
Starting this issue Cyclone is depicted as a white stallion again like he was in Two-Gun Kid #1. All other stories between that issue and this one depict the horse as being black.
Two-Gun Kid
Riding a stage to Abilene with a grandfather and his son, the Two-Gun Kid is instantly recognized by the boy who idolizes the famous gunslinger. Suddenly their coach stops when a woman runs out into the road asking the driver for help. She explains that her horse threw her and it's caught in a clump of bushes and she needs help freeing it. This turns out to be a ruse as the girl -- named Kitty -- calls her friends Hunk and Spade who have come to rob the coach. After they unload the valuables, the two men decide to kill the witnesses, something that Kitty is against. Spade then forces her to comply.
When the boy asks the Two-Gun Kid why he isn't doing anything, his grandfather tells the boy that all gunslingers are naturally cowards looking out for only themselves. The Kid however goads Kitty into using her shotgun skills to disarm Hunk, wounding his arm. When Spade decides to kill them all, the Kid jumps him and knocks him down. When Spade tells Hunk to shoot the Two-Gun Kid in the back, Hunk shoots Spade instead, realizing that he was using him the whole time. With Spade dead, Hunk and Kitty surrender and the boy and his grandfather have a new respect for the Two-Gun Kid.
Recurring Characters
Two-Gun Kid
Cyclone
Gun-Fight in Crow Town!
In the town of Crow Town, owner Matt Crow runs wild, shooting his guns in the air and telling the locals he can do whatever he wants since he owns everything and decides to prove it by telling the locals that he will fight the next person who comes into town. As it happens the Two-Gun Kid rides right into town just at that moment and Matt Crow challenges him to a draw. Before the Kid can draw, one of Crow's minions sneaks up behind the Kid and wings him in the shoulder. Matt is angry at this interference and sends him packing then orders the locals to bring the Two-Gun Kid to the doctor, get him patched up and get him out of town.
However the next morning Matt changes his tune and comes to visit the Kid as he recovers. He offers the Kid a job working for him. However, the Kid refuses to work for him and Matt storms out warning the Kid that nobody refuses him. When the Kid recovers enough to leave his bed he goes looking for Matt and finds the man who shot him instead. With the locals unwilling to do anything, the Kid beats his shooter senseless. The sheriff then shows up and tells Two-Gun is under arrest for creating a public disturbance. The Kid is surprised that the sheriff isn't cowed by Matt Crow's trouble. Before the sheriff can arrested the Kid, Matt arrives and stops him. He then challenges the Two-Gun Kid to a draw and when the Kid wins, he convinces Matt that he should use his frenetic energy on the side of the law and convinces him to take over for the sheriff who wishes to retire.
Recurring Characters
Two-Gun Kid
Cyclone
