Outlaws of the West – The Covers
Outlaws of the West was typical of the books companies like Charlton put out to satisfy readers’ passion for the old west. Westerns ruled at the movies and on TV in the 50s and 60s. They were in books, there were toys and costumes, and there were the comic books on the newsstands.
As with the Outer Space covers, homage colour versions were produced as well as new versions. The earliest remasterings date to 2014.
This omnibus post was created in 2025 to replace the individual posts for each cover.
Colour and re-created trade dress by me.
No. 11, Jul 1957 – Maurice Whitman
A great illustration of a morally-bankrupt, evil man laughing at the law.
As published.
Original art scan from Heritage Auctions.
Art made production ready.
Homage colour version.
Re-created trade dress added.
New colour version.
Re-created trade dress added.
No. 12, Oct 1957 – Dick Giordano & Vince Alascia
Really good characters studies of the bad men moving in on a good town. Audiences appreciated a very black & white depiction of morality.
As published.
Original art scan from Heritage Auctions.
Art made production ready.
New colour version.
Re-created trade dress added.
No. 13, Dec 1957 – Rocco Mastroserio
Mastroserio was a mainstay at Charlton Comics in the 50s and 60s. In a style similar to Dick Giordano’s – but more organic than the latter’s commercial slickness – he produced many memorable pieces.
A superb Western illustration rich in detail is solidly within America’s cowboy culture renaissance.
As published.
Original art scan from Heritage Auctions.
Art made production ready.
Homage colour version.
Re-created trade dress added.
New colour version 1.
Re-created trade dress added.
New colour version 2.
Re-created trade dress added.
No. 14, Feb 1958 – Maurice Whitman
The double-size 15¢ format was an interesting experiment. I’m guessing it wasn’t as successful as Charlton wanted it to be as it came and went pretty darn quick.
As published.
Original art scan from Heritage Auctions.
Art made production ready.
New colour version.
Re-created trade dress added.
No. 15, Jun 1958 – Charles Nicholas & Vince Alascia
I really like the composition of this cover by Nicholas & Alascia, and thought it could be something more than what it was. As published, you don’t get the feel of the canyons or the atmosphere of the old west, and the title is slapped on with an odd colour behind it.
As published.
Original art scan from Heritage Auctions.
A good chunk of the upper art is missing, and this was a bigger-than-usual job to restore it. I combined the scans of the printed comic and original art and traced over what art was there, and then drew in the missing bits of the cliff face. I find that bit of work very satisfying to do.
Homage colour version.
Re-created trade dress added.
New colour version.
Re-created trade dress added.
No. 17, Nov 1958 – Rocco Mastroserio
One mean-looking hombre thinking he can shoot his way out of the bank is about to meet his fate. Bet the sheriff doesn’t shoot him in the back.
As published.
Original art scan from Heritage Auctions.
Art made production ready.
Homage colour version.
Re-created trade dress added.
New colour version.
Re-created trade dress added.
No. 29, Jan 1961 – Dick Giordano
One of the nice things about working with vintage material is sometimes getting to expose more of the art than was originally published. In this case the crappy Treasure Chest Sweepstakes banner fell off somewhere over the years, and good riddance.
While this piece is not signed, it’s been identified as being illustrated by Dick Giordano.
As published.
Original art scan from Heritage Auctions.
Art made production ready.
New colour version.
Re-created trade dress added.
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