Western Kid

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The Western Kid
The Western Kid #1 (Nov. 1954). Cover art by John Romita Sr.
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	The Western Kid #1 (Nov. 1954)
Created by	John Romita Sr. (art)
In-story information
Alter ego	Tex Dawson
Western Kid Publication information Publisher Atlas Comics Schedule Bimonthly Format Ongoing series Genre Western Publication date Dec. 1954 – Aug. 1957 No. of issues 17 Main character(s) Western Kid Creative team Artist(s) John Romita, Sr.

The Western Kid is a fictional Old West character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was the star of Western feature published by Marvel's 1950s precursor, Atlas Comics.

Tex Dawson, the Western Kid, debuted in Western Kid #1 (cover-dated Nov. 1954), from publisher Atlas Comics, a predecessor of Marvel Comics.^[1] The character was created by an unknown writer and penciler-inker John Romita Sr., who the following decade would become one of Spider-Man's signature artists. The feature, drawn exclusively by Romita, ran through issue #17 (Aug. 1957), with cover art by Romita, Joe Maneely, John Severin, and, for one cover each, Carl Burgos, Russ Heath, and Syd Shores.^[2]

Western Kid reprints appeared in Marvel's 1970s omnibus series Western Gunfighters #3–6 and 17–33 (Dec.1970 – Sept. 1971, Sept. 1973 – Nov. 1975). In-between, the character starred in the reprint series The Western Kid vol. 2, #1–5 (Dec. 1971 – Aug. 1972) — the first issue of which sported a new cover by original artist Romita — and in Rawhide Kid #105 (Nov. 1972) and Gun-Slinger #1–3 (Jan.-June 1973), a series reflecting the character's temporary new name. The first issue, with a cover drawn by Jim Steranko, was titled Tex Dawson, Gun-Slinger.^[2] The character was mentioned for the last time in the volume Marvel Westerns Outlaw Files(2006), as an aging old legend, with movies with his name.

Tex Dawson, a.k.a. the Western Kid, was a clean-cut Old West gunfighter with a stallion named Whirlwind and a white German Shepherd dog named Lightning. Unlike such fellow Atlas Western stars as Kid Colt and the Rawhide Kid, he was not hunted by the law for a perceived crime, and unlike the Two-Gun Kid or the Outlaw Kid, he wore no mask. Wandering the range as a do-gooder adventurer, the Western Kid was respected by sheriffs and marshals, whom he often helped, and idolized by children.

A modern-day version of the character stars in the five-issue ensemble miniseries Six Guns (#1–4 cover-dated Jan.-March 2012), by writer Andy Diggle and artist Davide Gianfelice, and also starring the extant female mercenary Tarantula and new contemporary versions of the Marvel Old West heroes the Black Rider; Matt Slade; and the Two-Gun Kid.^[3][4][5]

• The Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators
• Atlas Tales
• Western Kid at International Heroes

• Marvel Westerns: Outlaw Files (June 2006)