Judge — December 9, 1882 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "A Western Hero" — The Judge, December 9, 1882 This satirical cartoon critiques frontier violence and the glorification of gunfighters. A cowboy in a wide-brimmed hat stands outside "Mr. James' Private" residence (the door nameplate reads "JAMES"), while onlookers inside peer out nervously. The man on the right, appearing to be a sheriff or official, removes his hat respectfully—a gesture typically reserved for dignitaries or heroes. The satire is sharp: the caption "Make Way for the Champion Murderer" sarcastically elevates a violent criminal to heroic status. This likely references the contemporary romanticization of outlaws and gunfighters in Western folklore, which newspapers and dime novels were actively promoting. Judge mocks this cultural tendency to celebrate brutal men as folk heroes simply because they were skilled at killing.