All Star Western #86

In "Tunnel of Peril!" from All Star Western #86 (1955), two brothers, Walt and Wayne, take on a gang threatening the Special train’s gold shipment by playing a high-stakes game of deception—each claiming to be the real Sheriff. When the ruse unravels and Walt is thrown from the train, Wayne must carry him through a treacherous tunnel, scale a cliff, and leap onto the moving train to stop the robbery. The story’s quiet moment of brotherhood—“What difference does it make who's Sheriff, Walt—as long as his name is Trigger!”—echoes long after the danger passes.

In "The Magic Number of Chief Talaka!" from All Star Western #86, Strong Bow, the Wandering Warrior, arrives at a pueblo untouched by raiders—until the chief claims the attackers will strike on the fourth raid, a number sacred to their belief. Skeptical, Strong Bow follows the raiders after their third attack and uses his skill to dismantle their siege. When the deceit is revealed, the wicked chief admits to exploiting superstition, and Chief Talaka vows to abandon his "magic number."

In "The War Games at Fort Desolation!" from All Star Western #86, Lt. Dan Foley finds himself caught between a staged military exercise and a real threat when a suspicious telegram summons him to conduct war games—just as Chief Black Spear threatens open conflict. With only one battalion and no real weapons, Foley must outthink a hostile ambush, relying on his instincts when the "official" order wasn’t in code. The story unfolds with tense strategy and frontier grit, ending with a surprising citation that hints at a deeper deception.

In "Johnny Thunder Day!" from All Star Western #86, the entire town gathers to celebrate the legendary cowboy Johnny Thunder at a rodeo, forcing schoolteacher John Tane—his secret identity—to play along. When a bull breaks loose and chaos erupts, John Tane leaps into action, transforming into Johnny Thunder mid-ride to save the day, all while spotting outlaws stealing the cash box.