Black Diamond Western #11

Charles Biro's cover for this May 1949 Lev Gleason issue captures the masked Black Diamond and his partner Bumper riding hard on horseback, trading quips about the captured crooks they've just tied to a tree — a lively snapshot of frontier justice with a dash of humor. The teaser along the bottom promises a murderous night-stalker with a glimmering knife, which gives the lighthearted cover scene a pleasingly sharp edge. With a full 52 pages of "Illustories" for just a dime, this is a satisfying package of classic Western adventure.