Cowboy Western Comics #35

Sunset Carson investigates when a mysterious killer weed begins devastating Long Horn Valley's ranches, and his suspicions grow when an ambitious Easterner named Gropper starts acquiring options on the abandoned land—but before he can gather proof, a mail robbery and the return of a man he once arrested complicate his pursuit of the truth. With danger closing in and the valley's future at stake, Sunset must piece together the connections between the weed, the crime, and those who stand to profit from the ranchers' misery.

This educational Western feature explores a surprising historical question: did Native Americans ride horses across the Great Plains before European arrival? The answer might shock you—horses didn't exist in North America until the Spanish brought them, and the wild herds that Indigenous peoples eventually caught and rode were descendants of animals that escaped from Spanish camps. A one-page deep dive into a western myth you've probably never questioned.

Roving Marshal Sunset Carson arrives in Elkhorn to investigate the bushwhacking murder of Big Bill Emmet and protect the dead man's grieving son, who witnessed the crime and is consumed by a need for vengeance. When the red-haired killer infiltrates the local rodeo as a contestant, Sunset must use his wits and horsemanship to catch a dangerous outlaw while keeping young Bill from throwing his life away in pursuit of revenge. The stakes couldn't be higher—Sunset's success could mean the difference between justice and tragedy for the boy's future.

A case of mistaken flirtation sends Desperate Lou and Slim into trouble when they assume a young woman's friendly words are meant for them—only to discover she's actually complimenting their new buckboard instead. What starts as a mix-up in a 1951 Cowboy Western tale turns into a lesson the hard way when Lou tries to turn on the charm.

When a cowboy makes a deal with the cook for apple pie in exchange for bringing fresh apples, he discovers that Gus has a particular understanding of what "waiting a while" means—and it involves planting seeds first. A humorous take on the classic tale of Johnny Appleseed, told with the quick wit and wordplay that makes these Western tall tales so enjoyable.