Real Life Comics #51

A young Sam Houston trades his job as a store clerk for life among the Cherokee, earning the tribal name "Raven" and the friendship of warriors like White Feather and Bull Horn—but duty soon calls him to serve under Andrew Jackson in the War of 1812, forcing him to choose between his Indian brothers and his country. Years later, as a diplomat in Texas, Houston finds himself swept up in the American settlers' rebellion against Mexican rule, ultimately leading Texas forces to victory at San Jacinto and becoming president of the fledgling Texas Republic. This four-page biography captures the restless spirit and divided loyalties that shaped one of the American frontier's most remarkable figures.

Mr. Barbicane stakes his reputation—and a hefty wager—on an audacious plan to fire a shell to the moon from a massive cannon built in Florida, with Mr. Nicholl determined to protect his $15,000 bet by witnessing the attempt firsthand. When the daring Michel Arden volunteers to ride inside the hollow projectile, the three men embark on humanity's first journey into space, only to find their voyage complicated by an unexpected encounter with a comet that threatens to send them hopelessly off course. As they circle the moon and race back toward Earth at breathtaking speed, their survival hinges on split-second calculations and nerves of steel.

Benjamin Franklin was far more than a statesman and diplomat—he was a restless innovator who turned his hand to inventing, music, agriculture, meteorology, and civic improvement with equal passion and success. From the lightning rod and Franklin stove to bifocal spectacles and the armonica, this 4-page biography celebrates how one remarkable mind shaped colonial America through practical ingenuity, founding institutions like the first public library and fire company in Philadelphia. His guiding principle was simple: share the fruits of your labor with the world to make it a better place.

Sue has never skied before, but Bill is confident he can teach her the basics—and she's eager to learn despite her nerves. From gear setup to slope technique, Bill walks Sue through the fundamentals of skiing, covering everything from how to walk on skis to various stopping methods, all while she discovers that a few tumbles are just part of the fun.

In 1782, the merchant ship *Grosvenor* sets sail from Ceylon with a fortune in jewels, gold, and the fabled Peacock Throne under the command of Captain John Coxon, bound for England. When the vessel wrecks on the coast of southeast Africa, the survivors face not only the treacherous journey inland but also attacks from local forces, scattering the group and leaving the treasure locked in the sunken wreck. For centuries, salvage attempts by the British Admiralty and various syndicates have failed to reclaim the riches—the *Grosvenor*'s secrets remain guarded by the deep, waiting for someone bold enough to solve the puzzle.

Prince Henry transforms Portugal into a naval power, first by battling the Moorish fleets threatening North Africa and capturing the strategic port of Ceuta, then by turning his ambition toward opening sea routes along the African coast. Driven by the vision of reaching the Indies through peaceful trade rather than conquest, Henry establishes colonies, funds the development of revolutionary new ships called caravels, and guides Portuguese exploration southward—all while navigating civil unrest at home and the moral conflicts that arise from his captains' actions. Though his greatest dream of circumnavigating Africa remains unfulfilled, Henry's legacy shapes the very expeditions that will later transform the world.