Search the Western Clippings Site

An Interview With…
        - Archives

Will "Sugarfoot" Hutchins
    - Archives

Do You Remember?
    - Archives

Comic Book Cowboys
    - Roy Rogers (Pt. 3)
    - Roy Rogers (Pt. 2)
    - Roy Rogers (Pt. 1)
    - Joel McCrea
    - Rocky Lane's Black Jack
    - Clint Walker
    - George O'Brien
    - Frontier Doctor
    - Casey Jones
    - Wild Bill Hickok
    - Randolph Scott
    - Zorro
    - The Deputy
    - Will Rogers
    - Sgt. Preston of the Yukon
    - Rin Tin Tin and Rusty
    - Gunsmoke
    - Tex Granger
    - Range Busters
    - Vaughn Monroe
    - Tombstone Territory
    - Hawkeye
    - Bob Baker
    - Johnny Ringo
    - Shotgun Slade
    - Straight Arrow
    - Colt .45
    - Steve Donovan
    - Bob Colt
    - Early Marvel Westerns
    - Reno Browne
    - Red Ryder
    - Sheriff of Cochise
    - Wild, Wild West
    - Tales of the Texas Rangers
    - Fury
    - Tom Mix Western
    - Tom Mix Comics
    - Cody of the Pony Express
    - Audie Murphy
    - Outlaws
    - Iron Horse
    - Circus Boy
    - Buckskin
    - Annie Oakley and Tagg
    - DC’s Hopalong Cassidy
    - Hopalong Cassidy
    - The Big Valley
    - George Montgomery
    - Daniel Boone
    - The Rebel
    - Jim Bowie
    - Restless Gun
    - Laramie
    - Dale Evans
    - Gray Ghost
    - Lawman
    - Buffalo Bill Jr.
    - Rocky Lane Western
    - Have Gun Will Travel
    - Wagon Train
    - Cisco Kid
    - Wyatt Earp
    - Oneshot Comics: The Virginian, The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters, The Legend of Jesse James, Cowboy in Africa
    - Lancer
    - Alan Ladd
    - Tales of Wells Fargo
    - Maverick
    - Bonanza
    - Jack Randall and Tom Keene in POPULAR COMICS
    - Stoney Burke, Laredo, High Chaparral, Cimarron Strip, Custer
    - Rawhide
    - The Lone Ranger
    - Rex Allen
    - Walt Disney Presents... Andy Burnett, Texas John Slaughter, Elfego Baca and Swamp Fox
    - Smiley Burnette, Andy Devine
    - Gabby Hayes
    - Brave Eagle, Broken Arrow, Boots and Saddles
    - Gene Autry
    - John Wayne
    - Rod Cameron
    - Bat Masterson
    - Durango Kid
    - Cheyenne
    - Johnny Mack Brown
    - Buck Jones
    - Range Rider
    - Tim McCoy
    - Buster Crabbe
    - Bob Steele
    - Monte Hale
    - Sugarfoot
    - Ken Maynard
    - Jimmy Wakely
    - Hoot Gibson
    - The Rifleman
    - Whip Wilson
    - Wanted Dead or Alive, Texan, Mackenzie's Raiders
    - Lash LaRue
    - Tim Holt
    - Tex Ritter
    - Bill Elliott
    - Sunset Carson

Westerns of...
    - Archives

Heavies and Characters
      - Archives

The Stuntmen - Neil Summers
    - Archives

Western Treasures
    - Archives

Circus Cowboys
    - Archives

Radio Range Riders
    - Archives

Rangeland Elegance
    - Archives

Western Artifacts
    - Archives

Film Festival Fotos
    - Archives

Silent Western Reviews
    - Archives

Serial Report
    - Archives

Subscribe to Western Clippings

COLLECTIBLES FOR SALE

Western Clippings Back Issues

Daily Comic Strips
    - Page 1 (1910-1949)
    - Page 2 (1950-1979)

Sunday Comic Strips
    - 1907-1990

Books

Miscellaneous Collectibles

Autographs

Lobby Cards

Movie Posters

Home

DALE EVANS COMICS #2.“DALE EVANS COMICS”

Dale Evans rode across printed comic book pages twice, once for DC, once for Dell Comics. The first version was unfaithful, the second was a bullseye.

Let’s first examine DC’s DALE EVANS COMICS which began in Sept. ‘48 and was published bi-monthly for 24 issues through July/August ‘52. Billing her as “Queen of the Westerns”, photo covers of Dale were on #1, 2, 4-14, the rest were all drawn covers by James McArdle. The problem was, without Dale’s name and photo you’d never know the comics were about Dale. The artwork was by Susie Day, Ray Burnley (inker) and Jim McArdle (1899-1960), the primary artist on
Art by Jim McArdle in DALE EVANS #1 (DC). most of the DC run. Little attempt was made to capture Dale’s likeness by any of these artists. Furthermore, Dale’s horse was named Pal, and later Soda (as of #22) instead of Buttermilk.

Sometimes stories were set in modern day (with Dale as an actress), others placed her in the Old West as owner of the Circle 6 Ranch. Ryerson Johnson wrote many of Dale’s DC stories which were often incredible, as if she was Supergirl. “Dale Evans’ Roundup” was a regular text feature purportedly written by Dale (of course it wasn’t) or she wouldn’t call her friends “Pat Brody, Lloyd Veriman, Jim Spencer” and her horse Pal. Roy (no last name) is often mentioned as are other stars such as Hoot Gibson. Apparently, due to licensing arrangements, Roy’s first name could be mentioned in these text features, but he could not be shown in stories as he was licensed to Dell at the
Cover to DALE EVANS #8 (DC). Note RR initials on the tapaderos. time. Oddly, Dale is mounted on one of Roy’s fancy red/white/blue saddles on the covers of #4 and 8. Roy’s “RR” initials on the tapaderos are whited out on #4 but not on #8.

Dale fared much better a year later when Dell picked up her adventures for a 22 issue quarterly run beginning with Four Color #479 in July ‘53. Technically, the comic was titled QUEEN OF THE WEST, DALE EVANS but her name was lettered much larger so everyone simply referred to it as DALE EVANS. All 22 had gorgeous photo covers, with Buttermilk featured on FC #479 (#1), #6, #10, #14, #16, #18, #20, #22. Bullet was with Dale on #5, #9, #11, #12, #15, #17, #19, #21. Inside front cover photos were in #2 through #8, #10, #21. Back cover photos were on #4-8, #15 (showing that same red/white/blue RR saddle from DC covers).

Issue #2 (FC #528) came out in the Fall of
DALE EVANS FC#479 (#1) from Dell. ‘53, then Dell began regular numbering with #3 (April/June ‘54) through #22 (Jan./Mar. ‘59). Making the Dell series more authentic was the inclusion of Pat Brady and his jeep Nellybelle (oddly replaced by Curley the Cook in the last three issues), the dog Bullet, Dale’s horse Buttermilk and the fact Dale operated a café in Mineral City just as she did on Roy’s TV series.

Roy Rogers is mentioned in issue #4 and in the second story in #5 as Dale answers a young fan’s question.

Making Dale and Pat look like they should are artists Hi Mankin (1926-1978), Russ Manning (1929-1981) (the two primary artists), Jesse Marsh (1907-1966), Nat Edson (1909-2001), Mike Arens (1915-1976), Nicholas Firfires (1917-1990), John Ushler (192?-  ), Dan Spiegle (1920-   ) even Warren
Art of Dale and Pat Brady by Hi Mankin in DALE EVANS FC#479 (#1). Tufts (1925-1982) in #21. Mankin illustrated the ROY ROGERS syndicated newspaper strip (among others) from ‘53-‘58. He later went to work for Hanna-Barbera cartoons. Russ Manning spent some 15 years at Dell and Gold Key contributing to ROY ROGERS, WYATT EARP, REX ALLEN, RAWHIDE, GENE AUTRY, TARZAN and others. Jesse Marsh was the primary artist on Dell’s TARZAN from ‘47-‘65. He worked for Disney from ‘39-‘48 before coming to Dell, at first working on GENE AUTRY. Mike Arens worked on the ROY ROGERS syndicated Sunday comic strip from ‘57-‘62 as well as comics at Dell and Whitman BLBs. Ushler contributed to the early ROY ROGERS newspaper strips and drew other westerns for Dell. Dan Spiegle is best known for his work on the HOPALONG CASSIDY newspaper strip. Warren Tufts created CASEY RUGGLES for the newspapers but also worked at Dell on RAWHIDE and RIFLEMAN. He also later worked at Hanna-Barbera.

Dale Evans art by Russ Manning in Dell #3.DC’s DALE EVANS #1 can bring $200 in Fine, #3-11 generally $100 and the rest from $45-$65 in Fine. Thankfully, the better DALE EVANS comics are from Dell with FC #479 (#1) priced at $54 in Fine; FC #528 (#2) at $30 and #3-22 from $12 to $24 each.

Additionally, Dale Evans stories were added to the lineup in Dell’s Giant 132 pg. WESTERN ROUNDUP with #11 (July/Sept. ‘55) and continuing to the end (#24, Oct./Dec. ‘58). The other stars featured were Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, Rex Allen, Johnny Mack Brown, Bill Elliott and the Range Rider. The lineup changed later on to include more TV westerns. Most issues from #11-#24 can be bought for $25-$30 (and darn well worth it).

For the completist Dale is cover featured and included in the story “Queen of the Westerns” in DC’s BOY COMMANDOS #32 (March/April ‘49). About $65 in Fine.

Dale Evans Cover Gallery

Covers to DC's  DALE EVANS COMICS #13 and #18.

Covers to Dell's DALE EVANS COMICS #5 and #10.