1954 Series
Publisher: Charlton
Publication Dates: March-April 1954 – June 1961
Number of Issues Published: 38 (#47 – #84)
Color: Color
Dimensions: Standard Silver Age US
Paper Stock: Newsprint
Binding: Saddle-stitched
Publishing Format: Was ongoing
Publication Type: magazine
Pages 36 Indicia Frequency: bi-monthly
Authors:
Script:
Pete Morisi; Joe Gill?,
Pencils:
John Belfi (signed), Dick Giordano, Stan Campbell, Pete Morisi [as PM], Bill Fraccio,
Charles Nicholas [as ChaSal], Bill Molno,
Inks:
John Belfi (signed), Vince Alascia (signed), Stan Campbell, Tony Tallarico,
Pete Morisi, Sal Trapani [as ChaSal],
Colors: ? Letters: Ed Hamilton ?
Alfred “Lash” LaRue (June 15, 1917–May 21, 1996) was a popular western motion picture star of the 1940s and 1950s. He had exceptional skill with the bull whip and taught Harrison Ford how to use a bullwhip in the Indiana Jones movies. LaRue was one of the first recipients of the Golden Boot Awards in 1983.
Lash LaRue was a roving U. S. Marshal who with his horse Black Diamond (some times called Rush) patrolled the American West righting wrongs and giving lectures about right and wrong and whip safety.
Although he carried a gun, he was noted for preferring to use an 18 foot long bull whip which confronting the bad guys, Lash was so proficient with the whip that he could do more than just battle with one of his more common stunts being saving people about to fall to their doom by wrapping the whip around them, often while at full gallop on Black Diamond, and pulling them to safety. Lash was also known for always wearing black.
He was often opposed by his identical twin brother, a villain known as the Frontier Phantom.
Alfred “Lash” LaRue (June 14, 1921–May 21, 1996) was one of many actors in the 40s and 50s who spent most of his career making B-Westerns, originally hired because he looked enough like Humphrey Bogart that producers thought this would draw in more viewers, along with using his real last name as the name for most of his film characters LaRue also used his real skill with a whip to make his screen character presents more unique.
The comic book series that was named after his screen character was one of the most popular Western Comics published, running for 12 years at Fawcett and then Charlton.
Links: Lash LaRue Western #47 – #84⇲⇲