JOHN WAYNE ADVENTURE COMICS #1

The Cowboy and the GamblerIn the town of Gambler's Gulch, Clem Watkins is gunned down in the street from behind by Blackjack Wells, a notorious gunman. John Wayne has just arrived in town in pursuit of Blackjack and hears the townsfolk discussing the incompetence of their too-old Sheriff. Wayne promises to bring the outlaw in and joins with the Sheriff as a deputy. At Blackjack's hideout, he and two other outlaws plan to rustle some cows by creating a diversion. Fortunately, two boys are playing hookie and overhear the plans and run to tell Val Watson, the Sheriff's daughter. She alerts her father and the two of them, along with Wayne, head out to trap the outlaws. Wayne, Val, and the Sheriff take their positions high above the targeted cattle and watch as Blackjack and his gang approach. Just then a bobcat leaps at Wayne and his gun jams. The Sheriff takes a shot at the animal and it dies. The shot, however, causes the cattle to stampede and nearly kill Blackjack. Wayne grabs the Sheriff's .44 pistol and takes out a cow to stop the stampede. He then drops down and dukes it out with Blackjack. Wayne is eventually the victor. Back in town, Val gives Wayne the slug that killed the bobcat and Wayne notes that it is for a .45, not a .44 like the Sheriff uses. Val admits to being the one that took out the bobcat. Sudden Death at Dragon's Peak