Real Name: Pancho Diablo (see comments)

Identity/Class: Human (Old West era);
   Mexican citizen

Occupation: Bandit

Group Membership: His gang (including Manuel and at least six unidentified others)

Affiliations: None

Enemies: Mr. Forbes (first name unrevealed), Pedro (last name unrevealed), U.S. Cavalry

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: His hideout, somewhere in the Mexican foothills

First Appearance: Western Outlaws#4/2 (August, 1954)

Powers/Abilities: A cruel and murderous outlaw, Pancho Diablo was strong enough to lift a fully grown man, but he appeared to be a bit overweight (Considering his pot-belly, they probably called him "Paunchy Diablo" behind his back).

While riding horseback, Diablo and his gang used handguns and explosives to commit their robberies, and they struck with hard and fast hit-and-run tactics.

Height: 5' 8" (by approximation)
Weight: 220 lbs. (by approximation)
Eyes: Unrevealed
Hair: Black

History:
(Western Outlaws#4/2 (fb) - BTS) - The past of Pancho Diablo is largely unrevealed, but during the 1860s, he and his gang of bandits conducted violent and destructive raids in the southern territory of Texas.

(Western Outlaws#4/2) - As he and his gang were riding horseback in pursuit of a train, Diablo threw dynamite in front of the locomotive, and the resultant explosion caused it to derail. After mercilessly shooting the surrendering engineer, Diablo ordered his men to round up the frightened passengers and rob them of their money and valuables--suspecting one of the passengers was holding back, Diablo picked up the passenger, turned him upside-down, and violently shook the money from his pockets. With their bags of loot full, the bandits leaped upon their horses and galloped off to their hideout.

   Three days later, at the division headquarters of a U.S. Cavalry unit, the commander learned of the violent crimes of the bandits--he ordered a captain to take his men and capture Diablo.

   Meanwhile, in their hideout across the border, Diablo and his gang celebrated their recent robbery with a feast. Diablo ordered Pedro to pour him more wine, but the frightened Pedro's shaky hand accidentally spilled some of it. The infuriated Diablo struck Pedro, and the timid young man recoiled in fear; Diablo called Pedro a coward and booted him out of the room, much to the amusement of the rest of the gang. The humiliated Pedro slunk off to seek the companionship of his only friend, his dog Chicolo.

   A week later, Diablo and his gang rode across the border to rob the ranch of Mr. Forbes. Although Forbes and his hired hands met the bandits' assault with their guns, Diablo threw dynamite, killing the rancher and his men.

   With Forbes dead, the bandits took possession of his ranch-house, and after looting all the valuables, they turned their attention to the house's wine-cellar. But one of Diablo's henchmen came running in to warn that he had spotted the U.S. Cavalry riding in the area; not wanting to fight the American soldiers unless he had to, Diablo decided to remain at the ranch until nightfall, then he and his men would sneak away in the darkness.

   But at that moment, Pedro's dog Chicolo began to bark, and Diablo feared that the incessant noise would attract the attention of the nearby Cavalry; despite Pedro's pleading, Diablo shot and killed Chicolo, and ordered Pedro to go outside to bury the dog's carcass. Diablo and his men then filled themselves with wine and went to sleep.

(Western Outlaws#4/2 - BTS) - After tearfully burying his beloved dog, the heartbroken Pedro took a bundle of the gang's dynamite and sneaked away to inform the Cavalry of Diablo's whereabouts.

(Western Outlaws#4/2) - Several hours later, the sleeping bandits awoke to the sound of gunfire outside the ranch-house--looking out the front window, they saw they were being attacked by the U.S. Cavalry. Diablo noticed that Pedro was not present and guessed that it was he who had betrayed them to the soldiers--Diablo angrily vowed that if he ever saw Pedro again, he would tear out his cowardly heart with his bare hands!

   Realizing they were outnumbered, Diablo ordered his gang to slip out the back of the ranch-house so they could escape in the darkness. But when he opened the backdoor, Diablo encountered Pedro, who was holding a bundle of dynamite with the fuse lit--the crazed Pedro was seeking to exact revenge for the many cruelties Diablo had dealt upon him. Diablo futilely ordered his men to shoot Pedro down, but it was too late.

   The ranch-house exploded with a thunderous blast, and as the reverberations rumbled into the distance, the grim-faced Cavalry captain ordered his men to cease firing, for Pancho Diablo was dead.

Comments: Created by an unidentified writer and Jay Scott Pike (artist).

Since "Pancho" is a nickname for the Spanish name "Francisco," then perhaps this character's real name was "Francisco de Ablo"

This story would be reprinted in Rawhide Kid I#123 (November, 1974).

Profile by Ron Fredricks.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Pancho Diablo has no known connections to:

Pedro has no known connections to:

Mr. Forbes has no known connections to:

Pedro

During the 1860s, the timid Pedro appeared to be a reluctant member of Pancho Diablo's gang of bandits--he didn't actually take part in any robberies, but only seemed to perform menial chores for them.  He was bullied by Diablo, who often physically and verbally abused him.  Pedro considered his dog Chicolo to be his only friend.

While the gang was celebrating after a crime-spree, Pedro accidentally spilled some wine, which angered Diablo, so he struck Pedro and called him a coward.  The humiliated Pedro slunk off to seek the company of Chicolo; Pedro told his dog that one day he would prove to Diablo that he wasn't a coward.

Pedro accompanied Diablo and his gang when they took possession of an American ranch-house.  When Chicolo began to bark, Diablo was concerned that the noise would attract the attention of the nearby U.S. Cavalry; ignoring Pedro's pleadings, Diablo shot and killed the dog, then ordered Pedro to bury the carcass.

As the heartbroken Pedro stood over Chicolo's grave, his mind seemed to snap--he wanted revenge for the killing of his beloved dog, and for the many other cruelties Diablo had dealt him.  After taking some dynamite from the gang's arsenal, Pedro sneaked away to inform the Cavalry soldiers about Diablo's whereabouts. 

Hours later, the soldiers attacked the ranch; Diablo and his men tried to sneak away, but they were met by Pedro, who lit the fuse of the dynamite he was holding--the raving Pedro taunted Diablo, asking him who was the coward now, even as Diablo ordered his men to shoot Pedro down.

Moments later, an explosion destroyed the ranch-house, apparently killing Pedro, along with Diablo and the rest of the gang.

--Western Outlaws#4/2

Mr. Forbes

A prosperous American rancher during the 1860s, his home was somewhere in the southern territory of Texas.

One day, Pancho Diablo and his gang of bandits rode to Forbes' ranch.  Although Forbes and his hired hands were able to hold off Diablo's attack with their handguns, the bandits employed a weapon against which they had no defense: Dynamite!

Forbes and his men were apparently killed by the violent explosion--Diablo and his gang then took possession of Forbes' house and all the valuables within.

--Western Outlaws#4/2

U.S. Cavalry

They were a regiment of American horse-soldiers stationed in the southern territory of Texas during the 1860s.

After learning of the crimes of Pancho Diablo and his gang of bandits, the base commander ordered a captain to take the soldiers of D Company and get Diablo.

The captain and his men were riding near the ranch of Mr. Forbes when Pedro informed them that Diablo and his gang were hiding in the ranch-house.

The soldiers surrounded the ranch and began to fire their guns at the house--they were unaware that Pedro was about to take his own revenge upon Diablo by using dynamite.
 
After the ranch-house exploded, the captain ordered his men to cease fire, for Pancho Diablo was dead.

--Western Outlaws#4/2

images: (without ads)
Western Outlaws#4/2, p2, pan5 (Main Image - Pancho Diablo shaking money from train passenger)
Western Outlaws#4/2, p1, pan2 (Headshot - Pancho Diablo lighting fuse of dynamite)
Western Outlaws#4/2, p1, pan3 (Pancho Diablo throwing dynamite in front of train)
Western Outlaws#4/2, p6, pan5 (Pancho Diablo orders his men to shoot Pedro, as Pedro (right) drops lit dynamite)
Western Outlaws#4/2, p3, pan3 (Pedro pours wine for Pancho Diablo)
Western Outlaws#4/2, p4, pan1 (Pedro with Chicolo)
Western Outlaws#4/2, p4, pan2 (Pedro with Chicolo)
Western Outlaws#4/2, p5, pan6 (Pedro ordered to bury Chicolo after Pancho Diablo has killed the dog)
Western Outlaws#4/2, p4, pan4 (Mr. Forbes and his men defending ranch from Diablo and his gang)
Western Outlaws#4/2, p4, pan5 (Mr. Forbes sees Diablo about to use dynamite on him and his men)
Western Outlaws#4/2, p3, pan1 (U.S. Cavalry commander and captain discussing Pancho Diablo)
Western Outlaws#4/2, p6, pan7 (U.S. Cavalry captain announces death of Pancho Diablo)

Appearances:
Western Outlaws#4/2 (August, 1954) - unidentified writer, Tony DiPreta (pencils and inks), Stan Lee (editor)

First Posted: 08/20/2018
Last updated: 08/20/2018

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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