DERRINGER KID
Real Name: Jim (possibly a pseudonym, last name unrevealed)
Identity/Class: Normal human (Old West Era)
Occupation: Unemployed;
formerly cow-herder;
formerly gunslinger, outlaw
Group Membership: None
Affiliations: Mary Clayton
Enemies: Nevada (full
name unrevealed), Mr. Clayton (first name unrevealed), others
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Mobile on the American frontier in the Old West, notably Wyoming;
formerly Pecos County, Texas
First Appearance: Western Kid I#8/5 (February,
1956)
Powers/Abilities: The Derringer Kid was an accurate and fast gunfighter, but arrogant and callous. He also had very good horse-riding skills.
Height: 5'9"
(by approximation)
Weight: 155 lbs. (by
approximation)
Eyes: Black
Hair: Blond
History:
(Western Kid I#8/5 (fb) - BTS) - The man who became
known as the Derringer Kid grew up in Pecos County, Texas. As a boy, he
dreamed of being the fastest gunman in the region. He was largely
self-taught, specializing in "derringer" handguns.
(Western Kid I#8/5) - Finally confident in his
sharpshooting skills, he went to a nearby saloon and issued a
gunfighting challenge. The surly Nevada was outdrawn and fell. More
gunfights followed and the Derringer Kid developed a fearsome
reputation. Soon, most people avoided him and he considered his
handguns his best friends. But years passed and he mellowed, realizing
the worthless life of the killer Derringer Kid, so he headed north to
Wyoming, got himself a new name and became a cow-herder on the Clayton
ranch. Now known as Jim, he fell in love with the ranch owner's
daughter, Mary, and seemed to be about to ask her father for permission
to marry her. But the ranch owner discovered Jim's nefarious past.
Finding him still carrying his derringers, Mr. Clayton had the handguns
emptied of bullets as he slapped Jim down and forced at gunpoint off
his ranch. Jim left ashamed and realized that his foolish past had
caught up with him.
Comments: Created by uncredited writer, Norman Maurer (pencils & inks).
An important story, it showed Atlas taking
an active stance telling moralistic stories, with the Comics Code Authority
stamp having started to be boldly branded on Western Kid comics five
issues earlier.
This story was later reprinted in Kid Colt Outlaw I#161 (August, 1972).
From Wikipedia: "derringer"
refers to any small-sized handgun that is neither a revolver nor a
semiautomatic pistol. It is not to be confused with mini-revolvers or
pocket pistols.
Profile by Grendel Prime.
CLARIFICATIONS
:
Derringer Kid has no known connections to:
Mary Clayton was the daughter of the ranch owner who
employed Jim (secretly the outlaw formerly known as the Derringer Kid)
as a cow-herder. Mary and Jim fell in love and it seemed that Jim
intended to ask her father for permission to marry her. But Mary's
father had discovered Jim's nefarious past and instead ran him off the
ranch at gunpoint. Jim felt so ashamed that he no longer believed he
deserved to be with Mary.
--Western Kid I#8/5
Nevada (presumably so called because he came from there) was a surly gunslinging patron of a saloon. When the Derringer Kid arrogantly issued his first challenge at the saloon, Nevada was the first to counter him, but was outdrawn and crumpled to the floor, shot at close range by the Kid.
--Western Kid I#8/5
images:
(without ads)
Western Kid I#8/5, p1, pan2 (main image)
p3, pan4 (headshot)
p3, pan4 (Mary)
p2, pan1 (Nevada)
Appearances:
Western Kid I#8/5 (February, 1956) - uncredited writer, Norman Maurer
(pencils & inks), Stan Lee (editor)
First posted:
07/18/2019
Last updated:
07/18/2019
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel Copyright info
All other characters mentioned or pictured are ™
and © 1941-2099 Marvel Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
If you like this stuff, you should check out the real thing!
Please visit The Marvel Official Site at: http://www.marvel.com