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UTAH KID

Real Name: Spade Borden

Identity/Class: Normal human (Old West Era)

Occupation: Outlaw, fugitive

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: None

Enemies: Law enforcement officials

Known Relatives: Jim Borden (half-brother), Tom Borden (nephew), grandnephew (name unrevealed)

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Mobile in frontier USA

First Appearance: Wild Western#53/3 (January, 1957)

Powers/Abilities: Spade Borden was a fast gunfighter and a rough bully. He thrived on cultivating his criminal reputation. He was an excellent horse rider and handled the lasso skilfully.

Height: 6' (by approximation)
Weight: 190 lbs. (by approximation)
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Blond

History:

(Wild Western#53/3 (fb) - BTS) - Spade Borden thrilled at his notorious reputation as the Utah Kid. But he sought company in his crimes. He tracked down his half-brother Jim so he could take his son Tommy away from him. Spade waited until the sheriff was out of town before making his move.

(Wild Western#53/3) - Spade entered the town, assaulting a man to find Jim's ranch. He rode on and, finding Jim's ranch, fired a shot to announce his arrival. Seeking praise but finding none from Jim, Spade said he wanted to take Tommy with him, even threatening Jim with a gun, but Jim defiantly knocked him flat on the ground with well-placed punches. Jim ordered Spade off his land and the Utah Kid rode off defeated.

   Three weeks later, a posse finally caught up with the Utah Kid. A quick gunfight and he was killed, likely buried in a forgotten grave outside Lathrup, Wyoming.

 

 

Comments: Created by Stan Lee & Dick Ayers.

This sounds to be a potential case of "Dakota Kid" syndrome, where Borden was inspired by a predecessor/contemporary (or maybe took on the name to ride on the notoriety of a predecessor/contemporary).

I can't find his place of burial, Lathrup, Wyoming, on a map.

Profile by Grendel Prime.

CLARIFICATIONS :
Utah Kid has no known connections to:


Jim Borden

Jim Borden was Spade Borden's half-brother and content to live an honest life on a small ranch. Having not seen each other for a while, Jim was unimpressed with his brother's notoriety as the outlaw Utah Kid. When Spade revealed that he wanted to take Jim's son, Tommy, with him as a partner in crime, Jim defended his family, knocking away Spade's gun and punching him down. Spade rode away defeated and they never met again. Years later, Jim was proud of his son, who had become a sheriff and had a son of his own.

 

 

 

 

 

--Wild Western#53/3


images: (without ads)
Wild Western#53/3, p4, pan4 (main image)
   p1, pan2 (headshot)
   p4, pan5 (Jim)


Appearances:
Wild Western#53/3 (January, 1957) - Stan Lee (writer & editor), Dick Ayers (pencils & inks)


First posted: 10/25/2020
Last updated: 10/25/2020

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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