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UTAH KID

Real Name: Unrevealed

Identity/Class: Normal human (Old West Era)

Occupation: Outlaw, fugitive

Group Membership: Briefly leader of his own small gang

Affiliations: None

Enemies: Matt Slade, Sheriff Wade Thompson, Carson County citizens

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Mobile in Midwest USA

First Appearance: Frontier Western#2/1 (April, 1956)

Powers/Abilities: The Utah Kid is a fast and accurate gunfighter who uses his skills for robbery and killing. He is an excellent horse rider.

Height: 5'9" (by approximation)
Weight: 170 lbs. (by approximation)
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Dark brown

History:

(Frontier Western#2/1) - The Utah Kid made himself a fierce reputation as a bandit and accurate gunfighter. He targeted the bank in Carson County, hoping to encounter the new sheriff there, Wade Thompson. They met in the doorway; the Kid shot the sheriff's gun aside and intended to take him hostage, but Thompson was so dedicated to the law that he was willing to die for it. Seeing the armed townsfolk gathering, the Utah Kid surrendered.

(Matt Slade, Gunfighter#2/6 (fb) - BTS) - The Utah Kid apparently escaped, teamed up with four gunsels, and killed again. Undercover marshal Matt Slade pursued him through the harsh Mohave Desert.

(Matt Slade, Gunfighter#2/6) - Hidden, the Utah Kid shot and killed Matt Slade's horse and his canteen, leaving the marshal stranded. Recuperating with a wounded wild stallion he had helped, Slade headed into a nearby cave the next day and was confronted by the Utah Kid and his men, who had returned to ensure Slade was dead. A gunfight barely started before Slade's new loyal horse kicked away the other outlaws, leaving only the Utah Kid, his guns shot away by Slade. The marshal arrested the Kid and took him away for trial.

 

 

 

 

 

Comments: Created by Stan Lee & George Tuska.

I can't be 100% sure the Utah Kid is the same across the two issues, but given they were published within a few months of each other, I'd say it's a fairly safe bet, especially given the very similar physical appearance. There is another Utah Kid, but he looks quite different, so I'd place him as a separate character. It seems very unlikely there would be three Utah Kids published within 10 months of each other, even with the high rotation of western characters at that time. And in both stories, his hair is colored as black and dark brown in different panels.

Profile by Grendel Prime.

CLARIFICATIONS :
The Utah Kid has no known connections to:


Wade Thompson

At some point in the 1870s, Wade Thompson was initially a cowboy, quick to anger. He was made sheriff of Carson County and took the job too seriously and roughly. Hearing the Utah Kid was raiding the bank, he rushed over but was quickly disarmed by the outlaw. Thompson was held hostage so that the Utah Kid could escape, but Thompson was prepared to die for the law, making him a useless hostage. The Utah Kid surrendered as armed townsfolk gathered around to protect their sheriff. Noting his commitment, the citizens promised to re-elect Thompson as sheriff.

 

 

 

 

 

 

--Frontier Western#2/1


images: (without ads)
Frontier Western#2/1, p4, pan5 (main image)
Matt Slade, Gunfighter#2/6, p5, pan1 (headshot)
Frontier Western#2/1, p4, pan1 (Thompson)


Appearances:
Frontier Western#2/1 (April, 1956) - Stan Lee (writer & editor), George Tuska (pencils & inks)
Matt Slade, Gunfighter#2/6 (July, 1956) - uncredited writer, Werner Roth (pencils), Russ Heath (inks), Stan Lee (editor)


First posted: 10/27/2020
Last updated: 10/27/2020

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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