main image

BLACK BART

Real Name: Unrevealed

Identity/Class: Normal human (Old West era)

Occupation: Criminal

Group Membership: None;
   formerly small wagon train bound for Abilene

Affiliations: None

Enemies: Kid Colt (Blaine Cole), citizens of Dry Gulch (Jeb, Doc Jones, others)

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Mobile on the frontier American west, notably Dry Gulch

First Appearance: Kid Colt Outlaw#135/1 (July, 1967)

Powers/Abilities: Black Bart is a good gunfighter, but relies on unfair strategy to gain victory. He engages in aggressive bullying and violent intimidation to brazenly steal and gain power. He is also a good equestrian.

Height: 5'10" (by approximation)
Weight: 175 lbs. (by approximation)
Eyes: Dark brown
Hair: Black

History:

(Kid Colt Outlaw#135/1 (fb)) - Black Bart was part of a wagon train headed to Abilene. The wagons were shadowed by two outlaws until Kid Colt apprehended them. The wagoner said he would take the bound villains to Abilene. Kid Colt, already sick with fever, elected to ride to the nearby town of Dry Gulch for medical help. Black Bart saw Kid Colt admit he was weak and saw an opportunity to make a gunfighting reputation for himself by killing Kid Colt and stealthily followed the hero into town so there would be plenty of witnesses.

(Kid Colt Outlaw#135/1) - Black Bart challenged Kid Colt to a gunfight in the main street of Dry Gulch. Unsteady and sick with fever, Kid Colt chose to walk away to the surprise of everyone there. Black Bart was ready to next challenge a sheriff but the small town had no lawmen. Black Bart appointed himself sheriff and ruler of the town, robbing whomever he chose at gunpoint and killing anyone who resisted. Meanwhile, Kid Colt had stumbled to the town's outskirts and found the medic Doc Jones, who treated him and, after a week, Kid Colt had fully recovered. Hearing of Black Bart's ruthless rule, Jones told Kid Colt, who quickly returned to town and challenged Black Bart to a rematch. Kid Colt easily outdrew him and Black Bart lay in the dirt defeated. Kid Colt told the townsfolk to quickly elect a sheriff and jail their first prisoner.

Comments: Created by Sol Brodsky & Herb Trimpe.

It's unrevealed if he was already known as Black Bart before challenging Kid Colt and taking over the town, or if it was a last-minute alias he chose (possibly as a copycat or he was inspired by the short story The Case of Summerfield by William Henry Rhodes of an unruly stagecoach robber who instilled fear).

This story was later reprinted as the opening story in Kid Colt Outlaw#200 (November, 1975), which had a dynamic Gil Kane cover.

Profile by Grendel Prime.

CLARIFICATIONS :
Black Bart no known connections to:


images: (without ads)
Kid Colt Outlaw#135/1, p5, pan3 (main image)
   p3, pan4 (headshot)


Appearances:
Kid Colt Outlaw#135/1 (July, 1967) - Sol Brodsky (writer), Herb Trimpe (pencils & inks), Stan Lee (editor)


First posted: 10/17/2021
Last updated: 10/17/2021

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

Back to Characters