Introduction: Rocky Lane Western #39 belongs to the period when Western entertainment was extremely popular in American movies, television, and comic books. The character Rocky Lane was based on the screen persona of actor Allan “Rocky” Lane, who became well known for Western films.
The comic series began with Fawcett Comics in 1949. Fawcett published Rocky Lane Western during the early 1950s, and the numbering later continued under Charlton Comics. Historical references record the Fawcett run as a 55-issue series before the title continued under Charlton.
Issue #39, published in July 1952, is a representative example of the period's Western-comic storytelling. It places Rocky in situations where observation, courage, quick thinking, and persistence are more important than simply winning a gunfight.
The issue is also useful for readers interested in the history of licensed movie-star comics and the evolution of Western comics during the Golden Age.
Publisher
- Original Publisher: Fawcett Comics / Fawcett Publications
- Issue: Rocky Lane Western #39
- Publication Date: July 1952
- Cover Price: 10 cents
- Format: Full-color comic book
- Length: Approximately 32 pages according to collector listings.
The Rocky Lane Western series was one of Fawcett's Western titles. The series subsequently continued under Charlton after Fawcett left the comics-publishing business.
Author
The issue is credited to Howard Boughner and other contributors in collector and comic-reference listings. Because Golden Age comic books were frequently produced by teams of writers, artists, editors, and production staff, it is more accurate to describe this as a collaborative comic rather than attribute the entire issue to a single modern-style author.
The character himself was the comic-book version of movie Western star Allan “Rocky” Lane.
About the Author and Creative Team
Howard Boughner: Howard Boughner is associated with the creative work on Rocky Lane Western during this period. Like many Golden Age comic creators, his work appeared within a highly collaborative publishing environment.
Allan “Rocky” Lane: Allan Lane was an American actor best known for Western films. His screen persona provided the basis for the Rocky Lane character used in comics. The comic version generally presents Rocky as a capable Western hero who relies on courage, justice, horsemanship, investigation, and practical intelligence.
The comic character should therefore be distinguished from the real-life actor. Rocky Lane is a fictionalized comic-book representation of Lane's Western screen persona.
Virginia Provisiero: Another important name associated with the series is Virginia “Ginny” Provisiero, a Fawcett editor who worked on Rocky Lane Western among numerous other Fawcett titles. Historical references identify her as one of Fawcett's principal editors during the 1940s and 1950s.
Genres
- Western
- Cowboy Adventure
- Mystery
- Action-Adventure
- Crime and Investigation
- Heroic Adventure
- Humor
- Golden Age Comics
- Movie-Tie-In / Celebrity Comic
Book Summary
Main Story: “Death Makes a Deposit!”
The principal Rocky Lane storyline involves a mystery surrounding a bank and a deceptive financial transaction. Collector descriptions identify Rocky as being temporarily involved with bank-teller duties and becoming caught up in a scheme involving disappearing ink.
This provides the story with a different kind of Western conflict. Instead of relying exclusively on a traditional outlaw-versus-lawman confrontation, the plot introduces deception, fraud, and investigation.
Rocky must determine how an apparently legitimate financial transaction can become part of a criminal scheme. The mystery forces him to pay attention to details that might otherwise appear insignificant.
The issue also features a continuing conflict involving the outlaw known as the Fox. The Fox is portrayed as an elusive criminal whose ability to escape creates an additional challenge for Rocky. The story is described as part of a two-part adventure.
Supporting Stories
In addition to the principal Rocky Lane adventure, the issue includes several shorter features. Reference listings identify stories or features including:
- The Law-Baiters
- Gopherface: Smokey Issue!
- Dee Dickens: The Big Pull
- Outlaw Justice
- Killers Gold
- Death Makes a Deposit!
- Sagebrush
The variety gives the comic an anthology-like structure rather than making it a single continuous narrative.
Why the Story Works
One of the most enjoyable aspects of the issue is the mixture of traditional Western imagery with a mystery plot. Banks, checks, deception, criminals, and investigations become part of the frontier adventure.
This approach gives Rocky an opportunity to demonstrate qualities beyond physical strength. He has to observe, reason, investigate, and act at the right moment.
Dialogue — Text Version
Because reproducing the original comic's dialogue verbatim would not be appropriate, the following is a reader-friendly paraphrase of the dialogue and conversational situations, not a transcription of the original copyrighted text.
Opening Situation: Rocky encounters a suspicious situation involving financial transactions and quickly realizes that something is not quite right.
- Rocky: Something about this transaction doesn't add up.
- Bank staff: The payment appears to be legitimate.
- Rocky: Then we need to find out how it was changed.
Investigation: As the mystery develops, Rocky begins connecting seemingly unrelated clues.
- Rocky: A clever trick can fool a person once, but it leaves clues behind.
- Associate: You think someone deliberately altered the evidence?
- Rocky: That's exactly what I'm trying to prove.
The Outlaw Conflict: Rocky's investigation eventually brings him closer to the criminals responsible for the trouble.
- Rocky: You may be quick enough to disappear, but you can't outrun the truth forever.
- Outlaw: You won't catch me that easily!
- Rocky: We'll see about that.
These lines are original paraphrases created for this article to describe the story's conversational dynamics. They should not be treated as quotations from the comic.
Lessons
- Pay Attention to Details: The mystery demonstrates how small details can reveal a larger problem. Careful observation is one of Rocky's most valuable abilities.
- Intelligence Can Be More Powerful Than Force: The story does not depend entirely on physical confrontation. Investigation and reasoning play an important role.
- Deception Has Limits: Criminal schemes may initially appear convincing, but inconsistencies can eventually expose them.
- Persistence Matters: Rocky does not abandon an investigation simply because the criminals have an advantage.
- Justice Requires Responsibility: The Western hero is presented as someone who takes responsibility for protecting people and helping restore order.
- Courage Includes Thinking Under Pressure: Rocky's courage is not simply the willingness to face danger. It also involves remaining calm enough to make good decisions.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Classic Golden Age Western atmosphere
- Features the popular Rocky Lane character
- Mixes Western adventure with mystery
- Fast-moving storytelling
- Multiple stories and features
- Interesting historical value
- Useful example of 1950s movie-based comics
- Appeals to vintage comic collectors and Western fans
Cons
- Some storytelling conventions may feel dated to modern readers
- Character development is relatively limited
- Several short features can make the issue feel less like one continuous story
- Historical Western stereotypes may not match contemporary storytelling standards
- Attribution of individual creative contributions can be difficult because Golden Age comics were often collaborative
Rating
- Story 8/10
- Artwork 7.5/10
- Characters 7.5/10
- Western Atmosphere 9/10
- Historical Value 9/10
- Entertainment 8/10
- Overall 8/10
Conclusion
Rocky Lane Western #39 is a fascinating snapshot of American Western comics in 1952. Published by Fawcett during the height of the genre's popularity, the issue combines cowboy adventure with mystery, deception, pursuit, humor, and supporting features.
Its central storyline, involving a suspicious financial scheme and disappearing ink, demonstrates that Rocky Lane's appeal was not based solely on gunplay. He is also presented as an investigator who uses observation and intelligence to uncover wrongdoing.
For modern readers, the comic offers two kinds of enjoyment: the straightforward entertainment of a classic Western adventure and the historical appeal of seeing how movie heroes were transformed into comic-book characters during the Golden Age.
If you are exploring vintage Western comics, Rocky Lane Western #39 is a worthwhile issue to examine alongside the other Fawcett-era Rocky Lane adventures.
FAQs
Q. What is Rocky Lane Western #39?
A. Rocky Lane Western #39 is a Golden Age Western comic featuring the fictional comic-book version of movie cowboy Allan “Rocky” Lane. It was published in July 1952.
Q. Who published Rocky Lane Western #39?
A. The issue was published by Fawcett Comics/Fawcett Publications during the Fawcett era of the series.
Q. Who is Rocky Lane?
A. Rocky Lane is the fictionalized Western hero based on actor Allan “Rocky” Lane's movie persona.
Q. Who wrote Rocky Lane Western #39?
A. Reference listings credit Howard Boughner and other contributors. Golden Age comic books were frequently produced through collaborative editorial and artistic teams.
Q. What is the main story in issue #39?
A. The issue features the Rocky Lane story “Death Makes a Deposit!”, involving a financial mystery and deceptive use of disappearing ink. The issue also contains an adventure involving the elusive outlaw known as the Fox.
Q. When was Rocky Lane Western #39 published?
A. The issue was published in July 1952.
Q. Is Rocky Lane Western #39 a Golden Age comic?
A. Yes. It was published in 1952, during the period generally recognized as the Golden Age of American comic books.
Q. How many pages does the issue have?
A. Collector references list the issue at approximately 32 pages, while digital archive/catalog records can differ depending on whether covers and other pages are counted.
Q. Where can I learn more about the issue?
A. The Internet Archive has a digital record for the Rocky Lane collection, while comic-reference sites provide publication and issue information. Readers should always verify the copyright and availability status applicable to their country before accessing or downloading historical scans.
Legal Reading Sources
- Internet Archive
- Comic Book Plus
- Historical Publisher Information