Far West (comics)

Far West is a comic book limited series created by Richard Moore and published by Antarctic Press. Set in a world similar to Tolkien's Middle Earth undergoing an industrial revolution,[1] traditional high fantasy magic is used in conjunction with modern six shooters, lever action rifles, and steam power. Common species include elves, fairies, pixies, dwarves, goblins, trolls, ogres, and centaurs.[2]

Far West
Publication information
PublisherAntarctic Press
Schedulemonthly
Formatstandard
GenreWeird West
Publication dateNov. 1998 – May 1999
Feb. 2000–Apr. 2000
2008
No. of issues(1998–1999) 4
(2000) 2
(2008) 1
Main character(s)Ra'Meghan Val'Norium (Meg)
Phil
Creative team
Created byRichard Moore
Collected editions
Far WestISBN 978-1561632978
Far West Pocket Manga Vol. 1ISBN 978-0980125542

Publication history

The Far West storyline consisted of four issues published in Nov. 1998–May 1999; a second volume consisting of two issues, published Feb. 2000–Apr. 2000; and a full-color one-shot published in 2008.

Collected editions
  • Far West (NBM Publishing, 2001) ISBN 978-1561632978 — includes "Dragon Train" parts 1-4,[3] "Hole in the Head Gang" parts 1 and 2, and a bonus story — "Pookah Party"[4]
  • Far West Pocket Manga Vol. 1 (Antarctic Press, 2008) ISBN 978-0980125542
  • Far West: Badder Mojo (Antarctic Press, 2009) — includes the stories "Bad Mojo" and "Badder Mojo;" the first book of the series to be published in color[5]

Plot

The Far West comic series follows the adventures of Meg, an elf gunslinger and her partner Phil, a talking grizzly bear.[6] As bounty hunters, they are hired to capture an outlaw who uses a fire-breathing dragon to rob trains and later come into conflict with a gang of ogres led by the notorious Moonshine Kid.[7] In their latest (currently unpublished) adventure, they pursue a fugitive into the haunted Badlands and have to fight against an evil spirit called Kodiki who can transform himself into the physical manifestations of their worst fears.[8]

Cast

Main characters
  • Ra'Meghan Val'Norium - Half elf, half Native American gunfighter who usually wears a breech cloth, assless chaps, and a bowler hat.
  • Phil - Meg's sidekick who is a crackshot with a winchester rifle. Unlike the wild Meg who loves gambling, getting drunk and starting fights, Phil is more calm and restrained.

Villains
  • Darian Voss - Elf train-robber who lives in Troll country and is recognisable for his muttonchop sideburns and handlebar moustache.
  • Moonshine Kid - A bandit trapped in a child's body after drinking the elixir of life.
  • Hole-in-the Head Gang - The Kid's dim-witted ogre henchmen
  • High-Top - A snake oil salesman who tries to kill Meg after losing a game of poker. Meg kills him by poisoning his beer with a flesh-eating water demon.
  • Bellboy - A lecherous dwarf bribed by High-Top to put a water demon in Meg's bath.
  • Phooka - A goat faced goblin capable of changing his shape.[9]
  • Sheetfire - A goblin who sold the dragon to Darian Voss.

Others
  • Cyrus Shaldak - Detective who leads the Blackhawk Posse
  • Blackhawk Posse - A rival gang of bounty hunters who take the credit by bringing in Voss's body.
  • Blind Man - Insane hermit who tries to warn Meg about the dragons
  • Trolls - The equivalent of cowboys who wrangle fire-breathing dragons.

References
  1. Richard Moore fanclub
  2. Sci Fi Dimensions
  3. Far West Review by Amy Harlib
  4. Richard Moore's Far West, Antarctic Press paperback edition (1998)
  5. Richard Moore blog
  6. Far West Vol 1 # 1 - Dragon Train
  7. Far West Vol 2 #1 - Hole in the Head Gang
  8. Far West: Bad Mojo preview
  9. Pookah Party: very early Far West story found in the Pocket Manga
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