Lucky Luke Comics

Is there a Lucky Luke Cartoon? What is the name of the dog in Lucky Luke? Do you have all the Comic books in the Lucky Luke series? Read on and I will try to answer your questions!

The very first Lucky Luke comic was launched in 1946 and was featured in the "le journal de Spirou" a Belgian comics magazine. Morris (a.k.a Aldus Maurice De Bevere) both Drew and Wrote the first story about Lucky Luke, it was titled "Arizona". Morris later got Rene Goscinny onboard to do the writing, so he could himself focus on the actual drawing. Goscinny is perhaps better known as one of the creator of Asterix. After Morris death the comic has been continued by Achdé (Real name Hervé Darmenton). The latest comic book; Lucky Luke vs Pinkerton has been written by Daniel Pennac and is illustrated by Tonino Benacquista.

The comics are set in the Wild West of America around the end of the 19th century and spins its tales around real world events and characters.

Lucky Luke is popular throughout the world and has been translated into 27 languages with 76 different books published so far.

Photo Courtesy of Ferran Cornellà

Wikimedia Commmons

The comics has a large and varied ensemble of character , however there are some that are present in all or almost all of the stories. You can read more about all of them on my Lucky Luke lens, but here is the quick rundown:

• Lucky Luke - the Hero of the comics. Lonesome Cowboy who is faster than his own shadow.
• Jolly Jumper - Very clever horse and Lucky Lukes faithful companion
• Rantanplan - The stupidest dog in the West
• The Dalton Brothers - Notorious Criminals, Lucky Lukes arch enemies

Throughout his Travels Lucky Luke meets and interacts with several historically famous people.

Most notably of these are the Dalton Brothers who continuously escape from prison and get up to no good. It is a running joke in the books that Lucky Luke always needs to bring them back and mostly that is the case. There are however a few of the comics where Lucky Luke is surprised, either by them having been returned without his interaction or by them not having run off at all.

You can see some examples of the real people featuring in the Lucky Luke comments below, as well as see which volume your favourite Wild West celebrity is portrayed.

There are many more famous people throughout the books though and many more tales to explore. With this approach The Lucky Luke comics gives you a fun entry point into the events and people of the Wild West era.

I have found that the comics are a great way to learn about this part of the American history as my curiosity will often prompt me to go find out the "real" story after I have finished the Lucky Luke take on it.

My favourite character from the comics has to be Averell, he is just such a lovely guy. He might not be the smartest person in the world, but he has a heart of gold. I get sad every time Joe is mean to him.

There are a couple of spin offs from the original series. The Dog Rantanplan (the most stupid dog in the West) became so loved that he got his own series with 20 volumes released to date. (Most of these are only in french, however some has been translated to other languages).

Other than that there are 2 volumes that deals with the early year of our hero, however again, these does not seem to have been translated to english.

My favorite has to be the The Tenderfoot. The comic is about the very posh British Waldo who inherits a ranch in the Wild West. He arrives with his butler Jasper to take over his new home. When the Wild West and Britain meets hilarity ensue.