European Western Comic Books ~ Kansas Kid

The Kansas Kid was a western adventurer who helped tame the West. He fought outlaws, conmen and bandits who terrorized the Wild West. He would team up with lawmen, the army and an occasional sidekick when needed to help them and himself in his heroic stand against lawbreakers.  

The Kansas Kid was a weekly issued comic from January 1948 – February 1950

There were only 8 pages per issue and the size was small and was published by Ricciardelli Mauro in Milan, Italy with artwork by Stefano Piselli. The character was created by Carlo Cossio It would be eventually published in Italian, French, English.

Carlo Cossio was born in Udine, Italy on January 1, 1907. He was an animator and cartoonist.

Carlo had two brothers Gino and Vittorio. He began his career making, together with Vittorio, some animated short films, beginning in 1928, mainly one reelers.

Later he devoted himself to comics, working in small fumettos; later the fascist regime censored all foreign comics, and Carlo Cossio was among the authors who created Italians heroes; such as Dick Lightning (written by Vincenzo Baggioli ) in 1938 and published on L'Audace . He continued to work on comic books and strips until 1955.

Cossio created many other characters including: Furio Almirante (1940), Tanks, the Man of Steel (1945), The Kansas Kid (1947), and Buffalo Bill (1951).

He also designed the stories Gim Toro and, among the last works before his death, a register called Kolosso. Cossio died in Milan, Italy on August 10, 1964.

Spaghetti Western Locations

We continue to our search for filming locations for the 1966 film “Navajo Joe”. Duncan and his gang ride into Esperanza with Dr. Lynne as prisoner. They go ride up to the bank and go inside. When Lynne opens the bank vault it is empty. Now in a rage Duncan demands to know where the money is. As Lynne move to the door in order to find his wife and the whereabouts of the money he is shot twice by Duncan. Lynne’s wife watching from their house next to the bank sees her husband shot and runs to his side only to be shot by one of Duncan’s men. Both Lynne and his wife die on the front entrance to the bank.

Joe goes into action from the roof opposite the bank and throws a few sticks of dynamite into  wagon which explodes causing panic and confusion amongst Duncan’s men. He then starts picking them off one by one. Duncan makes a retreat into Dr. Lynne’s house.

This scene was filmed on the Oasys/Mini Hollywood film set which today is a zoo and tourist attraction.

For a more detailed view of this site and other Spaghetti Western locations please visit my friend Yoshi Yasuda’s location site: http://y-yasuda.net/film-location.htm and Captain Douglas Film Locations http://www.western-locations-spain.com/

 

Special Birthdays

Remigio Del Grosso (screenwriter) would have been 105 today, he died in1984.

Piero Vivarelli (screenwriter) would have been 90 today, he died in 2010.

Susanne Breuning (actress) is 65 today.