Broken Frontier

As the Blackest Night spreads across the DC Universe, Broken Frontier unearths the histories of several of the players in the event.

SPOILER WARNING: Read no further if you’ve not had the chance to dig into your most recent Blackest Night titles…

Designed to capitalize on the popularity of the spaghetti westerns of the mid-1960s, Bat Lash was the brainchild of several creators, including Joe Orlando, Carmine Infantino, Sheldon Mayer, Sergio Aragones, Dennis O’Neil and Nick Cardy.  Making his first appearance in Showcase #76 (August 1968), Bat was a roving dandy, taking pleasure in the finer things in life –food, wine and women.  Despite a self-professed hatred of violence and his outward appearance, Bat was a crack gunfighter and proficient fighter, talents that came in handy as the outlaw often seemed to find himself in the middle of various escapades. 

Later that year (November 1968), Bat landed in his own title, guided by Argones (plot), O’Neil (script) and Cardy (art).  During the course of his wanderings, Bat eventually came upon a funeral where he gunned down the preacher.  Arrested and thrown in jail, Bat revealed his reasons for which he killed the preacher to the Sheriff – and through this, his origin to readers (Bat Lash #6, September 1969);

Raised by a father who taught his to be a man, and a mother who instilled in him a passion for the finer arts, Bartholomew Alouysius Lash had a happy childhood and became a well-rounded young man.  Alongside his brother and sister, Bart and his parents tended to their farm until it was one day visited by a preacher named Rickett.  Covertly working for the Midas gang, Rickett conned the Lash family, and many of their neighbors, out of their land.  Taking his grievances to the Sheriff, Lash discovered that the law was also in league with Midas.  In the ensuing confrontation, Lash killed the corrupt sheriff’s deputy, and was branded an outlaw.  Rushing back to the shanty town where his family now resided, Lash discovered Rickett had arrived there first and burned it to the ground.  The only survivors were Bat’s sister and his girlfriend Bitsy (the body of Bart’s brother was never found).  Taking the women to the safety of a nearby convent, Bart (riding under the name of Bat Lash) vowed to hunt down the entire Midas gang.  With Rickett, the last member of the gang dead, Lash escaped jail and returned to the convent to gather his sister and girlfriend.  Recognizing that despite his refined tastes, his years as an outlaw had hardened Bat, his sister convinced him to ride away without Bitsy.

In the next (and final) issue of Bat Lash (#7, November 1969), Bat encountered an old family friend who revealed that he had rescued his younger brother from the fire set by Rickett, but they were separated not long after.  While Bat pressed for details, he was confronted by a bounty hunter seeking to claim the $2000 price on Bat’s head.  Naturally the hunter proved to be Bat’s brother, although neither of the men recognized the other.  In the end, the two parted ways, never knowing who the other was.

From there, Bat Lash became a semi-regular fixture in various other DC western titles, primarily Weird Western Tales and Jonah Hex (as well as the occasional time travel story – such as Justice League of America #198-199, January-February 1982).  Following a recent expansion/re-telling of Bat’s origin (Bat Lash #1-6, February-July 2008 – plotted by Aragones), the outlaw ridden on several occasion with Jonah Hex (most recently against  Quentin Turnbull in the infamous “Six-Gun War”, Jonah Hex #44-49, August 2009-January 2010).  Although Bat Lash’s final fate has yet to be revealed on the printed page, he returns as a Black Lantern in the pages of Weird Western Tales #71.

Scalphunter, born Brian Savage, made his first appearance in Weird Western Tales #39 (April 1977).  Born a white man, but raised by the Kiowa tribe, Savage was given the name Ke-Who-No-Tay or ‘He Who is Less Than Human.”  Inheriting Weird Western Tales when Jonah Hex was graduated to his own series, Scalphunter  traditionally followed his Native American upbringing, but in time, also embraced his biological heritage.  Over the years, Scalphunter formed an unlikely friendship with Bat Lash, on one occasion even saving President Lincoln from an assassination attempt (Weird Western Tales #52-53, February-March 1979).  Following the cancellation of Weird Western Tales (with issue #70, August 1980), Scalphunter moved to a brief run of back-up tales in the pages of Jonah Hex (beginning with #40, September 1980).

Around the time of the Civil War, Scalphunter began working with the US army as a scout, striking up a friendship with another scout by the name of Nathaniel Kent.  After parting ways with Kent (The Kents #10-11, May-June 1998), Scalphunter eventually settled in Opal City where he became sheriff.  During this time, Savage became friends with The Shade, a Victorian era immortal of occassionaly dubious morality.  The two shared several adventures (Starman 80-Page Giant #1, January 1999) leading to a bond that would extend beyond the grave.  Opal City also brought Savage his greatest love, Annie, as well as a son (Steven, who would go on to be the World War I hero, Balloon Buster).

Following the death of his wife, Savage returned to help Opal City during the particularly turbulent year of 1899.  Opposing the Tuesday Club, a secret society composed of many of Opal City’s most wealthy, corrupt and decadent citizens, Savage’s entire police force was killed – save himself and a young deputy name Carny O’Dare.  That night, Savage returned to his most base ways, single-handily murdering every member of the Tuesday Club.  Moments after surrendering his star (feeling he was no longer able to maintain the integrity of the office), Savage was fatally shot from behind but one remaining member of the Club (Starman #74, February 2001).

Since then, Brian Savage has been twice reincarnated – first as the 20th Century Opal City police officer, Matt O’Dare, and then later as the 31st Century hero, Thom Kallor (who currently resides in the modern day as Starman). 

Although Savage’s spirit lives on heroically, his body has now been co-opted by Nekron as a Black Lantern.