DC Weird Western Tales No. 21 Comic Book (Jonah Hex Cover)
LANGUAGE UNLOCK
Glossary Roundup
Original Presentation Script
Let’s take a closer look at this striking piece of American pop culture: DC Comics’ *Weird Western Tales* No. 21, starring the unforgettable antihero Jonah Hex.
Published in the mid-1970s, this comic sits squarely in the Silver Age-to-Bronze Age transition, when DC leaned into darker, grittier storytelling. Jonah Hex—scarred, morally complex, and violently human—was a bold departure from traditional Western heroes, and this cover captures that tension beautifully.
The materials are humble but telling: standard newsprint paper, offset color printing, and saddle-stapled binding. Inside, period Aurora Ready Ranger advertisements anchor the comic firmly in its original era—details that modern reprints often fail to replicate convincingly.
Condition-wise, we see honest wear: spine stress, softened corners, and surface creasing. None of this is a flaw in an antique sense; rather, it’s evidence of survival. Importantly, there’s no indication of trimming or restoration.
Now, authenticity. A word about fakes.. Silver Age comics are commonly reprinted, sometimes deceptively so. Here, however, the correct cover price, interior ads, paper aging, and print quality all support this being an original, though it remains an unslabbed copy.
At auction, a book like this typically brings $150 to $300 depending on final grading. Not a bad sunset showdown at all—and a fine addition for any collector with a taste for the weird side of the Wild West.
Used for this report's TTS and avatar presentation.
Item Report
DC Weird Western Tales No. 21 Comic Book (Jonah Hex Cover)
By:DC Comics (cover art attributed to Tony DeZuniga, interior artists various)
Style:American Silver Age Comic Art
Origin:United States
Materials:Offset-printed paper, color ink, saddle-stitched binding
Age:1974
Condition:Good to Very Good (spine stress, edge wear, cover creasing; not officially graded)
Value:USD $15–30
Maker's Marks / Writing:DC Comics indicia; Comics Code Authority seal on cover
Date:2025-12-18 08:46:44.361074
Description:
An original issue of DC Comics’ Weird Western Tales No. 21, featuring the breakout Jonah Hex cover. The illustrated front depicts the scarred antihero Jonah Hex confronting a lynching scene at sunset, a classic example of gritty Silver Age Western-horror crossover art. Interior pages include a period Aurora Ready Ranger advertisement, confirming vintage publication.
Curator Questions
Curated by Jade
Assessment:
This is a desirable Silver Age DC horror-western comic, notable for its early Jonah Hex imagery. The presence of period advertising, appropriate paper toning, and visible wear are consistent with an original 1970s newsstand copy rather than a modern facsimile. Condition appears mid-grade, which is typical for surviving examples.
Individual Images:
none
Provenance:
None provided
Condition:
Good to Very Good (spine stress, edge wear, cover creasing; not officially graded)
Identification Score: 95%
Title, issue number, cover price, DC branding, and interior advertisements clearly identify this as Weird Western Tales No. 21.
Authenticity Score: 80%
Paper aging, staple wear, correct period ads, and printing characteristics support authenticity, though the book is not slabbed or professionally graded. Caveat: repairs, touch ups and other restorations can harm a comic's authenticity score and value, as can damage not shown, such as torn or missing pages, stains and scribbles. Professional, hands-on grading is therefore highly recommended.
Image Memory Note
None
None
Keywords
Weird Western Tales, Jonah Hex, DC Comics, Silver Age comic, horror western, United States
The report was edited after initial Artmink draft. Original AI draft preserved in Artmink audit history.
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