James West

Origin

James West, who served first as a cavalry officer under General Ulysses S. Grant, and later as an intelligence officer in the Civil War is, after Grant is elected president, offered a unique post by the new president to investigate unusual and potentially dangerous situations and deal with them as needed. James West is an excellent shot with rifle and pistol. He is also trained in hand to hand combat and 2 forms of oriental hand to hand combat (Karate & Judo).

To keep his role secret he is given the cover of being a railroad president who travels the country in a private train called The Wanderer, he is aided in his mission by master of disguise and inventive genius Artemis Gordon.

Creators

The character of James West was portrayed by Robert Conrad in a television series in the 60s that combined Spy (of the James Bond variety), Western, Science Fiction (more to the point Steampunk Sci-Fi, a term that had not even been invented at the time making the series somewhat innovative), Comedy and even Horror.

Gold Key, continuing Dell’s seeming goal of putting out at least one comic for everything that appeared on television at the time, with the exception of Meet The Press, put out a 7 issue Wild, Wild West comic while the series was running, in the 60s.

Millennium Publications produced a 4 issue adaptation of the series in 1990.