COLLECTION · Series · 1984

Lucky Luke

An adaptation of the long-running Western comedy comic book series "Lucky Luke" (1946-) by Morris. The eponymous character Lucky Luke is a solitary cowboy traveling through the Old West. His only regular traveling companions are his faithful horse Jolly Jumper and the wandering prison guard dog Rantanplan (who has trouble locating the prison where he lives and tends to follow Luke around). Luke is a street-smart gunslinger, known as the "man who shoots faster than his shadow". Though he has lightning-quick reflexes and above average boxing skills, what typically gives Luke an edge over his opponents is his ability to outwit them. He tends to remain calm and rational even in stressful situations. Luke variously works as a bodyguard for traveling actresses and politicians, a stagecoach guard for Wells Fargo, a training instructor for the young riders of the Pony Express, a security guard for the crews who construct railroads and telegraph lines, and several other temporary jobs. He typically avoids staying in any location for more than a few months, riding towards the sunset when a mission has been completed. He has many foes, but his archenemies are the four Dalton brothers (Joe, William, Jack, and Averell). The four outlaws look alike but have different personalities. Joe is a mean-spirited dwarf (little person) who serves as the gang's mastermind, but he is often blinded by his passionate hatred for Luke and his never-ending fury against various other foes. William and Jack are men of average height and mellow tempers. They alternate between following Joe's orders, and trying to calm him down. When on their own, they have exhibited skills in white-collar crimes. Averell is the gentle giant of the group. He is unusually tall and strong, but he is dim-witted, good-natured, and rather passive. Averell is depicted as having a food obsession, and his hobbies include dancing, sewing, and unarmed combat. Unlike his perpetually celibate brothers, Averell has had several love interests and he has attempted to settle down into married life. Their mother is the aging gunslinger Ma Dalton, a mostly retired female outlaw. She treats her grown-up sons as if they were still children, and forbids them to use abusive language. She typically gets along well with Luke. She knows that he keeps having her sons incarcerated for crimes, but she appreciates that he goes out of his way to prevent their deaths.