Western Kid

The Western Kid
The Western Kid #1 (Nov. 1954). Cover art by John Romita Sr.
Publication information
Publisher	Atlas Comics / Marvel Comics
First appearance	The Western Kid #1 (Nov. 1954)
Created by	John Romita Sr. (art)
In-story information
Alter ego	Tex Dawson
Western Kid
Series publication information
Publisher	Atlas Comics
Schedule	Bimonthly
Format	Ongoing series
Genre	Western
Publication date	Dec. 1954 – Aug. 1957
Number of issues	17
Main character(s)	Western Kid
Creative team
Artist(s)	John Romita, Sr.

The Western Kid is a fictional Old West character in comic books published by Marvel Comics, and the star of Western feature published by Marvel's 1950s precursor, Atlas Comics.

Tex Dawson, the Western Kid, debuted in Western Kid #1 (cover-dated Nov. 1954), from publisher Atlas Comics, a predecessor of Marvel Comics. The character was created by an unknown writer and penciler-inker John Romita Sr., who the following decade would become one of Spider-Man's signature artists. The feature, drawn exclusively by Romita, ran through issue #17 (Aug. 1957), with cover art by Romita, Joe Maneely, John Severin, and, for one cover each, Carl Burgos, Russ Heath, and Syd Shores.

The character resurfaced as the lead feature of the omnibus title Gunsmoke Western #51 (March 1959), in a story written by Atlas/Marvel editor-in-chief Stan Lee and drawn by Dick Ayers.

Western Kid reprints appeared in Marvel's 1970s omnibus series Western Gunfighters #3-6 and 17-33 (Dec.1970 - Sept. 1971, Sept. 1973 - Nov. 1975). In-between, the character starred in the reprint series The Western Kid vol. 2, #1-5 (Dec. 1971 - Aug. 1972) — the first issue of which sported a new cover by original artist Romita — and in Rawhide Kid #105 (Nov. 1972) and Gun-Slinger #1-3 (Jan.-June 1973), a series reflecting the character's temporary new name. The first issue, with a cover drawn by Jim Steranko, was titled Tex Dawson, Gun-Slinger.