Books with author R. Goscinny

A wagon train of Pioneers drives through Nothing Gulch en route to California. Its ill-tempered driver is sent away by the passengers and Lucky Luke is asked to step in and replace him. He accepts, amused by this fun group. When the wagon train moves off again, the trouble begins: a mystery vandal keeps trying to sabotage the expedition. But Lucky Luke needs a lot more than that to make him turn back!

Plagued by constant bandit attacks, Wells Fargo is falling on hard times. To restore public trust in their services, the company sends one well-publicised stagecoach from Denver to San Francisco. It will have the best “whip” as driver, a motley crew of daring passengers, and—to escort them and a precious cargo of gold—none other than Lucky Luke. A wise precaution, because every desperado in the country will be waiting on the coach’s planned route…

This third volume in the collection brings us to the very edge of absolute greatness, with two later, far more mature solo outings – Doc Doxey's Elixir(including Manhunt) and Phil Wire(including Lucky Luke and Pill) were first published in 1955 and 1956, and already Luke was much closer to the cowboy that we now have in mind – followed by Rails on the Prairie, the first collaboration between Morris and Goscinny, that would usher in 30 years of a legendary collaboration. These stories are prefaced by a staggering 46 pages of extra material – biographies, essays, interviews, illustrations – that will delight every fan.

At the funeral of old Baddy, everybody is moved except Ready, who has waited for the 100-year-old man's death a long time in order to buy his ranch. Unfortunately, the old fellow has an heir, Waldo, a tenderfoot who arrives straight from his native England accompanied by his butler Jasper. Two worlds clash: the ancient, so refined, and the new, equally rustic.

When a huge bounty is posted on a Cheyenne man for the apparent theft of a pedigree horse, the bounty hunter Elliot Belt will stop at nothing to pocket it-not even at triggering a new Indian war if he has to. Lucky Luke must juggle keeping him in check, appeasing the irate Cheyenne people, and trying to save the suspected thief from Old West-style summary justice. A cheerful homage to the golden age of Hollywood westerns.

When a senator comes up with a probation program to redeem criminals in the USA, the Supreme Court offers him a chance to prove the feasibility of his idea... by trying it out on the worst Old West villains ever: the Daltons. As usual, it’s up to Lucky Luke to keep an eye on the terrible four during their month-long trial period. If they can refrain from any crime during that time, they will be set free as good citizens...

At the end of the Civil War, many former soldiers turn to a life of crime to survive. Joss Jamon and his gang are among the worst of such men. After sacking the town of Los Palitos, they arrange for Lucky Luke to be arrested for their crimes. The lonesome cowboy, a rope already around his neck, is forced to make a deal with the angry citizens: Bring the real bandits back within six months or hang.

Plagued by constant bandit attacks, Wells Fargo is falling on hard times. To restore public trust in their services, the company sends one well-publicised stagecoach from Denver to San Francisco. It will have the best whip as driver, a motley crew of daring passengers, and-to escort them and a precious cargo of gold-none other than Lucky Luke. A wise precaution, because every desperado in the country will be waiting on the coach's planned route.