Tragedy on the Trail

Tales of the Broken B, Issue 7

by Larry Johnson, 2025

Larry Johnson brings us another Wild West episode in the Broken B saga. This issue focuses on cowpoke Ernie Malone. When he and fellow ranch hand Clyde come across an above-ground burial, Ernie expresses disgust at the Native American tradition, saying it “ain’t proper”.

Soon, Ernie reveals that his estranged father has passed away, to no one’s regret. Ernie’s aunt comes to visit and delivers a letter from Ernie’s father. The letter reveals that Ernie’s mother was a member of an unnamed Native tribe—thus making Ernie a “half-breed”, to his chagrin.

After falling off his horse, Ernie is nursed back to health by an old Native woman. She then admits she is his mother….

It’s a nice little story, focusing on the terrible costs of keeping secrets and including aspects of the rampant racism that has long infected this country. At 31 pages, this very human story fills in most of the blanks.

One thing curious about this issue is the absence of any supernatural or science-fiction-y elements, unless you count the vaguely prophetic dream sequence. For a comic that’s had dinosaurs, aliens, and reanimated corpses, this came as a surprise—especially as the ending is the perfect spot to toss in a ghost. Still, this shows that Larry’s stories do not need to rely on the supernatural.

Another curiosity is the appearance of an owl that brings about a tragedy. Usually in a Larry Johnson book, owls are a positive omen.

Nonetheless, this issue comes highly recommended.