ABSTRACT
In the fall of 1967, ABC premiered the 20th Century Fox Television produc
tion Custer, a Western somewhat loosely based upon the life of the famous
Civil War general and “Indian fighter” who m et an early and violent death in
the 1876 Battle of the Little Big Horn. After seventeen badly rated episodes,
ABC replaced Custer at mid-season with the British im port The Avengers, but
not before Dell had issued its tie-in comic The Legend o f Custer. On the cover of
the first volume, ABC’s Custer, played by actor Wayne Maunder, wears the
black hat, red cravat, buckskin jacket, and long curly hair o f his historical
counterpart, his upraised hand signalling the charge. The accompanying text
reads: “George Arm strong Custer. The Man who becam e a Legend in His
Own Time. Explosive Tales of a Daring Man of Destiny.” The first panel shows
Custer, his saber raised and pistol blazing, charging at an Indian opponent,
Crazy Horse, who has his bare back to the reader and his lance poised. Custer
shouts to his troops, “Leave Crazy Horse to M e!!” while the Indian yells
“EEEEIHI! KILL YELLOWHAIR!” A text box reads:
Crazy Horse, war chief of the mighty Sioux, led the screaming
warriors at the famed 7th cavalry regiment . . . at whose head
rode George Armstrong Custer, a legend in his own lifetime . . .
