129 - MORRIS and GOSCINNY. — Lucky Luke. The Dalton Cousins.

MORRIS and GOSCINNY. — Lucky Luke. The Dalton Cousins. Marcinelle-Charleroi, Éditions Dupuis, 1966. In-4, illustrated hardcover by the publisher, square spine, 46 color plates. Lucky Luke Collection, No. 12. Reprint of the 1966 edition, bearing the copyright notice “© 1966 by Morris and Ed. J. Dupuis, Fils & Cie.” The back cover features a design of wooden planks, displaying eight titles from the collection, including *Billy the Kid*, *The Daltons in the Blizzard*, *The Daltons Are Still on the Run*, *The Caravan*, and *The 20th Cavalry*. Art by Morris and story by René Goscinny. Originally published as a graphic novel in 1958, *The Dalton Cousins* marks an important milestone in the history of Lucky Luke, featuring the first appearance of the four brothers—Joe, William, Jack, and Averell Dalton—cousins of the real-life Dalton brothers who appeared in *Outlaw*. Determined to avenge their famous cousins, the four bandits set out to become fearsome outlaws. However, their clumsiness and stupidity lead them to suffer repeated failures at the hands of Lucky Luke, giving rise to one of the most famous rivalries in Franco-Belgian comics. This volume is an essential title in the series, introducing the characters who will become the lone cowboy’s recurring and iconic adversaries. The particularly dynamic cover depicts the four Dalton brothers running in single file in front of a saloon, under the amused gaze of Lucky Luke, who is aiming his gun at them from the entrance of the establishment. Condition: Good copy. The front cover has bright, well-preserved colors, with slight scuffing at the corners and a few subtle signs of wear. The back cover is slightly weathered, with minor scuffing along the edges. The interior is slightly yellowed, with no major apparent flaws.