136 - MORRIS and GOSCINNY. — Lucky Luke. The Rivals of Painful Gulch.

MORRIS and GOSCINNY. — Lucky Luke. The Rivals of Painful Gulch. Marcinelle-Charleroi, Éditions Dupuis, 1966. In-4, illustrated hardcover by the publisher, square spine, 46 color plates. Lucky Luke Collection, No. 19. Reprint of the 1966 edition, bearing the copyright notice “© 1966 by Morris and Ed. J. Dupuis, Fils & Cie.” Front cover with wood-grain finish, featuring eight titles from the collection, including *Billy the Kid*, *The Black Hills*, *The Daltons in the Blizzard*, *The Daltons Are Still on the Run*, *The Caravan*, *The Ghost Town*, *The Daltons Redeem Themselves*, and *The 20th Cavalry*. Art by Morris and story by René Goscinny. Originally published as a graphic novel in 1962, *The Rivals of Painful Gulch* is one of the most famous Lucky Luke adventures created by the Morris-Goscinny duo. In the small town of Painful Gulch, two rival families, the O’Haras and the O’Timmins, have been waging an absurd and endless war for generations. The former are distinguished by their large ears, the latter by their prominent noses. Tasked with restoring peace, Lucky Luke devises a series of schemes to reconcile the two clans, with the help of Jolly Jumper. This adventure is a delightful parody of the great family feuds of the American West, inspired in particular by the famous historical rivalry between the Hatfields and the McCoys. René Goscinny showcases his full talent for farcical situations and witty dialogue, beautifully complemented by Morris’s expressive artwork. The particularly dynamic cover depicts Lucky Luke being thrown from Jolly Jumper, while a character watches the scene from behind a barrel. This composition is characteristic of Morris’s visual humor, featuring bright colors dominated by turquoise blue and yellow. Condition: A fine copy. The front cover features fresh, luminous colors, with slight signs of handling and some superficial scuffing. Corners and edges are slightly worn. The back cover, with its wood-grain finish, is well-preserved, showing only subtle signs of wear. The interior is slightly yellowed but clean overall.