144 - MORRIS and GOSCINNY (René). — Lucky Luke. The 20th Cavalry.

MORRIS and GOSCINNY (René). — Lucky Luke. The 20th Cavalry. Marcinelle-Charleroi, Éditions Dupuis, 1966. Quarto, softcover with publisher’s illustrations, square spine, 46 color plates. Lucky Luke Collection, No. 27. First edition in album format of this Lucky Luke adventure, illustrated by Morris based on a story by René Goscinny. In this episode, Lucky Luke is called upon to assist the U.S. Army’s 20th Cavalry Regiment, stationed at a fort in the West. Under the command of Colonel McStraggle, an authoritarian and inflexible officer, the soldiers must deal with growing tensions with Native American tribes. Our hero attempts to defuse the conflict while coping with the sometimes absurd military methods of his comrades. Originally published in the magazine *Spirou*, this adventure is part of the golden era of collaboration between Morris and René Goscinny. The authors offer a delightful satire of the military institution, its discipline, and its traditions, all while humorously subverting the major clichés of the American Western. The cover—a striking orange-dominated illustration—depicts Lucky Luke giving a military salute between the spread legs of an imposing cavalry officer, of whom only the boots, saber, and lower half of the uniform are visible. This particularly original composition humorously illustrates the contrast between the famous cowboy’s independence and the rigidity of the military hierarchy. Condition: A fine copy showing slight signs of wear and some scuffing on the corners and edges. The cover’s colors are fresh and well-preserved. The interior is slightly yellowed, with no major apparent flaws.