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ELLEN MARTIN

Real Name: Ellen Martin

Identity/Class: Normal human (Old West era)

Occupation: Ranch owner

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: Pete Parker, foreman (name unrevealed)

Enemies: Curly Dodd and his gang

Known Relatives: Terry Martin (brother), son (name unrevealed)

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Rangerville, USA

First Appearance: My Own Romance#18/5 (September, 1951)

Powers/Abilities: Ellen Martin is a skilled equestrian and can handle a six-shooter handgun very well. She is brave generally and committed in a relationship.

Height: 5'4"
Weight: 135 lbs.
Eyes: Dark gray
Hair: Black

History:

(My Own Romance#18/5 (fb) - BTS) - Ellen Martin and Pete Parker were sweethearts while in Sagebrush High School. They remained committed to each other as young adults in the town of Rangerville and intended to marry. Pete left to go to a war (likely the Civil War) but came back no longer carefree; this concerned Ellen but she still loved him. Ellen's brother Terry was good friends with Pete, who became the local sheriff, but increasing trouble from the villainous Curly Dodd and his gang led Pete to secretly deputize Terry and have him go undercover in Curly's gang.

(My Own Romance#18/5) - Terry feigned aggression at Pete, threatening a gunfight if he came near his sister; this was a ruse to get near Curly, but it greatly upset Ellen, ignorant of the lawmen's plans. She was shocked when Curly shot at Pete, who disarmed the foe, and she stopped Terry who pretended he was taking aim at Pete while he was distracted. Pete asked who had tried to shoot him from behind, but Ellen lied to cover for her brother. Riding back to her ranch, she overheard her brother making plans with Curly for a nighttime heist of the bank safe; Terry was to ride with gang members and distract Pete by stealing cattle from Pete's ranch. Believing she had lost her brother to crime, she grabbed his spare handgun and rode to the bank. Her face covered, she confronted the bank thieves in the process of breaking into the safe, but Curly knocked her down and tied her up as a hostage. Terry arrived and saved her, although Curly almost killed her, grazing her skull with a bullet. Recovering in hospital, she heard the truth from Terry and Pete. A week later, she was released and became formally engaged with Pete. After marrying, they combined ranches and had a son.

Comments: Creators not credited.

This was touted as "Ellen Martin's own, true story" in the first panel...

It sure would be mighty nice if Sheriff Pete Parker had some vague blood relation to modern-day Peter Parker (Spider-Man).

The sheriff appears young like Terry Martin, but his best face shot makes him appear older (which is when Ellen speaks of how "the war" (presumably the Civil War) changed Pete).

Profile by Grendel Prime.

CLARIFICATIONS :
Ellen Martin has no known connections to:

Pete Parker has no known connections to:

Curly Dodd

Curly Dodd was the leader of a small gang in Rangerville. When "Pop" Pratt had been sheriff, Curly and his thugs were simple bullies. But Curly sought to take advantage of Pratt's replacement, Pete Parker, the beau of Ellen Martin. Curly challenged Pete and sought to bully him into submission, but Pete fought back. Pete secretly deputized Ellen's brother Terry to go undercover in Curly's gang. By chance, Ellen discovered that Curly was going to rob the bank safe at night while Terry stole Pete's cattle as a distraction. Ellen confronted the bank thieves but was shot at by Curly, the bullet only grazing her skull. Terry and Pete rounded up Curly and his gang to face the law.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

--My Own Romance#18/5

Terry Martin

Terry Martin was Ellen Martin's brother. He was good friends with Ellen's beau Pete Parker, who had been made sheriff of Rangerville. But increasing trouble from the villainous Curly Dodd and his gang led to Pete secretly deputizing Terry and feigning hostility between each other so that Terry could get close to Curly and discover the rascal's schemes. However, ignorant of Pete and Terry's secret plan, Ellen became very distressed and believed Terry was turning to crime. By chance, Ellen discovered that Curly was going to rob the bank safe at night while Terry stole Pete's cattle as a distraction; however, the gang found out about Terry's duplicity. Terry was soon rescued by Pete and they rushed to the bank where they saved Ellen (who was trying to stop Curly). Terry and Pete later revealed the truth to Ellen and their friendly sibling relationship was returned to normal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

--My Own Romance#18/5

Pete Parker

Pete Parker was Ellen Martin's sweetheart from Sagebrush High School and they remained in the town of Rangerville, intending to later marry. Pete left to go to a war (likely the Civil War) but came back no longer carefree. Ellen's brother Terry was good friends with Pete, who was voted in as sheriff, but increasing trouble from the villainous Curly Dodd and his gang led Pete to secretly deputize Terry and have him go undercover in Curly's gang. Terry feigned hostility to Pete to win over Curly, but ignorant of the lawmen's plans, Ellen thought her brother was turning to a life of crime. Soon after, Curly robbed the bank safe at night while Terry was forced to steal Pete's cattle as a distraction. The gang found out about Terry's duplicity but he was rescued by Pete and they rushed to the bank where they saved Ellen from the murderous Curly. Pete and Terry later revealed the truth to Ellen. Pete married Ellen soon after and they combined ranches and had a son. Pete restored law and order to Rangerville.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

--My Own Romance#18/5

images: (without ads)
My Own Romance#18/5, p5, pan6 (main image)
   p7, pan4 (headshot)
   p5, pan1 (face covered)
   p2, pan2 (Curly)
   p1, pan1 (Terry)
   p2, pan3 (Parker, standing)
   p3, pan3 (Parker, headshot)

Appearances:
My Own Romance#18/5 (September, 1951) - uncredited writer & artist(s), Stan Lee (editor)

First posted: 02/14/2026
Last updated: 02/14/2026

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

Non-Marvel Copyright info
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