ROADRUNNER

Real Name: Unrevealed

Identity/Class: Human (Old West Era)

Occupation: Road agent, sheriff

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: Clem

Enemies: Alkali Ike, Tex Taylor

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Gloryville, USA

First Appearance: Tex Taylor I#4 (March, 1949)

Powers/Abilities: The Roadrunner was an experienced lawman who carried two six-guns.

Height: Unrevealed (approximately 5'10")
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 155 lbs.)
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Brown

History:
(Tex Taylor I#4/2 (fb) - BTS) - The sheriff of Gloryville began living a double life, assuming the identity of the Roadrunner in order to commit robberies. Using information available to him as the town lawman, the Roadrunner robbed two banks and held up a Wells-Fargo stagecoach. He wore a black silk mask during the robberies. He brought the stolen goods to the Mystery Mine, an abandoned mine outside of Gloryville. He dug up part of the mine's floor and hid the goods beneath. Unknown to the Roadrunner, the prospector Alkali Ike was collecting gold nuggets around the Mystery Mine. Although Alkali Ike didn't see the sheriff, he heard the Roadrunner in the mine and correctly assumed whoever he was, he must be the robber.

(Tex Taylor I#4/2) - To prevent people from investigating the Mystery Mine, the sheriff went to the town bar and claimed he had gone to the Mystery Mine in search of the Roadrunner but discovered the mine was haunted by "Old Man Starbarrat's ghost." Hearing this, Clem remarked it was "about time" the sheriff caught the Roadrunner. The sheriff claimed he was doing his best. Just then, the sheriff noticed the wandering cowboy Tex Taylor in the bar and demanded to know who he was. Tex informed the sheriff he was just riding through town looking for work but the sheriff angrily told him they didn't want strangers in Gloryville because of the recent robberies then ordered Tex to leave town. Tex replied that not even a lawman could order him around. Claiming he was rattled by seeing the ghost of the Mystery Mine, the sheriff apologized and offered to buy Tex a drink. When Tex turned his back towards the sheriff, the sheriff clubbed him over the back of the head. Putting Tex on the back of his stallion Fury, he sent the unconscious man out of town.

    However, Fury brought Tex to the Mystery Mine. Entering the mine to escape the hot sun, Tex happened upon the spot where the Roadrunner had hidden his loot, which he noticed because the ground was uneven. The Roadrunner entered the mine, annoyed that Fury had brought Tex to his hiding place. Tex quickly pieced together that the sheriff was the Roadrunner, which the sheriff confirmed. As he had his guns drawn, the Roadrunner believed he could easily kill Tex but he was startled by a sudden noise from behind. The Roadrunner saw a glowing figure and believed there truly was a ghost in the Mystery Mine. Distracted by the glowing man, the Roadrunner took his eye off Tex Taylor. Holding his pistol by the barrel, Tex sprang up and clubbed the Roadrunner in the head. The Roadrunner fired a shot at Tex but it missed.

    The glowing figure then revealed he was Alkali Ike, who had coated himself and his burro Jenny with phosphorous punk to make them glow in the dark. Having heard the sheriff's stories of a ghost in the Mystery Mine, Ike had decided to make the story come true in the hopes of catching the Roadrunner. Tex Taylor and Alkali Ike tied up the Roadrunner and escorted him back to Gloryville.

Comments: Created by an unidentified writer and Pierce Rice.

    This story was the introduction of Alkali Ike, who went on to serve as Tex Taylor's sidekick from then on.

    We were told he wore a mask while committing his robberies but he didn't appear on panel wearing it.

Profile by Prime Eternal.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Roadrunner should not be confused with:

Clem

Clem was a patron at the bar in Gloryville. He didn't know the town's sheriff was secretly the Roadrunner. When the sheriff announced to the patrons at the bar that he saw ghosts at the Mystery Mine while looking for the Roadrunner, Clem mused that whoever the Roadrunner was, he knew how to find money, given the ease of his robberies.




--Tex Taylor I#4/2

images: (without ads)
Tex Taylor I#4/2, page 1, panel 3 (Roadrunner, main)
Tex Taylor I#4/2, page 2, panel 1 (Roadrunner, face)
Tex Taylor I#4/2, page 2, panel 2 (Clem)

Appearances:
Tex Taylor I#4/2 (March, 1949) - unidentified writer, Pierce Rice (artist), Stan Lee (editor)

First posted: 09/13/2026
Last updated: 07/21/2025

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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