History:
THE TRIGGER
Real Name: Luke Helin
Identity/Class: Human (Old
West Era)
Occupation: Cowboy, outlaw
Group Membership: Leader of his own gang
Affiliations: Pete
Enemies: Adele Herlihy, Buzz Magnum
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Bullet Pass, Arizona, USA, including a hideout in the hills just outside of town
First Appearance: Cowboy Romances I#3/3 (March, 1950)
Powers/Abilities: The Trigger was an excellent gunfighter and usually carried a pistol on his hip.
Height: Unrevealed
(approximately 5'11")
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 170 lbs.)
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black
History:
(Cowboy Romances I#3/3 (fb) - BTS) - Luke Helin was a cowboy who lived in the town of Bullet Pass, Arizona. Secretly, he lived a double life as the outlaw gang leader called the Trigger who performed robberies in the town. (He presumbly wore a mask during his robberies.) The Trigger's robberies caused Bullet Pass to become a rough town that was gradually going to ruin.
(Cowboy Romances I#3/3) - When Bullet Pass' new schoolteacher Adele Herlihy arrived in town, Luke shambled out of a saloon and accosted her, trying to kiss her. Suddenly, Buzz Magnum grabbed Luke and dragged him away from Adele. When Luke protested that he'd seen Adele first and drew for his gun, Buzz drew his gun and shot Luke's gun out of his hand. Replacing his guns in his holsters, Buzz engaged in a fistfight with Luke while Adele left them in the street.
One day, as the Trigger, Luke led his gang in robbing the Royal Star Saloon in Bullet Pass. Buzz Magnum joined a posse that chased the Trigger's gang out of Bullet Pass.
A week later, the Trigger's gang clashed with Buzz Magnum and he fled from the gang, taking refuge by hiding in Adele's schoolhouse. Luke and his gang entered the schoolhouse looking for Buzz and Luke confronted Adele. Adele believed Buzz was the Trigger and when she said she'd come to love an outlaw, Luke informed her he was the only outlaw in the area, which must mean she loved him, bragging openly that he was the Trigger (much to his gang's consternation). Luke wanted to bring Adele with him to his hideout in the hills outside of Bullet Pass, but she refused to leave with him. Luke decided he would have to kill Adele, when Buzz burst out of the closet where he'd been hiding and punched Luke in the face, then drew both of his guns and shot Luke in the chest, killing him.
Comments: Created by an unidentified writer and Mike Sekowsky.
This profile was completed on 03/03/2026 but its publication was delayed, as it was intended for the Appendix's 25th anniversary celebratory event.
Profile by Prime Eternal.
CLARIFICATIONS:
The Trigger should not be confused with:
Adele Herlihy was a newly-arrived schoolteacher in Bullet Pass. Adele learned the previous six schoolteachers in Bullet Pass had all quit in short order because of the chaos in the town. Adele was accosted by Luke Helin soon after her arrival in town but Buzz Magnum fought off Luke. Adele soon found the students in her school were wild and constantly fighting with each other while refusing to acknolwedge her authority. Adele came to think she could never succeed in Bullet Pass and decided to leave, but Buzz tried to convince her to stay. When Buzz came to the schoolhouse to hide from the Trigger's gang, Adele feared he was the Trigger and was hiding from a posse. When Luke Helin and his gang came to the schoolhouse looking for Buzz, Adele told them she'd fallen in love with an outlaw. Thinking he meant her, Luke blurted out that he was the Trigger. Unwilling to let Luke take her away with him, Luke plotted to kill her but Buzz came out of hiding and killed Luke and his entire gang. Buzz's heroism convinced Adele to stay in Bullet Pass and she kissed Buzz in gratitude.
--Cowboy Romances I#3/3
Buzz Magnum was a cowboy and gunfighter who lived in Bullet Pass. Buzz was attracted to Adele Herlihy and defended her from Luke. When Adele came to believe she could never succeed in Bullet Pass, Buzz encouraged her to stay. When Buzz clashed with the Trigger's gang and came to Adele's schoolhouse to hide in a closet, he overheard the Trigger state he intended to kill Adele. Bursting from the closet, Buzz punched Luke in the face, then drew both his guns and shot him in the chest, killing him. Buzz went on to kill the rest of the Trigger's gang. Buzz's heroism convinced Adele to remain in Bullet Pass and she kissed Buzz.
--Cowboy Romances I#3/3
Pete was a member of the Trigger's gang. Pete accompanied Luke to Adele Herilhy's schoolhouse to find Buzz Magnum and was irritated when Luke blurted out to Adele that he was the Trigger. Pete advised that Luke kill Adele but when Buzz Magnum burst out of his hiding plaec in the schoolhouse he killed Pete and the other gang members.
--Cowboy Romances I#3/3
images: (without ads)
Cowboy Romances I#3/3, page 6, panel 6 (main)
Cowboy Romances I#3/3, page 7, panel 2 (face)
Cowboy Romances I#3/3, page 5, panel 1 (Adele)
Cowboy Romances I#3/3, page 1, panel 1 (Magnum)
Cowboy Romances I#3/3, page 7, panel 4 (Pete)
Appearances:
Cowboy Romances I#3/3 (March, 1950) - unidentified writer, Mike
Sekowsky (penciler), unidentified inker, Stan Lee (editor)
First posted: 09/13/2026
Last updated:
03/03/2026
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel
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