Lucky Luke contre Joss Jamon is a Lucky Luke comic written by Goscinny and Morris. It is the eleventh album in the Lucky Luke Series and the second on which Goscinny worked. The comic was printed by Dupuis in 1958 and in English by Cinebook in 2011, under the title Lucky Luke versus Joss Jamon.
Synopsis
Joss Jamon and his gang plunder the town of Los Palitos while having Lucky Luke hanged. Nevertheless, the latter manages to obtain freedom in return for catching the bandits and bringing them back to Los Palitos; he promises to come back to be hanged if he fails. Jamon and his gang arrive at Frontier City. There, they gradually take ownership of all the establishments of the city starting with the bank by threats. In the same way, Jamon manages to be elected mayor of the city and appoints his acolytes to key positions. Nevertheless, Luke opposes Joss and his gang and does everything to make their lives difficult. He is captured and sentenced to hanging after a rigged trial. Finally, the inhabitants rebel against Joss and his accomplices. They free Lucky Luke and fight the bandits entrenched in the saloon. Making them believe that the Army is here, they surrender. Joss Jamon tries to escape the city. Lucky Luke catches him in the desert and he delivers him with his accomplices to Los Palitos just when as deadline expires.
Characters
Joss Jamon's gang
* Joss Jamon: Leader of a band of demobilized southern soldiers, he decides to loot Frontier City by being elected mayor.
* Bill the Cheater: Appointed sheriff after the election of the latter, he cheats at cards.
* Jack the Muscle: Thick brute, he is responsible for intimidating the inhabitants of Frontier City before the election, then is named police officer afterwards.
* Joe the Indian: Indian wrapped in his red blanket, he is not talkative except when it comes to surrender
* Pete the Wishy-Washy: Appointed by Joss Jamon to finance after the election of the latter to the mayor, he is also the judge at the trial of Lucky Luke; as his nickname indicates, he is quick to change sides.
* Sam the Farmer: "He benefited from an honest face", he is at the origin of the lawsuit against Lucky Luke in Los Palitos City. He becomes head of agriculture in Frontier City after Joss is elected mayor.
This story marks the first appearance of several Wild West legends who would return in later Lucky Luke stories: Billy the Kid, Calamity Jane and Jesse James, yet they are all drawn quite differently compared with later Lucky Luke stories. Also, Calamity Jane is incorrectly portrayed as a villain.
The Dalton cousins,, also appear, before being featured in the next album of the series.
