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Tex FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions: 55 questions, 55 answers!
by Marco Migliori, Mauro Traversa
translation by Alessandra Murray

Who’s Tex?
Tex “was born” on September 30, 1948. He holds a unique position in the pantheon of comic strip heroes of his time in that his stories are geared towards a mature audience rather than to children. In fact, the language of the Tex comic strips is tough and violent (particularly in the uncensored version). As a Texas Ranger, chief of the Navaho tribe, and an agent for the Native Americans, he is feared and respected and is a living legend among both Native Americans and White people.
Who created Tex?
In 1948, Mrs. Tea Bonelli wished to re-open her publishing house and create new comic series’. She therefore called Aurelio Galleppini in Milan and entrusted the texts to her ex-husband, G.L. Bonelli. The men developed two series: Occhio Cupo (Dark Eye) and Tex.
Why did they name the character Tex?
While G.L. Bonelli was driving around Milan one day, he noticed a store sign that said “Tex Moda” and he duly took note. That’s all :-).
Why did they choose Willer for Tex’s last name?
G.L. Bonelli wanted to call him Killer, but the editor was opposed to what he perceived to be an inappropriate name for the times and suggested that Bonelli substitute a K with a W, which resulted in the name Willer.
Why the name “Night Eagle”?
It is the Native American name for Tex, which resulted from a costume and mask he wore in one of his adventures.
In what time period do Tex’s adventures take place?
Little historical information was available to the initial writers and designers of Tex; so much of what is seen in the early issues is largely based on fantasy. Setting aside, therefore, these initial issues, which are unreliable, we can date Tex’s adventures to approximately 1880.
Where do Tex’s adventures take place?
After only a few issues, Tex finds himself chief of the Navaho tribe and establishes a permanent residence in the state of Arizona. He actually undertakes frequent incursions out of this area: into Mexico and Canada, in San Francisco, New Orleans, Washington and the Yucatan. Occasionally, Tex may take trips to other places like Boston or the Isthmus of Panama or to islands in the Western Pacific.
Are Tex’s adventures classified as being of the Western genre?
Fundamentally, yes. But an element of fantasy has become a regular part of the saga, as seen in the magic done by Mefisto and the danger created by Voodoo followers.
Who are Tex’s partners?
Tex has three faithful partners: Kit Carson, Kit Willer (Tex’s son), and Tiger Jack, a Navaho.
Who’s Kit Carson?
Kit Carson is Tex’s faithful companion and friend. He is older than Tex by about ten years and is drawn in his years of maturity with gray hair. He is as courageous and astute as Tex although in the more recent issues he often plays something of a comic sidekick to Tex.
Who’s Kit Willer?
Kit Willer is the son of Tex and Lilith and was introduced into the saga by G.L. Bonelli in the era when many comic strip characters were child-heroes. At some point in time, Bonelli even prepared some ideas to open an independent series featuring Kit Willer. However, that project was bypassed and Kit was integrated as a supporting character into the Tex comic strip.
Who’s Tiger Jack?
Tiger Jack is a Navaho that becomes Tex’s companion and who eventually assumes the role of guardian for the small Kit Willer. This pairing of Tiger Jack with Kit Willer develops into a strong friendship. Indeed, just as Tex and Kit Carson are inseparable, so are Kit Willer and Tiger Jack.
Has Tex ever been married?
Yes, he was married to Lilith. She was the daughter of Red Arrow (chief of the Navajos) and the mother of Kit Willer. She only appeared in a few of the issues. She had married Tex not out of love but in an effort to avoid war between the Navajos and the Whites (she made this decision while the Ranger was tied to a torture pole). After a very few appearances, we learn that she has died. And only after many years following her death do we learn how she died and how Tex vindicates her.
Why does Tex seem to be a misogynist?
After his very brief marriage to Lilith, Tex never remarries. And we never seem to hear anything about other relationships. Actually, nobody knows what happens when Tex climbs the stairs of a saloon with a female informant or when he is a guest at the home of a young widow :-)
How’s Tex built?
He is a very strong, agile man who is exceeds one meter, eighty-five. As for his face, Gary Cooper’s features initially inspired Galep. However, he also borrowed features from other actors…as well as his own facial features.
What are Tex’s abilities?
To begin with, he’s very strong. He is also very good and very fast, with his pistol and rifle and with his intelligence and astuteness - like other heroes. Finally, he is basically a good guy and very fortunate when he plays poker (even though he occasionally cheats for justice to triumph, etc.)...
How did Tex become a Ranger?
In the third issue of the initial series, “On the path of death”, the head of West Department (a man by the name of Marshall) offers Tex a number 3 star of the Ranger’s Secret Service. In the present issues, Tex is a Ranger but without the customary obligations to the corps.
How did Tex become chief of the Navajos?
Having married Lilith, the daughter of the chief of the Navajos, he succeeded Red Arrow as chief of the tribe when Red Arrow passed away. Only once was Tex’s authority contested - by Zhenda, an ex-squaw of Red Arrow.
How did Tex become an agent of the Native Americans?
This is a matter that we have not been informed of. In the issue “Navajo Blood”, Tex is already the government agent for the reservation.
Who’s Dynamite?
Dynamite is Tex’s horse. He appears from the very first issue and for many, many adventures he will be a faithful and insuperable companion to Tex. However, after a certain point, he is no longer mentioned in the series.
Who’s Satan?
A dog that was adopted by Tex in the same issue in which he meets Lilith. He appears with Tex for quite a number of issues (like Phantom).
Who are some of Tex’s other friends?
In Mexico, there are Montales and El Morisco. In Canada, there are Jim Brandon and Gros Jean. In San Francisco, there’s Tom Devlin. Here and there, we see Pat MacRyan. Amongst the Apaches, there’s Cochise. And, of course, there are many others.
Who are Tex’s most dangerous enemies?
To begin with, there are Mefisto and his son, Yama. And then there is Proteus, El Carnicero, and the scientist nicknamed Maestro. There are many others, some of whom are memorable even though they only appeared once (for instance, the Gang of the Innocents and Lucero).
Who’s Tex’s worst enemy?
If we are talking about a certain category of persons, then there can be no doubt: speculators, politicians and hustlers of every type. If, instead, we are talking about a character, it is most certainly Mefisto. The stories in which Tex appears with Mefisto have become legendary.
What’s Tex’s past like?
In the very first issue Tex is already presented to us "on the road", trying to escape from the sheriff’s deputies. Numbers 83 and 84 are issues concerning his past: to vindicate his friend, Gunny Bill, and his brother, Sam, Tex becomes an outlaw.
Has Tex ever been injured?
Too many times to count :-). The preferred injury is inevitably a head swipe in which he appears to fall and die, but has actually only fainted.
Has Tex ever been defeated in a duel?
In "Silver Bell", Tex was defeated by Ruby Scott who was using a rigged holster. Ruby’s victory, however, was short-lived. Once Tex recovered from the consequence of the duel, he challenged Ruby to a second and, this time, beat him.
Has a story ever been written in which Tex was unable to complete his assigned mission?
No, even though in numerous stories, particularly those involving difficulties between the Native Americans and Whites, the conclusion was not necessarily that which Tex might have wanted.
Are there any obvious logical or temporal incongruities in the series?
There are very few insofar as the series is well structured. However, the most obvious incongruities concern Tex’s activities during the period of the Civil War - primarily in issues written in the ‘50’s and a few in the ’70’s. It must also be noted that the initial period of the series is not representative of Tex’s real chronology since most of the material was written from imagination rather than based on historical fact. It must also be pointed out that, after this initial period, the staff has been quite scrupulous in researching historical documents to support the stories.
Are there any obvious historical incongruities in the series?
There are some, of course, particularly due to the longevity of the series, as well as the lack of available documents from that historical period when the series first got underway. For example, the temporal setting of the first issue is 1898, a date which is totally out of place with what will follow in later issues. Even the Rangers were described rather inaccurately: a civil corps (not military) of border police. On the cover and in the inside of issue number 450 the Campidoglio is depicted in place of the White House. The character of Kit Carson does not correspond at all to the real Kit Carson (see the appropriate question above).
What’s the nature of the relationship between Tex and the Native Americans?
Tex very much respects the beliefs and customs of Native Americans and, in turn is respected by most of the tribes as the “Great White Chief of the Navajos”. As such, he often takes sides with Native Americans (not only the Navajos) against his own people.
What’s the nature of the relationship between Tex and peoples of other races?
In general, he is kindly disposed to those who are good and is ill disposed to those who are bad, independently of the color of their skin. However, when addressing black or Chinese people (who are almost always depicted as evil in the series), he often calls them "snow balls" or "lemon faces". Not exactly politically correct.
What’s the nature of the relationship between Tex and the military?
This is often a difficult relationship. Tex believes that most officers are only "bench warmers", absolutely incapable of putting into practice any effective strategy. In other cases, Tex ridicules authentic "glory seekers" who are desirous of advancing their careers at the expense of the Native Americans.
Why doesn’t Tex, who after all is a Ranger, live in a regiment under the orders of an officer of the corps?
The situation, which evolved between Tex (who dislikes "discipline" and the Rangers, is the following: Tex is a "consultant" who assumes responsibility for certain very difficult missions on behalf of the corps.
What is Tex’s guiding philosophy?
Tex is without a doubt a positive hero: one who favors good over evil. However, often (recently less so than in the past), he goes beyond legal limits if he feels it necessary. Tex always, therefore, favors Justice to the Law of the state thus seeming inevitably roguish.
Who writes the stories of Tex?
Almost exclusively at the beginning of the series G.L. Bonelli. In 1976, he allowed his son Sergio to take over (without, however, allowing him to sign the stories). Bonelli’s real successor was Claudio Nizzi, who took over the series in 1983. Of other authors responsible for this series, the only one still around is Boselli. Look at the Index of the Writers.
Who draws the stories of Tex?
For many years Galep did this almost exclusively. Among others, Guglielmo Letteri (from 1966) is notable, as is Giovanni Ticci (from 1968). For a list of others (including Nicolò, Fusco, Civitelli, Villa, Marcello) see in the Index of Drawers.
Why are there so many designers if Galep handled the design almost exclusively at the beginning of the series?
Because the work required became increasing enormous: when Galep became ill, everybody realized that a staff of designers was required to handle this workload.
What’s the longest Tex story ever written?
The story “Return to Pilares”, written by Nolitta and designed by Letteri. 586 design tablets were required for this extremely long story - the longest in the series, as well as the longest published by Bonelli.
How many colored issues have been published?
In the regular series, four have been published: numbers 100, 200, 300 and 400. Then there are some reprints for other publishers and the story that was issued outside the series in the magazine Specchio in 1998: The Duel.
Has Tex ever met with any of the other Bonelli characters?
No, even though somebody (Ken Parker) saw him at the opera and somebody else (Zagor) heard rumors about him.
How can the Tex series be 50 years old when, with 450 issues, it should have started in 1960?
Because the first stories were in a strip format and were reprinted several times. Only in 1958 did the current series actually find its way to kiosks. Also, the first issues were not published monthly.
How many editions of Tex are there?
In total (leaving out the accounting collections) there are six editions between strips, reprints and the current edition.
Have stories been published outside the series?
Yes. For a list (which is probably not complete), see the article All Tex on paper (in Italian).
Why was Tex published in strip format?
The strip format was easily managed and one could read it even while hiding, escaping censorship.
How many covers of Tex are there?
Considering every single one of them (strip, collections, Tex Gigante, etc) we estimate about 2,000 covers.
Who does the covers for Tex?
Galep designed most of the covers from the first strips to number 400 of the current edition. Claudio Villa replaced him.
Where do the authors get their ideas?
Without a doubt from cowboy movies, from actors like John Wayne and directors like John Ford, and, of course, from literature about the West. On the whole, however, Tex’s world is largely an original creation of the imagination of G.L. Bonelli.
Was Tex’s success immediate?
No. In the ‘50’s, Tex could sell only about 50,000 copies, while Captain Miki and The Big Blek (from the publisher Dardo) could sell for 200,000. It is only with the second giant series that Tex takes off, thanks to the correct format and some truly excellent stories.
Why do some of the older issues have different dates and prices?
Because there were many reprints, one following another, with only the slightest differences (censored vignettes and dialogues, etc.).
Why is censorship discussed with respect to Tex?
In the ‘50’s, Italy was quite different than it is today. There was a rather restrictive moral outlook and comics were considered negative role models for children. The internal censors made a lot of changes to the stories: longer skirts, no necklines, but mostly some very heavy changes to Tex’s speech, which was originally cruder.
Was an official referendum ever held for Tex?
Yes. In 1981, by request of the editors, a referendum appeared in all the Bonelli comics to gather opinions from readers (17,000 readers responded for Tex with contradictory results - the same stories appear in both the list of favorite stories and the list of stories disliked).
Where does Tex get money?
As Chief of the Navahos, Tex is both the custodian and the owner of the gold found in the Navajos mountains. This gold makes him rich, even though he only uses it in dire circumstances.
Did Kit Carson ever really exist?
Yes, even if G.L.Bonelli did not really borrow much from the real person. He actually borrowed from the Kit Carson of Rino Albertarelli’s comic strip from the ‘30’s.
Why are so many of the older stories of Tex not signed?
For a long time Tex meant “text by G.L.Bonelli” and drawings by Galep. The editor, who feared reader reactions, did not indicate the names of the authors until the 1980’s.

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