We announced it several months ago, a new album Hommage à Lucky Luke is published by Éditions Lucky Comics. After The Man Who Killed Lucky Luke, Wanted, Lucky Luke and The Untamed, Dakota 1880[1], expands the universe of the one who shoots faster than his shadow.
The series, which was published in Spirou’s journal in 1946, was created by Maurice De Bevere, known as Morris (1923-2001). Morris’ legacy continues through talented writers and artists likeAchde who masterfully took over the series. So, our solitary cowboy hasn’t aged a bit. It inspires generations of readers who discover with humor and full of references the era of the Far West, to the point or even Jul (also author of Lucky Luke) had fun traveling the United States in search of his hero[2].
This approach probably influenced two other big names in comics who are offering us the chance to discover a new Lucky Luke album.
Dakota 1880 is signed by Apollo for the script and Brüno for the drawing. Having already collaborated on the series T’zée, Commando colonial and Biotope, Appollo (author of The desolation) and Brüno (author of The man who killed Chris Kyle), claim to introduce us to the true story of the cowboy, who is said to have inspired Morris.
Offering a rereading of the story of the most famous cowboy in Franco-Belgian comics, this new album is the culmination of historical research that the authors support at the end of the album. They rely on archival documents and Baldwin Chenier’s “dime novels” to tell us more about the story of Lucky Luke.
The character who inspired the legend of Lucky Luke
Presented in seven chapters, the comic follows in the footsteps of the character Luke. Even if he enjoys a certain notoriety in the Wild West, he is far from being the legend we know.
In Dakota 1880, we learn why Luke is considered lucky. Here, his nickname takes on its full meaning because of his incredible destiny in the Far West.
Our cowboy’s episodic encounters with key western figures constitute the common thread of this album which allows us to rediscover Luke who built his reputation.
This exercise in style on the part of the authors highlights the importance our hero holds in popular culture when he meets historical figures such as Louis Riel, Baldwin Chenier, Annie Oakley, the cursed poets of Chicago: Paul V. Sullivan and John Arthur Cunningham, or fictional characters such as Vinnie Harold[3].
Reda Benkoula
[1] Dakota 1880 | Apollo (Scenario) Brüno (Drawing) Laurence Croix (Colors) | Out of Lucky Collection | 2025 | 64 pages
[2] “In the Boots of Lucky Luke” is a documentary series of three episodes of 53 minutes. Broadcast on Arte and directed by Xavier Lefebvre, it is written and presented by Julien Berjeaut known as Jul. The series is available on TV5 Unis https://www.tv5unis.ca/dans-les-bottes-de-lucky-luke/saisons/1 [accessed October 15, 2025] Synopsis: Traveling across the United States with images from the comic strip “Lucky Luke” in mind, cartoonist Jul wonders: what connects today’s America to the world of the man who shoots faster than his shadow?
[3] The character of Vinnie Harold was played by actor Broderick Crawford in the film The First Bullet, which was directed by Russell Rouse in 1956.