Lucky Luke Book 48: Dick Digger’s Gold Mine

Lucky Luke Book 48: Dick Digger’s Gold Mine by Morris, Cinebook

FIRST PUBLISHED in 1971, this edition’s action-charged but sketchy cover features a valiant and determined Lucky Luke. One muchdifferent to the one we have become accustomed to, the insides too but more so for the book length story is portrayed in a broad early 40s big foot American cartoon style.

Two tales are featured in this collection. The first revolves around Dick Digger striking gold, the map to the gold mine being stolen and the various antic that ensue before Lucky Luke can retrieve it. The second is a case of mistaken identity with Luke believed to be Mad Jim who’s escaped from prison.

Both stories are basically a series of misadventures. Morris’ strengths at this stage were in producing slapstick sequential routines, and it probably took Rene Goscinny to come along as writer to give the series the kind of tropes that helped make it an international success as Morris’ art developed.

A book of historical interest rather than brilliantly entertaining.

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