CODEX OMNIVERSA

Jonah Hex was born on November 1, 1838, to Woodson and Virginia Hex. Woodson was a mean alcoholic who beat his wife and son. Unable to take it any longer, Virginia left her family to marry a trader, Mr. Dazzleby.

When Woodson returned to find Jonah alone, he took him with him to California during the Gold Rush. Depending on the story, he either traded his son for safe passage through Apache territory or sold him into slavery to an Apache tribe.

Jonah was raised by the Apache, where he befriended, and developed affection for, White Fawn. This made his adopted brother, Noh-Tante jealous, and, depending on the story, Noh-Tante either double-crossed Jonah during a raid on the Kiowa, or betrayed him during their manhood rite. In either case, Jonah was left for dead with the Kiowa.

He was rescued by Cavlary patrollers, but when he attempted to stop them from killing two Kiowa children, they shot him, and he was left for dead a second time. This time he was nursed back to health by a old trapper.

 In 1861, Jonah joined the Confederate States Army during the Civil War and rose to the rank of lieutenant. When a raid on a Union fort failed miserably, Jonah was wounded, then tied to a stake, whipped, and sent floating down the river as a warning to the “Rebs.” Jonah was reluctant to continue fighting and surrendered to the Union Army at Fort Charlotte.

He refused to provide information on his men, but when they were tracked anyway, the General made them believe Jonah betrayed them. He became known as a turncoat and traitor.

One of the men killed was Jonah’s best friend, Jeb Turnbull. His father, Quentin, swore revenge against him and used his influence as a wealthy plantation owner to track Jonah and seek justice. Quentin was recognizable by the eagle-topped cane he carried.

Jonah returned to the Apache tribe to find Noh-Tante married to White Fawn. and challenged his enemy to a fight. Noh-Tante sabotaged Jonah’s tomahawk, forcing him to use a knife. Jonah won the fight, killing Noh-Tante. For breaking the rules of combat and murdering his son, though, the chief mutilated Jonah by placing a scorching tomahawk against his cheek… the “mark of the demon.”

He was then exiled; however, he returned years later. When he was captured, White Fawn helped him escape but was shot dead by the chief. Jonah then killed his adoptive father and half the tribe.

El Papagayo

El Papagayo led an infamous gang of bandits in Mexico. In Spanish, the name means “the parrot” and he always carried his bird with him. His family was murdered by Woodson Hex and El Papagayo vowed to take revenge on Woodson and his entire family.

Quentin Turnbull set a trap for Jonah by having a “Secret Service agent” hire him to infiltrate the gang and take down El Papagayo.

Jonah failed, and was framed for the murder of the Sheriff. He subsequently had other encounters with El Papagayo, whom he ultimately killed.

Jonah returned to Richmond to make peace with Turnbull, who nevertheless captured him and put him on trial with the Fort Charlotte survivors as his jury. He was sentenced to death.

Into the Sunset

Jonah escape, as usual, but one night while visiting a saloon, he disappeared in a flash of light. A year later, he reappeared as mysteriously as he had disappeared.

He learned that while he was gone, another man had assumed his identity. Jonah took the name “George Barrow” and killed the imposter. Ironically, “George Barrow” became a sort of hero for allegedly ending the life of the notorious Jonah Hex.

Then, after being employed as a bounty hunter until he was 66 years old, a bank robber named “George Barrow” really did shoot and kill him during a card game in Cheyenne, Wyoming, in 1904.

As usual, death does not necessarily mean the end in comics. We haven’t seen the last of Jonah Hex…

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