One of the main problems facing the Old West’s inhabitants was the lack of women in frontier territories. Entire towns were populated only by men, while many unmarried young women languished on the east coast. To remedy that situation, marriages were arranged over mail. And now we find a reluctant Lucky Luke in charge of protecting a convoy of brides on their way west. Could he, too, be in danger of finding a wife?

é Returned to their penitentiary by Lucky Luke for the umpteenth time, the Daltons meet a troubling character: Dunkle, a self-proclaimed prophet fond of fiery speeches. His continual preaching eventually converts the ever hapless Averell. Soon, all five escape together and find refuge in a friendly, welcoming community, where they sow chaos and discord each in their own way – unaware that Lucky Luke is already tracking them ...

Gold has been found in the Klondike, a remote region in the Canadian far north! Jasper, the manservant of ‘Tenderfoot’ Waldo, went to try his luck ... and vanished. Worried about his man, Waldo calls upon his old friend Lucky Luke. The two men will have to make the dangerous trip to the Klondike, only to face all those who, in that desolate, inhospitable land, will stop at nothing in order to fleece their fellow man.

Lucky Luke arrives in Nugget Gulch in the company of another lonesome rider, John ‘The Philanthropist’ Smith. The town is buzzing with excitement over the coming horserace, and the considerable prize promised to the winner. Financially embarrassed, Luke signs up, counting on his exceptional mount to ensure victory. Unfortunately, Jolly Jumper is stolen just before the race! The lonesome cowboy will have to get by without his old friend back this time.

When a former convict at the penitentiary where Rin Tin Can ‘works’ passes away, he leaves his entire fortune to ... the stupidest dog in the West! The inheritance includes multiple buildings in Virginia City, including most of Chinatown, which isn’t to everyone’s taste. Even worse, the will states that if anything should happen to Rin Tin Can, everything would then pass onto ... Joe Dalton. Following the inevitable escape of the four Daltons, Lucky Luke will have to protect the canine millionaire!

This third volume in the collection brings us to the very edge of absolute greatness, with two later, far more mature solo outings – Doc Doxey’s Elixir (including Manhunt) and Phil Wire (including Lucky Luke and Pill) were first published in 1955 and 1956, and already Luke was much closer to the cowboy that we now have in mind – followed by Rails on the Prairie, the first collaboration between Morris and Goscinny, that would usher in 30 years of a legendary collaboration. These stories are prefaced by a staggering 46 pages of extra material – biographies, essays, interviews, illustrations – that will delight every fan.

Marcel Dalton is the Dalton Brothers’ Swiss uncle. He is not only honest, but a banker to boot. Having purchased a small bank in the US, he decides to hire his nephews to force them to make a honest living. Although he’s assisted by Lucky Luke, they have their work cut out for them. Especially since – as if the ingrained instincts of the four dumbest bandits in the West weren’t enough – there’s also the small matter of the competition: a very unscrupulous banker ...

Once again, Luke is called to the penitentiary, though for once the Daltons haven’t escaped. They have, however, just learned that their cousin Emmett, last survivor of the original Dalton gang, has a son – and that Averell was chosen as his godfather! Now Lucky Luke has to accompany the dumbest bandits in the West to the young boy’s house, as Averell has been temporarily entrusted with his education. A job that his brothers see as an excellent opportunity to get rich ...

Big surprise for the Lonesome Cowboy: a rich widow and admirer of his exploits has bequeathed him a 250 acre cotton plantation in Louisiana! Thrust into the role of a rich landowner, welcomed as one by his white neighbours, he will have to fight to gain the trust of his terrified black employees and split his heritage among them. A goal towards which he’ll receive help from the local Cajun community, and from ... the Daltons!

Passing through New Orleans, Lucky Luke stumbles upon a heated argument between two steamboat captains. The argument soon turns into a wager: whichever boat reaches Minneapolis first after steaming up the Mississippi will win the exclusive rights to the route. Captain Barstow quickly invites Luke to travel on his Daisy Belle, fearing that his opponent will cheat. And while he’s not wrong, the biggest danger to both boats remains Old Man River himself ...