Buddy Longway #1 – 6 (1974–1976) 🌄
Genre
🟤 Western / Historical Drama / Adventure
Set in the rugged landscapes of 19th-century North America, Buddy Longway blends the raw spirit of the Western genre with deep human drama. This series strays from typical cowboy fare, offering emotionally resonant storytelling grounded in realism, survivalism, and cross-cultural relationships.
Main Characters
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Buddy Longway – A trapper with a kind heart and rugged survival skills, torn between the worlds of white settlers and Native Americans.
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Chinook – A Native American woman and Buddy’s devoted wife, representing the bridge between two cultures.
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Jeremy & Kathleen Longway – Their children, raised between contrasting traditions, bringing generational dynamics into the tale.
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The Sioux Tribes – Several important side characters hail from Sioux communities, shaping Buddy’s moral and physical world.
Writer
✍️ Derib (Claude de Ribaupierre)
A Swiss comic book creator celebrated for his deep humanist themes and accurate representation of indigenous cultures. Derib brings a personal, emotional voice to Buddy Longway, far removed from idealized cowboy myths.
Artist
🎨 Derib
Derib's dual role as writer and artist enriches the series with stunningly detailed landscapes, expressive character faces, and a visual narrative that mirrors the emotional layers of the story. His artwork captures the wilderness as both majestic and merciless.
Editor Details
🖋️ While specific editorial credits for these early volumes are limited due to European publishing practices, the initial production was guided by Le Lombard’s editorial team, known for refining Franco-Belgian classics.
Publisher and Brand
🏷️ Le Lombard
One of the major European comic book publishers, Le Lombard positioned Buddy Longway within its prestigious line of Franco-Belgian bandes dessinées. The series later reached international readers through various translations and reprints.
Release Year
📆 1974–1976
The first six volumes were released during this period, introducing readers to a mature and emotionally rich Western comic that stood apart from its contemporaries.
Brief Plot Summary
In the opening volumes (#1–6), we follow Buddy Longway, a solitary trapper, as he navigates love, hardship, and cultural boundaries. His romance and eventual marriage to Chinook challenges social norms and forces him into a delicate balance between two worlds. Their adventures include encounters with hostile environments, wildlife, prejudiced settlers, and tensions with Native tribes. As the series progresses, the focus subtly shifts toward themes of family, identity, and the struggle to preserve harmony in a divided land.
Notable Arcs or Storylines
🔥 “Chinook” – Buddy’s meeting and courtship of the Native American woman Chinook, a rare portrayal of intercultural romance in Western comics.
🔥 “The Trap” – A survival-focused storyline where Buddy must outwit nature and man in a life-threatening situation.
🔥 “The Wolf” – Explores man's relationship with wild animals, drawing parallels with human instincts and societal norms.
🔥 “Jeremiah” – The birth of Buddy’s son and the beginning of his transition from lone wolf to family man.
Fan Theories or Interpretations
🔍 Fans have long interpreted Buddy Longway as a symbol of the "new man"—a rugged individualist who evolves into a nurturing father and compassionate partner. Some readers see the series as a subtle critique of colonialism, especially in how it elevates Native perspectives through Chinook and her culture.
Others have pointed out that Buddy’s frequent moral dilemmas reflect Derib’s own pacifist values, suggesting that the trapper’s greatest struggle isn’t with the wilderness but with his own conscience.
Review Summary
⭐ Art: Derib’s pencil and ink work masterfully conveys vast frontier landscapes and intimate human emotions. His use of visual silence—long, wordless panels—adds realism and poetic depth.
⭐ Story Quality: The narratives are personal, often slow-burning, and layered with emotional complexity. They depict not just action, but connection, grief, and change.
⭐ Character Depth: Buddy evolves in profound ways across the first six issues. His growth from a loner to a family man is touching, and Chinook is portrayed with dignity and intelligence—a rare feat for female Native characters in Western comics.
👍 Buddy Longway #1–6 remains a timeless Western saga, deeply human, beautifully illustrated, and morally rich. A must-read for fans of grounded historical storytelling. 🤠🌾
Comic Resource / Read Online (External Source)
