When the
Dalton brothers had met their inevitable fate early on in the
Lucky Luke comic book series, they turned out to be so popular with its readership - or so the story goes - that its author,
Morris, decided to resurrect them.
Hence, the cousins Dalton were born: from small to tall:
- Joe, the evil mastermind, always with a plan to dispose of our hero ("Now you've had it, Lucky Luke! Harharhaaaarrr!")
- William and
- Jack, who play the chorus ("Don't do it, Joe!" Watch out, Joe!"); and
- Averell, the dumb part, the anti-hero, whose real interest is food ("I couldn't help it, Joe!")
Perfect vehicles for Goscinny's comic devices, the Daltons
grew in importance, taking center stage with Lucky Luke in many albums.