Pow Wow Smith

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caption = "Western Comics" #46 Cover art by Carmine Infantino and Joe Giella
character_name = Pow-Wow Smith
publisher = DC Comics
debut = "Detective Comics" #151 (Sept. 1949)
creators = Don Cameron
Carmine Infantino
alter_ego =
full_name = Ohiyesa Smith
species =
homeworld =
alliances =
aliases =
supports=
powers = Skilled detective

Ohiyesa "Pow-Wow" Smith is a fictional Western hero published by DC Comics. Created by writer Don Cameron and penciler Carmine Infantino, he is a Sioux who is the sheriff of a small Western town, where he is known as a master detective. He prefers to be addressed by his proper name, Ohiyesa, but the white citizenry take to calling him "Pow-Wow" so stubbornly that he eventually gives up and accepts the nickname among them.

Smith first appeared in "Detective Comics" #151 (Sept. 1949), the only Western feature in the book. Eventually, his strip became the lead feature of "Western Comics" which ran until 1961. He also starred in the premiere issue (Sept. 1970) of "All-Star Western" vol. 2.

Versions

Originally the Pow Wow Smith character was located in the modern West. Later stories were set in the 19th century. It was eventually retconned that the Old West character was the ancestor of the modern-day character. Since then, Smith has remained a historical figure in the DC Universe, meeting other heroes in their occasional time travel stories.

Present day

U.S. Marshal Ohiyesa Smith, a present-day descendant of the Pow-Wow Smiths, appears in "Robin Annual" #6, a Western pastiche that also featured a modern-day version of Nighthawk. The two work with Robin and other heroes to take down the modern-day Trigger Twins, who unlike their 19th-century antecedents are homicidal criminals. Much of the adventure takes place in a tourist-spot recreation of an Old West town.

Appearances in other media

Smith appeared in a time travel episode of "Justice League Unlimited", "The Once and Future Thing," as a sheriff of a western town. He was run out of Town by Manning who used technology he got from Chronos. With the aide of Bat Lash, El Diablo, Jonah Hex, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman and Batman, he defeated Manning. He was voiced by Jonathan Joss. In this version, Smith still objects to the name "Pow-Wow", which is only used by the villain Tobias Manning.

References

* [http://www.toonopedia.com/powwowsm.htm Don Markstein's Toonopedia: Pow-Wow Smith]
* [http://home.aol.com/MG4273/westernc.htm#Pow Western Comic Books of the Silver Age: Pow-Wow Smith, Indian Lawman]