El Coyote (the Coyote or prairie wolf)"el" is Spanish for "the" (in Italy "il", Brazil "o" and France "le" - male prefix singular, definite form). The Italian novels had "El" on all covers (with "il" on subtitles). The German and Scandinavian novels mostly were published without prefix is a fictional character (operating during the time of the American "Wild West"), originally presented in a Spanish Novelas del Oeste ("Stories of the West") Number 9 pulp novel in late 1943, written by Carter Mulford, later as J. Mallorquí.El Coyote in Novelas del Oeste at pinterest.se, with images of many Mallorquĭ novels (including his pseudonyms) by different publishers (note the "Batlle" signature for Batet) Mulford was one of several pseudonyms of the successful Spanish author José Mallorquí y Figuerola (1913–1972).from p.239, López, Enrique Ávila MODERN SPAIN – Understanding modern nations, ABC-CLIO, USA Dec 2015, 978-1-61069-600-5: "José Mallorquí Figuerola (1913–1972) was the best selling writer of Spain's 20th century. Although relatively unknown among Spanish academia, Mallorquí was the pioneer of Spanish pulp fiction. He started as a translator of Agatha Christie and Earl Derr Bigger's works for Molino Publisher. Mallorquí also created a series of novels inspired by the Wild West, including Tres hombres buenos, Jibaro, and Miss Moniker. He brought to Spain the American pulp magazine "Weird Tales" and was a pioneer on radio shows with series such as Los Bustamante, Dos Hombres Buenos, and El Coyote. The latter derived from his short novel El Coyote (1943) written under the pseudonym Carter Mulford. The figure of El Coyote would become the main character of more than 190 novels and (ed: as much) comics, and several movie adaptions. Mallorquí was a great aficionado of North American history as well as the role of Spain in the conquest of America. Like many great storytellers of his caliber, Mallorquí put emphasis on the adventure, making his writing educational while also entertaining." The novel was issued by the Barcelona publishing house Editorial Molino. Mallorquí was so satisfied with his work, that he now started writing a series - encouriged by his wife - of extremely popular novels Aventuras Extraordinarias on Coyote and Zorro with the character "El Coyote" the "El Coyote" link to the Spanish Wikipedia site includes listing all the 192 novels in order of original publishing volume numbers in the head role - giving his hero a personality, milieu and approach different to Johnston McCulley's El Zorro's (the Fox) - for Ediciones Cliper in Barcelona. Between September 1944 and late 1953 the hero appeared in a series of 192 pulp-like EL COYOTE novels,Coyote Bibliography reviewed at web.archive with several revival editions throughout the years.p.314 Stephan, Alexander The Americanization of Europe: Culture, Diplomacy, and Anti-Americanism after 1945 Berghahn Books, 2006
The novels covered 30 years of chronological adventures Coyote introduction Spanish super web site from 1851 (and earlier - from 1846 and on) until around 1876. Because of the long time span and multiple occasions of Coyote semi-retirement "the door is open for many more adventures in the future". The original Cliper novels were not published in strict chronological order. Several stories began during the 1870s, remembering earlier events - or sometimes a short early years intro, with the main plot occurring several years later. Cover illustrators were not always identical to inside illustrators. The novels – and the comics – were also glued in album collections and sold in hardbound "limited bookform". Cliper issued the original novels in batches of 5 to 7 hardbound albums during the early years (and many comics from 1947). Cid had 24 volumes with 134 novels, and Forum had one collection with all 192 novels in 16 hardbound volumes (and also one with a limited number of new comics).
Spanish editions Cliper (1944–1953)the Ediciones Cliper novels the original pulps presented by Miguel Angel Muñoz Rodriguez on the Novelas Coyote web site – the original editions (which also featured the very first novel, El Coyote)First Coyote novel the very first written novel, El Coyote – full novel on an "easy-read" pdf-file (Forum version) – 192 novels (originally 2.50 and a short while 2.00 pesetas each – later 3 and 4) - with a celibrating original number 50, Luces de California, in mid 1947 at 3.60 - covering the last episode of Coyote's fights against Robert Toombs. Covers and insides illustrated by Francisco Batet (Pellejero).Comiclopedia index of illustrators The first 120 in the "El Coyote" novel series started with number 1, La vuelta del Coyote ("The return of El Coyote"),which tells a story of Anglo-American tries of cheating a small farm out of an innocent native Californian (in events occurring two years after the first novel - 1853 after César's marriage to Leonor), featuring Leonor, Julian Martinez, the young Guadalupe (Julian's daughter, who plays a key role in the novel) and at this time inexperienced solicitor Josė Covarrubias, plus Adelia and los Lugones in September 1944. There also were 10 Numero Extra (see below – including one Extra-Especial) – and finally 62 (4 and later 5 pesetas) "Nuevo Coyote" were published (no inside illustration).Ediciones Cátedra In September 2013 Cátedra published a 432 page (with six inside images) 20x13 cm pocket book, El Coyote, which featured El Diablo en Los Ángeles and Don César de Echagüe (both from the original Cliper novels - covering the stories of the 1853 and 1870 Coyote marriages). It was edited by expert Ramon Charlo (with introduction and special notes) plus prologues by César Mallorquí and Louis Alberto de Cuenca Cid (1961–1964)Ediciones Cid a complete collection imaged in one photo with a link to Coyote pulps and comics for sale with reeditions of above in one series of 64-100 pages (18,4x10,8 cm) illustrated by Jano (Francisco Fernández Zarza-Pérez)Jano Cid covers plus much more and possibly others.Editions and illustrators at La Nueva Web El Coyote Bruguera (1968–1971)Editorial Bruguera complete collection - 110 of the early novels (including nine Extras, but not the unnumbered Especial) with El proscrito de las lomas as the last (17,5x10,5 cm - 112-136 pages). Covers illustrated by Antonio Bernal (Romero) - and with several inside illustrations. Favencia (1973–1977)Ediciones Favencia complete collection - the 192 novels (18,0x10,9 cm and circa 136 pages each) with high quality illustrations especially by Jano (see Cid above) - and by Carlos Prunés. Inside illustrations by Pedro Alferes Gonzales, and Ramon de la Fuente. Forum (1983–1984)Ediciones Forum complete collection with 96 reedited double volumes (19,0x14,1 cm - each volume with 128-250 pages)First novel El Coyote replica preview – covers illustrated by Salvador Fabá (who really succeeds with superb and tough images of the hero); insides by Julio Bosch and José María Bellalta (who also did the fine comics - with J. Garcia, manuscript).For collectors: Forum and Planeta DeAgostini each had their "El Coyote: Numero 0" with differing short articles on the novels (some by Mallorquí himself) and complete listings of their novel series Planeta DeAgostini (2003–2004)Editorial Planeta DeAgostini complete collection with the above 96 (21,0x14,7 cm - each volume with circa 160-300 pages) illustrated by Tony Fejzula & R.M. Gera.Coyote exhibition in Madrid in 2016
The original novel El Coyote (written in 1943) was reedited in September 2025 with a prologue, and published by Albo - Zarco.
Vigilante hero California was incorporated into the US in February 1848. The conquest of California became one of the results of the Mexican–American War from April 26, 1846 (in which the history of Texas also had an important role) to February 2, 1848, after several turbulent California years as part of Mexico and even twice as a short-lived independent republic (1836 and 1846) - and before the great gold rush. The new "region", originally administrated by the US military was, because of the gold findings, skipping the "Territory status" and registered as the 31st State of the United States on September 9, 1850. Mexico had started its fight for independence in 1810 and became free from Spain in 1821 during the era of the legendary El Zorro, who debuted at the time Spain reigned (about two generations - circa 40 years - before Coyote's debut).Reference: information from the first Johnston McCulley Zorro novel. Note: the very first capital of California was Monterey, in the old Alta California under Spain and Mexico. Los Angeles was proclaimed a "city" (and capital) in 1835, but was not recognized a capital until a short while in 1845-46 (with-Monterey still working "officially"). Soon after the U.S. take-over, San Jose was chosen, later Vallejo and Benicia were short-lived capitals and in 1854 Sacramento became the capital. Mallorquí spelt it Monterrey (as the city in Mexico). Baja California is the northern part of Mexico's Baja California Peninsula
El Coyote's double identity
César de Echagüe (the III – with Mexican and Spanish roots) was a wealthy, elegant Californio nobleman. He was resident at the truly large estate and ranch - 40,000 hectare (100,000 acres or 400 km2) cattle farming (and possibly also sheep and horse plus some winery), and later also orange cultivating - el Rancho de San Antonio,Fictive – not the San Antonio Valley outside San Francisco, but inspired from the San Antonio Heights in the Los Angeles and San Bernardino two counties (the two where originally only one, Los Angeles County) - where there actually was a real Rancho San Antonio just north-east of Los Angeles.Los Angeles population and synopsis of the original "El Coyote" novel; L.A. population 1830: 770, 1850: 1.610, 1870: 5.730 Our hero had an affable, charming appearance, was regarded a coward and a feminine, effete (weak) figure - and he was lazy, comfortable, cynical and sceptic - with false superficiality."El Coyote" Personajes J. Mallorquí cited in Novelas Coyote Characters - also see next four notes for references on César's character He was educated and refined, a master of expression, and a practical, pragmatic man.A fine "blog' review with several analysis and main plots of some novel stories with references to Forum editions, presented with great knowledge by Jose Miguel Garcia
Behind his facade he doubled as El Coyote, a masked vigilante avenger, expert of disguise - wanted by the law - and defender of the weak, fighting for freedom, honesty, justice and vengeance."El Coyote" Ediciones Cliper Extra #0 (the chronicle-first Coyote-novel of 1945 – originally published in "Novelas Del Oeste" in 1943) Coyote protected the original Hispanics (and the Native Americans - Indians) of California from the Anglo Americans - and certainly from all "bad ones". Mallorquí did address the Afro-American question only briefly. Introduction to the Novels at the Coyote web site - La Nueva Web El Coyote by Miguel Muñoz
Heroes don't die - they vanish