Comic Title: Secret Origins #50
Publisher: DC (DC Comics Inc.)
Address: 666 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: August 1990
On Sale Date: June 19, 1990 Shipping Date June 19, 1990
Source: Previews, #16

Shipping Date June 19, 1990
Source: Amazing Heroes, #180

Copyright Date June 19, 1990
Source: Library of Congress, Copyright Office 1990

Shipping Date June 21, 1990
Source: Advance Comics, #18

Direct Market Date June 21, 1990
Source: Comic Shop News, #150, 153, #155

Frequency: Bi-monthly
Cover Price: $3.95
Page Count: 96
Editor: Michael Eury

Title: "Fortunehead"
Pages: 13

Writer: Elliot S. Maggin
Artist: Alan Lee Weiss
Inker: Dick Giordano
Letterer: Steve Haynie
Colorist: Greg Theakston

Feature Character(s)

• Johnny Thunder (last appearance in Swamp Thing #85; no further appearances)

Supporting Character(s)

• Black Lightning (Johnny's horse; no further appearances)
• Sheriff Bill Tane (Johnny's father; no further appearances)

Villain(s)

• Rand and his gang (Bo and Pittston named; no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• Dorothea Tane (Johnny's mother; dies in flashback; no further appearances)

Cameo Appearance(s)

• Rutherford B. Hayes (in a tall tale)

Comments:
This story presents some chronological inconsistencies. A flashback depicts the dates 1848-1882 on the gravestone of Dorothea Tane. Johnny is depicted at the time as being a teenager. However, Swamp Thing #85 establishes Johnny as an adult in 1872. Furthermore, one of Rand's men mentions President Hayes who served from 1877-1881, establishing Johnny as active during the Hayes presidency. Therefore, it can be concluded that the date on Dorothea's tombstone is inaccurate. Her death must have occurred prior to 1872 not 1882.

Synopsis:
Johnny Thunder returns to Mesa City which has been taken over by Rand and his gang. The gang has taken Sheriff Bill Tane hostage. Johnny finds a scout and captures him. He then poses as the scout to enter town undetected. Once in town, Johnny confronts the gang and rescues the sheriff. Tane is wounded while escaping. Johnny accidentally reveals that he is Tane's son. He had been keeping his true identity secret. Bill thought his son was a school teacher like his late wife Dorothea. Bill survives his wounds and is proud of the man his son has become.