MICHAEL WHEELER	BIOGRAPHY
Created by Michael L. Fleisher and Russ Heath

PERSONAL DATA

Occupation: History teacher
Status: Deceased
Citizenship: American
Base of Operation: Princeton, NJ
Gender: Male
Hair: Brown
First Appearance: DC Special Series #16 (fall 1978): "The Last Bounty Hunter!"
Creators: Michael L. Fleisher and Russ Heath

"I want to write a book about you, Mr. Hex! I want to write the definitive history of your life!" - Michael Wheeler Quote taken from DC Special Series #16

HISTORY

A teacher of American history at Princeton University in the early 1900s, Michael Wheeler made his way out west for the chance to meet the legendary bounty hunter Jonah Hex. It was his ambition to write of the quickly vanishing world that Hex lived in, a way of life that would soon be gone forever. Wheeler spent months with Hex and Hex's wife, Tall Bird as the bounty hunter told him of his life on the frontier.

A hunting trip in winter was interrupted by Lew Farnham, the owner of a Wild West show who wanted Hex as a performer. Though Hex flatly rejected the offer, it would not be the last they would be involved with Farnham, but tragically it would be Jonah Hex's last days.

Bank robber George Barrow sought revenge after Hex had killed half his gang some months before. Barrow and his gang kidnapped Tall Bird in a failed attempt to ambush Hex, but with the help of Wheeler, Hex was able to free Tall Bird. Barrow himself escaped. Due to his bravery, Wheeler earned the respect and friendship of Hex.

The next day in town, Wheeler took a ride in an automobile leaving Hex to play poker in a saloon. Though Hex took off his glasses for a moment to clear some dust, that was enough time for George Barrow to fire two shotgun shells into the old bounty hunter's chest. Wheeler took the body of his friend back to Tall Bird, blaming himself for the killing.

Learning of Hex's death, Farnham quickly seized on the opportunity to take the remains by force. Wheeler jumped to defend Tall Bird and Hex's remains, but he was gunned down and died. Farnham then had Hex's remains stuffed, mounted and put in display for his Wild West show. -DC Special Series #16

Decades later, another historian from Princeton University would be entwined with the history of Jonah Hex. Professor Lawrence, a modern day expert on the life of Jonah Hex, helped Jonah's now elderly wife Tall Bird finally recover the famed bounty hunter's remains. - Secret Origins Vol. 2 #21

CHRONOLOGY

For a definitive list of appearances of Michael Wheeler in chronological order click here