By 1948, the Dell Publishing Company turned out over one million Gene Autry Comics each year.

Champion, World's Wonder Horse

Original Champion (b. circa 1926 – d. 1943)

Dark sorrel-colored
3 stockings—right front leg solid
T-shaped blaze starting high on his forehead and extending over his muzzle
Appeared in films possibly as early as The Phantom Empire (1935), definitely in Tumbling Tumbleweeds (1935), last movie was Bells of Capistrano (1942)
First "official" screen Champion
First received screen credit in Melody Trail (1935)
Known as “Wonder Horse of the West”
Gelding
Had as many as four doubles
Died of an apparent heart attack while Gene was in the army
Highlights: could untie knots, roll over and play dead, bow, shake his head "yes" and "no," and come to Gene's whistle

Research assistance provided by author Petrine Mitchum.