Introduction
“Texas Fists” is a story of adventure, camaraderie, and rivalry, narrated by Steve Costigan, a sailor on the Sea Girl.
The story was probably accepted circa March by Fiction House. It was published in the May edition and Howard earned $75 for the story.
Howard mixes action with a touch of romance and humor, set against the backdrop of early 20th-century Texas and Mexico, showcasing the rugged landscapes and the equally rugged individuals who inhabit them.
Summary
After a brawl in Tampico, Mexico, Costigan is approached by a group of cowboys from the Diamond J ranch, who are in search of a strong fighter to take on a formidable opponent from a nearby mining company. Despite initial reluctance, Costigan is drugged and taken to the ranch, where he agrees to fight after a series of misadventures and a demonstration of his unwillingness to be coerced.
The central event is Costigan’s bout with Snoots (Biff) Leary, an old acquaintance from Galveston, now working for the mining company. The fight is intense, evenly matched, and interrupted by an attack on the mine by the bandit Lopez the Terrible and his gang. The subplot of Lopez’s attempt to kidnap Joan, the ranch owner’s daughter, adds a layer of drama and showcases Costigan’s and Leary’s heroism beyond the ring.
The story concludes with Costigan and Leary, despite being wounded, deciding to finish their fight, underscoring their competitive spirit and mutual respect. The tale is punctuated with humor, the themes of loyalty, and the valor of standing up for friends and what’s right.
Characters
- Steve Costigan: The protagonist, a sailor and skilled fighter with a strong sense of justice and loyalty.
- Snoots (Biff) Leary: Costigan’s old friend and rival from Galveston, working for the mining company.
- Slim: A cowboy from the Diamond J ranch who initially recruits Costigan to fight for them.
- Joan (Miss Joan): The daughter of Bill Dornley, the owner of the Diamond J ranch, and the love interest of the story.
- Lopez the Terrible: A bandit leader who tries to kidnap Joan but is thwarted by Costigan and Leary.
- Menly: The manager of the mining company and organizer of the fight.
- Diamond J Cowboys (Red, Tex, Joe, Yuma, Buck, Jim, Shorty, Pete, and the Kid): Cowhands of the Diamond J ranch who support Costigan.
- Bill Dornley: Owner of the Diamond J ranch, mentioned but does not appear in the story.
- Mike: Costigan’s bulldog, mentioned as part of his circle but does not play an active role in the plot.
Alternate title:
Published in:
- FIGHT STORIES VOLUME 3 NUMBER 12, Fight Stories, Inc., May 1931
- FIGHT STORIES VOLUME 5 NUMBER 12, Fight Stories, Inc., Summer 1939 (byline Mark Adam, as “Shanghied Mitts”)
- STEVE COSTIGAN ET LE SIGNE DE SERPENT, NeO, December 1986 (French)
- REH FIGHT MAGAZINE #2, Necronomicon Press, September 1990
- IRON FIST, North-West, 1998 (Russian)
- WATERFRONT FISTS AND OTHERS, Wildside Press, May 2003
- WATERFRONT FISTS AND OTHERS, Wildside Press, December 2004
- BOXING STORIES, Bison Books, April 2005
- TEXAS FISTS, AND THE BULL DOG BREED, Dodo Press, February 2008
- HIGH ADVENTURE #100, Adventure House, May 2008 (byline Mark Adam, as “Shanghied Mitts”)
- THE COLLECTED BOXING STORIES OF ROBERT E. HOWARD, Halcyon Press, Ltd., December 2009
- THE ROBERT E. HOWARD OMNIBUS: 99 COLLECTED STORIES, Halcyon Press, Ltd., May 2010
- SHANGHAIED MITTS: MORE TALES OF SEA-FARING BOXING CHAMP STEVE COSTIGAN, Nuelow Games, November 2011 (as “Shanghied Mitts”)
- THE SAILOR STEVE COSTIGAN STORIES, Jame-Books, August 2012
- ROBERT E. HOWARD’S COLLECTED WORKS, Jame-Books, February 2013
- THE COLLECTED BOXING FICTION OF ROBERT E. HOWARD: FISTS OF IRON ROUND 2, REH Foundation Press, February 2014
- ROBERT E. HOWARD’S SAILOR STEVE COSTIGAN, Pulp-Lit Press, July 2019
- ROBERT E. HOWARD’S SAILOR STEVE COSTIGAN, Audible Audio, July 2019 (audio)