History ComicBook / JonSableFreelance

* CoolGuns:
** Sable uses a customized C96 Mauser: specifically, the Chinese Shanxi Type 17 (firing .45 ACP rounds) as a base, with the box-magazine loading mechanism of the 'Schnellfeuer' model instead of the stripper clip-loaded internal magazine. This is his primary firearm for much of the comic.
** Sable's favourite weapon is a broomhandle Mauser chambered for .45 ACP. He also carried a large bore, multipurpose stainless steel revolver, that had a resemblance to an antique pepperbox revolver. The weapon could fire underwater, fire rifle shot, arrow/bolt type projectiles and a multitude of other loads, such as tear gas, explosive, and tranquilizer. This was an actual weapon designed for Navy [=SEALs=] that never went beyond prototype.

* LockedRoomMystery: In "The Hard Way" in #44-45, Jon has to murdered a film producer inside his locked cabin on board his yacht.

* LockedRoomMystery: In #44-45, Jon is present on board a yacht when a movie star seemingly commits suicide inside his locked cabin. Of course, it is NeverSuicide, and Jon turns detective to work out what really happened. [[spoiler:The victim had been given [[MedicationTampering poisoned Dramamine]] by his murderer which he took inside his cabin and died. A second person, looking to protect the killer, had used a bang stick to fire a bullet into the victim's head through the portal, hoping the police would not check for poison when there was an obvious gunshot wound to the head.]]

* CuttingTheKnot: In #15, Sable and an archaeologist are looking for treasure in a Central American pyramid. It's one of those designed so that [[LightAndMirrorsPuzzle a beam of sunlight shining through a hole in the wall will reveal the lock]] - but it only works on one day of the year that's months away. Sable points out that the ancient builders hadn't anticipated modern electricity and duplicates the effect with his flashlight.

* CoolGuns: Sable uses a customized C96 Mauser: specifically, the Chinese Shanxi Type 17 (firing .45 ACP rounds) as a base, with the box-magazine loading mechanism of the 'Schnellfeuer' model instead of the stripper clip-loaded internal magazine. This is his primary firearm for much of the comic.

* RareGuns: Sable's favourite weapon is a broomhandle Mauser chambered for .45 ACP. He also carried a large bore, multipurpose stainless steel revolver, that had a resemblance to an antique pepperbox revolver. The weapon could fire underwater, fire rifle shot, arrow/bolt type projectiles and a multitude of other loads, such as tear gas, explosive, and tranquilizer. This was an actual weapon designed for Navy [=SEALs=] that never went beyond prototype.

* CrusadingWidower: Jon's transformation to soldier-of-fortune happens when his wife and children are murdered by {{Evil Poacher}}s. His first act is go on a RoaringRampageOfRevenge against the poachers, although he does not catch up to their real boss until years later.

''Jon Sable, Freelance'' was an American comic book, one of the first series created for the fledging publisher First Comics in 1983. It was written and drawn by Mike Grell and was a fully creator-owned title, as were all of First Comics' titles.

* PlankGag: In #10, Sable goes looking for trouble and finds three thugs standing by a TrashcanBonfire with baseball bats. Jon challenges the biggest one to a fight and picks up one of the bats. He then says "Okay, let's get the rules straight". when another of the thugs responds "[[ThereAreNoRules There ain't no rules!]]", Sable invokes the Plank Gag by turning quickly with bat over his shoulder and whacking the big guy in the head. He then follows it up by using the bat to launch a GroinAttack on the second thug.

* RightWingMilitiaFanatic: In #8-9, Sable battles an especially efficent and well-funded militia group organized by a former USAF colonel. The group plans to detonate [[EmptyQuiver stolen nuke]] in New York as FalseFlagOperation intended to cause the US to launch a nuclear strike against the USSR. The group reasons that as the Soviets will not be expecting it, they will be wiped out in the first strike and the US will be returned to its rightful place as the world's sole superpower.

* ThereAreNoRules: In #10, Sable goes looking for trouble and finds three thugs standing by a TrashcanBonfire with baseball bats. Jon challenges the biggest one to a fight and picks up one of the bats. He then says "Okay, let's get the rules straight". when another of the thugs responds "There ain't no rules!", Sable invokes the PlankGag by turning quickly with bat over his shoulder and whacking the big guy in the head. He then follows it up by using the bat to launch a GroinAttack on the second thug.

* ThisBearWasFramed: In "Widowmaker" in #21, Jon pursues a wooman known as "the White Widow" who tried to murder her husband (an old friend of Jon's) and claim he was kicked in the head by a horse; but, the police found a bloody horseshoe under the seat of her car. She was convicted, but is out on a $3.5 million dollar bond, while her case is under appeal.

* PineappleSurprise: In #9, Sable pulls a HighSpeedHijack by leaping from a motorbike on to a truck carrying a stolen nuclear bomb. One of the militia members in the truck sees him and climbs out to fight him. Sable manages to pull the pin one one of the grenades on his bandolier and then bails off: leaving the mook to blow up and cause the truck to crask off the road and into a lake.

* {{BFG}}: When Jon felt the need for for some serious firepower, he would haul out an elephant gun.
** In #17, he picks up a comically oversized trick revolver that's chambered in .375. It can also fire what are basically powder-launched crossbow bolts.

** In Ashes of Eden the trope is Lampshaded most obviously with the [[ShapedLikeItself MacGuffin Diamond]].