When Does "The Kents" #11 (1998) Take Place?

"The Kents" #11 "To the Stars by Hard Ways" Part 3 is a historical fiction comic-book written by John Ostrander that released April 1st, 1998. So when is "The Kents" #11 set? 


It takes place on the fictional DC Comics Universe timeline in the years: 

1869 AD - 1871 AD 

We know this because the real-world "Wild Bill" Hickok (1837-1876) appears as a character and he passed on August 2nd, 1876 AD. So it must be be before August of 1876 AD. 

More specifically, the previous issue, "The Kents" #10 (1998) ends in November of 1868 AD. So it is probably during or after November of 1868 AD. 

Specifically, a textbox presents us: ‘From the journal of Nathaniel Kent--" June 22, 1869’. So presumably it is June of 1869 AD at the start. 

Later, Jonathan "Pa" Kent narrates to us that "When we pick up with Jeb again it's 1871." This is corroborated by the date of a letter Nathaniel writes. It begins "June 13, 1871--" and the panel directly matches what the character describes as happening "today" so it is almost certainly June of 1871 AD at this point. 

Finally, near the end of the issue another excerpt opens 'From the journal  of Nathaniel Kent-- "October 15--' and on the next and final page of the issue "December 13th--" so we can probably assume the plot has moved into October and December of 1871 AD at the end. 

Additionally, the issue includes a prologue with "Pa" writing to Kal-El/Clark Kent/Superman set in ‘the present’ of the DC Universe. This is unplaceable at this time. 

It is a chronologically early comic in the DC Comics Universe multiverse timeline and can be read at its timeline point after the previous issue, "The Kents" #10 (1998).