The Lone Ranger #8 Review


The Lone Ranger #7 is one of the most deep and heartfelt comics I’ve read in awhile. I’ve had some experience with The Lone Ranger franchise thanks to the old show, but beyond that not much. The previous comic was the first ever issue from a Lone Ranger series I’ve read. Basically this arc is focusing on a flashback before the Ranger and Tonto met. Longtime fans will enjoy this untold history, while new fans will read a deep, historical, and even sad adventure. The Lone Ranger #8 is one of the best comics I’ve read this week, I cannot recommend it enough.

Here’s the official description from Dynamite:

In 1870, Tonto lies near death, as the Lone Ranger pleads with the Ute Indians for help from their Shaman. Three years prior, Tonto lived a relatively peaceful and happy life with his tribe. How did Tonto come to be a lone brave by the time he found John Reid near death in that desert chasm? The answer unfolds, as Tonto’s happy life is shattered. Tonto fights for his life in the present, as he fights for his soul in the past. The Native Ground arc rolls toward its bloody climax in a heart-breaking tale of loss and revenge.

I’m not really a fan of flashback stories. I don’t mind them, but sometimes I feel they take away from the present too much when we just want to see the adventure continue. This doesn’t apply here, the flashback story is the main point of this arc, we get to learn about Tonto and his tribe. We get to see people tear it apart. You’ll feel a sense of sadness while reading it at the unrelenting brutality to the Native Americans. The writing is some of the best I’ve read in comics. Simple, as if you were actually there during the time period. I’ve seen a few episodes from the classic show, I liked Tonto there, but never thought he could hold up an episode on his own without the Ranger. This arc has proven me wrong, he’s a really engaging focus, which is thanks to writer Ande Parks. He’s a simple, happy, and encouraging person. As we see his world get turned upside down, his anger by the end is justifiable.

The art is simple, yet has enough detail. I especially like the cover, it doesn’t try to grab your attention with explosives or bright colors, it just tells you what the story is about. Now I’ve always been fascinated by American history, this arc has a historical backdrop that a lot of people will find interesting.

Overall, another fantastic issue of The Lone Ranger. I cannot say how amazing and deep this arc is. While a lot of the big name companies seek to wow the reader with its 21st century dialogue and splash pages, The Lone Ranger just tells a heartfelt story. This is a comic that shouldn’t be missed.

5/5

S#!T Talking Central

  • http://www.facebook.com/micheal.lockwood1 Micheal Lockwood

    Francesco Francavilla did the cover for this (and most of the others before this if not all of them). He’s a great artist. Check out his work with Scott Snyder on Detective Comics. A truly remarkable artist. I wish he would do a full issue of Lone Ranger.