Lone Ranger #7 review

[Guicho]

I just got a chance to read #7, and there are so many great things going on in this book to list, but one thing for me stood out over everything.
Ironically it’s another one of those "down-time" moments, or what some would consider the “padding” or “filler”.
It is anything but.
We see for the first time Reid siting down with what he has somehow pieced together to be some kind of “family.”
And I’m thinking this is ridiculous. Is that really what the character would be pursuing at this point in his life?
And if they are saying this is honestly what the character would want, why wouldn't he drop the pretense, take off that ridiculous mask, and make it real.
If not for himself, for the sake of the people he is sitting with.
Just then the next panel that’s exactly what he’s doing, making it real. Without a word you can see it in his eyes, he reaches to remove the mask.
Suddenly any illusions are shattered when a bullet comes crashing through the window.
With nary a word on the entire page exept “Let’s eat.” Matthews and Cariello together unleash the entire weight of this character’s austere “reality”.

Without saying it we are reminded why- “This mask is my face.”

[Ranger01]

So many things is right...the slow pace of the story writing is really growing on me...it's never enough but it's never boring.

Tonto is really a wonderful character, in 7 short issues he has developed more as a person than any Tonto we've seen in the past. Humor, sarcasm and caring he's got them all, what a great person to have by your side.

I was lucky enough to get the RRP edition and the wrap around cover idea is great...the interior and cover art is really nice.

This is such a wonderful comic....I now have 30 issues (variants and FCBD issue included), also have 1 trade and 2 HC. Not bragging just proud of my collection.

Issue # 8 where are you?

Ranger01

[Lone Ranger]

Well, it's another "dynamite" issue. I like the family dynamic that's developing. This story is definitely new territory for the Lone Ranger. The silver mine is very impressive.
What's driving me totally nuts, however, is a complete lack of understanding of the West by Matthews and Cariello. Linda and Dan Jr. live in Wyoming. The mine is in Texas -- hundreds of miles away. Yet they go back and forth like they were next door.
I was born and raised in this territory. It's very beautiful, not nearly as bleak, brown and dusty as it appears in the comic.
The bullets are another problem. They're drawn as a single unit. There should be slugs and casings. And they're too liberally distributed.
The eyeholes on the mask are too big and the hat just plain looks funny.
OK, griping aside, I think the story is great. Cavendish is really nuts. I'd sure like to know who's pulling his chain.
Any why is the Ranger building a house for Tonto? And who is the guy about to meet with the wrong end of the rope?

[JRybandt]

What's driving me totally nuts, however, is a complete lack of understanding of the West by Matthews and Cariello. Linda and Dan Jr. live in Wyoming. The mine is in Texas -- hundreds of miles away. Yet they go back and forth like they were next door.

Hey there, we're 6 months past the events of issue #6 and set firmly in Texas, no shifting between the territories, Linda has relocated to Texas with the Ranger and Tonto...

/joe

[CindyR]

I thought it was obvious that john had fulfilled Dan's wish to bring his wife and son back to texas. he's probably afraid to leave them unguarded at this point. as for tonto's house--geeze, poor guy can't bunk in with linda, and probably doesn't want to live in a cold, damp cavern. why wouldn't they build him a small house instead of making him hang out in the cold? (from linda's heavy shirt, i'm assuming we're getting toward fall.)
i too hate the floppy hat, however. :)
cindy

[CindyR]

IMO, one really neat transition issue!

This whole issue revolved around John Reid’s family—Linda, Dan, jr., and Tonto. The latter was a pleasant surprise for how close and comfortable Tonto seemed to be with both Linda and Dan—far more comfortable with them than is John himself. (Look at Dan holding his mother’s waist when the masked man appears, and his trepidation around the grim young man, compared to his ease in other panels when with Tonto. Very interesting point.) John has honored his brother’s wish to bring Linda and Dan to Texas, and has built them a home on the land atop the silver mine rather than reclaiming the old Reid ranch. It’s obvious they intend to make this place a permanent home with the building of a cabin for Tonto to live in.

John works the mine ceaselessly, lives in it, pens Silver in it—in other words, this is his base with the sole function of furthering his vengeful campaign against anything owned by rich wanna-be politician Butch Cavendish. It’s pretty obvious that for the last six months (with some time off for moving Linda and setting her up a place to live) he’s either worked the mine for silver bullets or fought his one-man war on Cavendish’s infrastructure. The others express surprise that John has even come into the light of day, though his whole purpose in leaving the mine is only to help build Tonto’s cabin before the vendetta continues.

We get a clear indication of his continued grief, too. It’s obvious he hasn’t healed emotionally from the massacre of his family and friends, is perhaps even more grim and driven than ever. Even Linda remarks on it, and she’s obviously disturbed and worried by what the boy is putting himself through to avenge his brother and father. She seems to be holding up far better, really; perhaps because she’s so much older and has a son who relies on her, or doesn’t blame herself for the ambush. For John, the Lone Ranger—the avenger—is who he is. He no longer removes the mask in public, it seems, and has no peace in himself. He doesn't sleep much (seems to be out lot of nights on missions against Cavendish), doesn't eat much (look at him giving half his food to Silver even though Linda apologized for their not being much to begin with). His goal seems to be more vengeance than justice at this point. (And who can blame him?) Not putting a bullet in Butch’s deranged heart is going to be a chore when the time comes.

It was great to see the Lone Ranger in action, either with or without Tonto’s backup. One wonders at the extraordinary training he must have had—probably from a very young age—to be so effective a combatant. And his reputation is growing by leaps and bounds from the sabotage of Butch’s rail line and properties. His reputation is, however, as a bandit. Wonder where that will lead in the future?

The artwork, as always, is amazing! Please let Sergio stay forever! Same with Matthews’ story! Can’t wait to see where the lynching is coming from. On the whole, this was a terrific transition issue, and it looks as though the Lone Ranger is pretty well geared up for action if not yet recovered from the terrible losses he’s suffered so far.
CindyR
Crossposted: Dynamite Board & The Cave

[Guicho]

Got to agree about that floppy hat, that costume is still wearing him, instead of the other way around.
And to often his head is just drawn to tiny. Like it’s a child’s head attached to an adult body. Add to that the floppy hat and the still oversized costume and he starts looking ridiculous.
I don’t know why he can’t be the same age as Tonto or at least drawn with a normal sized older head.

[Lone Ranger]

Hey there, we're 6 months past the events of issue #6 and set firmly in Texas, no shifting between the territories, Linda has relocated to Texas with the Ranger and Tonto...

/joe

Thanks for clarifying that. I seemed to have missed that somewhere.

[CindyR]

I LOVE that he's so young. and that young face peeking out of the mask is the only clue anyone has that this is still a boy fighting a man's war.
that tonto is older and matured in a different direction is one facet i find so intriguing to the developing story.

in re the hat: did anyone else notice the collection of hats in the mine? disguises coming, maybe?
cindy.


Got to agree about that floppy hat, that costume is still wearing him, instead of the other way around.
And to often his head is just drawn to tiny. Like it’s a child’s head attached to an adult body. Add to that the floppy hat and the still oversized costume and he starts looking ridiculous.
I don’t know why he can’t be the same age as Tonto or at least drawn with a normal sized older head.

[Lone Ranger]

in re the hat: did anyone else notice the collection of hats in the mine? disguises coming, maybe?
cindy.

Yes, I did. I hope we see the disguises soon.

I also hope Silver gets a bigger pen and one that is outdoors. Horses and mines, bad combination.

[Guicho]

I LOVE that he's so young. and that young face peeking out of the mask is the only clue anyone has that this is still a boy fighting a man's war.
that tonto is older and matured in a different direction is one facet i find so intriguing to the developing story.
That’s fine, if they’re going to keep him that young, than they should just do it, but stop putting that tiny head on an adult body.
Just picking a page at random, look at the panel where he first sits up from his sleep, there’s no oversized shirt to disguise it, that puny head does not go with that adult body at all. It looks ridiculous, the head is obviously too small and the features are too childlike.
Or the page opposite where he’s feeding the horse as well. The body is clearly an adult, the head is child sized.
This is reoccurring theme throughout the issue[lol]

If it was a minor character I wouldn't care, but it's the lead so I bring it up. otherwise the art is all incredible!
Incidentally he never has the tiny young head on the covers, (and I know it’s a different style, I’m talking about proportions here) weather drawn a bit younger ore older his head always matches the body. And Tonto and Reid do look about the same age.


…in re the hat: did anyone else notice the collection of hats in the mine? disguises coming, maybe?
cindy.
That double page splash of the mine and all the detail is just gorgeous.

[jsf]

I thought it was a great issue. I think the scene that really hit me the hardest ... in terms of dramatic impact ... is when he briefly removes the mask, and then puts it back on.

Clearly he's grieving hard for the loss of his father and brother, and that was a truly profound moment.

Man this is a great book!

[CindyR]

That was one of mine, too. I combine it with the one right before, of a worried Linda telling him that Dan wouldn't have wanted to see him like this, and him replying that his only peace was that Dan didn't have to. Those two scenes gave us the entire character base and motivation for future issues for a long time to come.
cindy


I thought it was a great issue. I think the scene that really hit me the hardest ... in terms of dramatic impact ... is when he briefly removes the mask, and then puts it back on.

Clearly he's grieving hard for the loss of his father and brother, and that was a truly profound moment.

Man this is a great book!

[MadMikeyD]

I'm in the middle of a move right now, so I probably won't have time to write one of my usual reviews. I got #7, though, and I loved it.


I think the scene that really hit me the hardest ... in terms of dramatic impact ... is when he briefly removes the mask, and then puts it back on.

Agreed. Best scene in the book, IMO. Keep it up, guys!

Now, let's see the cover for #8 so we know we won't have an excrutiatingly long wait for the next chapter.

[Kevin]

So people don't think I'm being mean toward's anyone. I'm giving my review in Pro/Con format and will not discuss my feelings.


Pro
Tonto getting a House
Reid keeping his family close
Silver Mine

Con
Black Bart (a trained hitman) yapping off at the mouth about a job while in surgery let alone survivng after all that blood loss prior to and after surgery?
The Lone Ranger - Terrorist <== real big problem for me right there
Silver was still worth some coin back then, for him to casually toss his bullets around like they're nothing is out there.
Low Story Content (getting tired of comics that take me 1 minute to read)

[Lone Ranger]

Con
Black Bart (a trained hitman) yapping off at the mouth about a job while in surgery let alone survivng after all that blood loss prior to and after surgery?
The Lone Ranger - Terrorist <== real big problem for me right there
Silver was still worth some coin back then, for him to casually toss his bullets around like they're nothing is out there.
Low Story Content (getting tired of comics that take me 1 minute to read)

Where in the story does Black Bart blab while having surgery?
How do you figure the Lone Ranger is a terrorist?
I agree that he's too cavalier with the bullets.
Who wouldn't want more content? It's a great story!

[Kevin]

Where in the story does Black Bart blab while having surgery?

You're right it doesn't. Page 2 of Issue #7 has the people yakking away. I assumed that this issue took place after Issue #6, but you're right it was wrong to assume that. Instead it's yet another piece of disjointed storyline from the flow of the standard continuity. Please replace my complaint about Black Bart blabbing with this:

1. Disjointed pieces of storyline that upset the flow of continuity.


How do you figure the Lone Ranger is a terrorist?

Page 16, wonton destruction of Private Property for the effect of inspiring fear in his enemies.

Definition of Terrorism:

Main Entry: ter·ror·ism
Function: noun
Pronunciation: 'ter-&r-"i-z&m
: the systematic use of terror especially as a means of coercion

He is attempting to coerce his enemies to whatever ends have not been expressly stated in this story.

In sort: This is something BATMAN or Zorro would do, but under no circumstances would a man who has sworn an oath to uphold the law (such as the LONE RANGER) would EVER-- EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER DO THIS. PERIOD.


Who wouldn't want more content? It's a great story!

Everything except for the disjointed flow and the terrorism. ^_^

[tonto]

This was a good issue,slow, but good. I think that they should keep Linda around Its a break with the canon I can live with. She seems like a well rounded person and as the only female chararcter so far serves more purpose than the traditional school marm/damsel in distress or vamp role that most women inhabit nowadays (heres hoping we don't see a Lady Rawhide cica 1880 here). John should have a sister and a link other than Jr. to his family. Curious goings on with that lynching. Could it be a trap waiting for our heroes while Linda and Dan are alone? And what about the photo on the cover? The girl looks somewhat tan (but didn't everyone in those old photos) could it be Tonto's sister. There is a lot to chew on till issue 8. The Batman/Zorro stuff doesn't seem to fit but he John is still young and the pain is still raw, besides Matthews has expressed he didn't want to write Studly Do-Right.

[Ranger01]

We all know he's gonna uphold his oath, the Ranger you know and love is still manifesting himself, ie: a work in progress. His career is a leaning curve, as these first few story arcs are showing us, he will make mistakes, but learn from them, his anger remains, you want a ready made Ranger?

Puh-lease......LR a terrorist? Save me your Funk & Wagnall's definitions! Leave me a place where that overworked word has not yet raised it's ugly head.

He now owns a silver mine, it would seem to me should care more about sending a message than saving a few bucks.

Brett Matthews is not giving us a lack of continuity, just leaving space for future days. Low story content, ahh no....this first arc allowed me to see what good can come from evil: friendship, diversity, strength, and learning. Presented with simple dialogue, allowing for mind numbing artistry, without an over abundance of word ballons.

I have just completed the first novel in the Ranger series, allowing for the writing style of the time, the story has more content than necessary (IMHO), but it is what it is and I enjoyed it, this is a COMIC book series that can only be what it is and damn it's one fine piece of work!


Ranger01

[CindyR]

if anyone is a terrorist, it's butch cavendish. he's already used fear and murder of entire families to accomplish his goal. worse, he's crooked and depraved clear through. and while i can readily understand a very young and grief-filled boy striking back, I get the impression that this is a careful plan to relieve cavendish of some of his unjust riches (read: material protections], and thus maneuver him into an arrest. (or, just as likely, a looney bin.) after all, the ranger mentioned in the first story arc about following tonto's 'plan' so it's probable this isn't just a series of random strikes.

maybe even after cavendish is incarcerated, we'll see him in the future. after all, the series cavendish (and his right hand dooley, and assorted others) didn't hang; therefore, there wasn't enough evidence under texas law to convict them of the murder of 6 texas rangers.


We all know he's gonna uphold his oath, the Ranger you know and love is still manifesting himself, ie: a work in progress. His career is a leaning curve, as these first few story arcs are showing us, he will make mistakes, but learn from them, his anger remains, you want a ready made Ranger?
the first novel was the worst. it was written by gaylord duboise (even though some copies have striker's name on them). the subsequent ones by striker and the "Big Little Books" and "Better Little Book's" by him are immensely better, IMO. SO much more character in them!


I have just completed the first novel in the Ranger series, allowing for the writing style of the time, the story has more content than necessary (IMHO), but it is what it is and I enjoyed it, this is a COMIC book series that can only be what it is and damn it's one fine piece of work!
Cindy

[Kevin]

I said what I had meant to say and as far as I'm concerned the con points I made are a major problem if they are to continue in this book.

No way in hell are you gonna change my mind about what I said. Lone Ranger is acting like Batman or Zorro. He's not acting like Lone Ranger. And character consistency is a must for me.

[CindyR]

[shrugs] no one actually cares to change your mind. it's not that important.

you said what you meant to say, and we said what we thought. if it's that much of a problem, you probably want to change series. The rest of us are enjoying it.
cindy


I said what I had meant to say and as far as I'm concerned the con points I made are a major problem if they are to continue in this book.

No way in hell are you gonna change my mind about what I said. Lone Ranger is acting like Batman or Zorro. He's not acting like Lone Ranger. And character consistency is a must for me.

[Kevin]

[shrugs] no one actually cares to change your mind. it's not that important.

you said what you meant to say, and we said what we thought. if it's that much of a problem, you probably want to change series. The rest of us are enjoying it.
cindy


Well cindy, if that were true there wouldn't have been those couple very large posts trying to argue the definition of 'terrorist' with me.

Saying a complete misrepresentation of the character isn't important seems to be a major problem in more than a handful of failing comics - and I'd rather The Lone Ranger doesn't fall into this category.

In fact, that's the same thing outsiders "fans" said when Judd Winick pissed everyone off by having Nightwing toss bombs around without care, exploding cars (and people), threatened superman with kryptonite and etc... etc... etc...

Adherence to a character's personality is prime when writing any superhero.

[Tommy]

:)


Page 16, wonton destruction of Private Property for the effect of inspiring fear in his enemies.

Definition of Terrorism:

Main Entry: ter·ror·ism
Function: noun
Pronunciation: 'ter-&r-"i-z&m
: the systematic use of terror especially as a means of coercion

He is attempting to coerce his enemies to whatever ends have not been expressly stated in this story.

In sort: This is something BATMAN or Zorro would do, but under no circumstances would a man who has sworn an oath to uphold the law (such as the LONE RANGER) would EVER-- EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER DO THIS. PERIOD.



Everything except for the disjointed flow and the terrorism. ^_^


Hmm... :rolleyes:


Okay - this terrorism malarkey is slingin' the old manure a fair ways too far. There are at least as many definitions of terrorism as there are parties with axes to grind, rabble-rousing pedagogues, armchair pundits and half-smart wannabes in and around society.

Kevin, I will insist that you do not bandy-about such a ridiculously over-used and emotive knee-jerk pejorative as this in relation to a Dynamite property, nor attempt to kick-off an argument on these boards in relation to the definition of terrorism - particularly on such a foolishly ill-defined basis. Whether you change your mind or not is immaterial; your opinions are your own no matter how outlandish, and it's your prerogative as to how narrowly they are focused and what they are closed to. However, attempting to appear smugly authoritative on such shaky grounds in a public forum is the height of bad judgement, and I do not expect to see it continue here.


Tommy. :cool:

[Kevin]

He Detonated a TRAIN, without the presence of a dominating force or a reason to further the storyline. It's called Rapid Dominance if he has a military force. He didn't.

I ask for anyone to provide to me any reason given in the comic for Detonating a Trainyard in a MASSIVE explosion.

I've searched that comic over and over and over and over and there is not word one concerning a reason for it to be detonated. Not one.


He utilized a military/guerilla/terrorist tactic to cause MILLIONS of dollars worth of damage (adjusted for 160 years of inflation) for what? To inspire fear.

[Tommy]

:)

Re-read the post Kevin. I do not in any way question your right to hold an opinion, and I respect the fact that you have the courage to hold one. However, I do question your right to express your opinion in the manner in which you have seen fit to do so.

Kevin, I am more than aware of the wider intellectual debate surrounding the subject of terrorism, on which you have seen fit to fulminate. I am by no means impressed with the discourse you have hitherto provided on the subject. I must inform you that as it stands it is by no means either authoritative or compelling, nor indeed does it appear to be founded upon any genuinely sound or valid basis.

I do not view your actions as those of a troublemaker or malcontent but as a simple and honest lapse in judgement. You've provided a great contribution to these forums in the past and I see no reason for that to cease. However, continued pursuit of this matter, after already having been instructed to desist, will see you placed on a temporary suspension.


<Admin> Thread closed... </Admin>

<Admin> Member subsequently ignored repeated instructions to cease and desist, account suspended, 30 days... </Admin>


Tommy. :cool: