Writer: Brett MatthewsArtist: Sergio Cariello (with art direction by John Cassaday)
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Collects: The Lone Ranger #1-6
Let's get one thing straight right away: The Lone Ranger is a superhero.
He wears a mask, he has a "sidekick", he rights wrongs. He's a superhero. He's in a significantly different category from most superheroes in comic books, but he is no less of an American cultural icon.
As such, it is no wonder that Dynamite eventually got around to giving this classic character a modern upgrade. Someone would have eventually. As a fan of Westerns, I decided to give it a try.
This is the story of young Texas Ranger John Reid who survives an ambush that kills his father and brother, also Rangers. Nursed back to health by a nomadic Indian called Tonto, Reid at first seeks revenge on the bandits that killed his family, but slowly begins to comprehend that, not only is there a larger conspiracy at work, but that he is not that kind of a man. He wants justice, not vengeance.
This is very much a character exploration. "Who is the man behind the mask?" And while that may seem like a cliche, it is done with a certain charm and beauty by writer Brett Matthews (very Wild West name). Sure, we may have seen such things as mysteriously silent Native Americans, secret keys to hidden clues, and villains with tragic backstories many, many times before, but what makes them either boring or interesting is not the number of times they are told, but how they are told.
As I said, Matthews' charm and obvious reverence not only for the Lone Ranger but the entire Western genre carries these minor plot points wonderfully. And they rest on excellent character work, not only of the Ranger, but of Tonto as well.
At first seeming like a mere sounding board for the Ranger, we are slowly treated to more and more hints about Tonto's own life. While nothing is revealed explicitly -- a genius move in what could have been an exposition-heavy tale -- we see just enough to know that Tonto is far from a mere sidekick.
Special mention should go to the villains of the piece. In a traditional "Darth Vader/Emperor" scenario, the subtly creepy hitman Julius "Bart" Bartholomew (who could easily have carried this entire story as the sole antagonist) works for a much higher-up bad guy, Butch Cavendish.
Both of these characters are delightfully fleshed-out in what is usually the realm of moustache-twirlers. Although many readers will focus more on Bart because he has more page time, the real treat here is Cavendish. Far from the customary "Chief Villain" archetype, who usually stays out of the dirty business, we get the impession that, not only does Cavendish himself have a few screws loose, but that he prefers getting his hands dirty.
But back to the good guys for a second. The dynamic between the Lone Ranger and Tonto is up there with Batman and Robin, or Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. And Matthews steadily builds towards this with measured skill. They are like the Western equivalent of a buddy cop duo, and it works surprisingly well.
The art by Sergio Cariello is so good that I wonder why I haven't heard/seen more of him. Every panel in this gives off an aura of talent. It brilliantly fits with the understated iconography of this story, effortlessly impacting on the mind with each careful placement and layout. Atmosphere is created in both light and heavy moments through such delicate techniques, such as shading or character posing. Cariello is one of those rare artists who achieves so much with so little.
Which brings me to my concluding point which, ironically, was my first thought upon reading this some time ago. This is a perfect example of how a "reimagining" should work. As John Reid slowly tranforms into the Lone Ranger of old, we are never hit over the head with the necessary elements of the character. We are gently introduced to Tonto, to the mask, to the silver bullets and their meaning. And, most importantly, to Silver, the Lone Ranger's trusty steed.
Cariello turns Silver into a character all of his own, without making it creepy. One of my favourite panels of all time is when the Lone Ranger finally utters those immortal words: "Hi-yo, Silver! Away!" It just feels... right.
This remains one of my favourite comic books of all time, and a frequent re-read. If you like Westerns you should definitely check it out, and it is an ongoing series, so bear in mind that there are at least two other trades out. While they lack the punch that this first one has, they are no less enjoyable to read.
Rating: 5/5
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