The Lone Ranger #5
Written by Ande Parks
Art by Esteve Polls
Colors by Marcelo Pinto
Letters by Simon Bowland
Cover by Francesco Francavilla
Dynamite Entertainment
Release Date: May 2, 2012
Cover Price: $3.99

The Lone Ranger #5 is what SEEMS to be the climax of the first story arc in this title, but in fact, there is one more chapter to go. I’m not happy that I have to wait a month, because quite frankly, I’m not sure how ANYONE would top this issue.

It’s no secret by now that I love this book and I love Ande Parks‘ writing. Not just here, his Green Hornet title is seriously underrated. But, back to this comic.

When we last left the Lone Ranger, he was in a pretty tight spot — and that’s putting it mildly. He was at the end of a noose, Tonto was laid up, and it looked like there was no way out of it for The Masked Rider of the Plains. I can’t go into spoilers, but Parks has crafted a story here that comes out of left field, a brilliant ending to this chapter of the story. And again, it’s the penultimate chapter in this arc, there’s still one more to go. This issue could’ve had no dialogue and it would’ve been great, but the dialogue that it has is fantastic and really meaningful in regards to the title. This issue of The Lone Ranger also contains what is one of my favorite scenes and it lasts for about half the book. This one is a gem, folks. Ande Parks has just raised the bar on the western comics genre.

And he couldn’t have done it without artist Esteve Polls. What Polls manages to do in this book is incredible. His attention to detail, which I imagine is hard when you’re drawing a book set over 100 years ago. This man’s computer must be FULL of western pictures, everything from lanterns to saddles. They’re all drawn very detailed and with a great deal of believability. The scene that I mentioned in the last paragraph that lasts for half the book must’ve been a real chore to drawn, but Polls pulls it off beautifully. I would LOVE to hear from Mr. Polls about drawing this scene — I’m guessing it was either extremely hard for him, or extremely easy, it all depends on his background in comic art and what he’s drawn before. Off the top of my head, the thing he did previously was The Expendables mini from Dynamite and that in no way, shape, or form resembles this at all. Excellent job done here, Esteve.

There is a new Sheriff in town. A new bar that’s been set. Years from now, when people are talking about a Western comic, they’re go-to question will be “Yeah, but was it as good as Lone Ranger #5?” I’m guessing no matter what the comic is, the answer will be “No,” because this issue’s going to be a tough one to stand up to. It’s everything you’ve always wanted in a comic — Western genre or otherwise — and then some. Do I really need to say that I recommend you pick this up?