Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews
Lone Ranger #11
Dynamite Comics
Matthews, Cariello, Pope & Cassaday
This issue of the Lone Ranger is almost a solo story about Tonto. Not quite, but almost. The ranger barely shows up in it and the story that is before us is told with symbolism and implied themes. It’s a different kind of issue than what this series has given us. It isn’t bad at all, but it also isn’t the same level of story telling we’ve seen. This issue falls just short of the bar already set very high by the previous installments.
You may remember the man named Rafael that shot the ranger. Well, he is on death row and Tonto pays him a visit. Tonto tells him a tale of a wolf.
The wolf’s tale is not a fun one. He is wandering around and finds some human tracks. The human tracks bring him to the world of humans and their progress: destruction of the environment.
While this story is going on, the ranger visits with the sheriff who sold Rafael down a river. This weaves some more symbolism into the story as the ranger lives on the hidden side of the law, watching over the real law enforcement as well as the criminals.
The wolf doesn’t seek out revenge on the humans he finds, but instead he evolves. He takes their food, just as they had stolen his game. The wolf, without a home, now has a new home. The new home exists somewhere between his normal territory and the territory drawn out by the human invaders. Isn’t it interesting that Tonto would be the one to tell this tale?
The issue ends with Cavendish showing back up in Texas and Tonto giving another small lesson to the young ranger.
The elements of the issue that work really well are the semi-origin of Tonto. Its dark and its deceptive, which is in his character. The menacing way that the Lone Ranger pulls the strings on the sheriff is brilliant. The unsure feelings that the Lone Ranger expresses in private to Tonto are also outstanding.
The piece that doesn’t work too well is the aspect of the wolf. He’s in the deserts of Texas or the scorched Earth of Texas? The artwork and scenery just doesn’t help present the story and the narration doesn’t help it all click. I understand the points made, but the story just doesn’t feel cohesive and as complete as almost all of the others.
I’m not saying this issue is a total dud, because I don’t think that at all, but the issue could have been more solid with the wolf story. I’m not sure when the next arc comes out, so I cant tell if this is a filler issue or just some leftovers before the hiatus to craft the next arc. Maybe a breather wouldn’t be such a bad idea.
3 out of 5 geek goggles.
