MATTHEWS, CASSADAY SADDLE UP FOR DYNAMITE'S LONE RANGER

**MattBrady** · 12-12-2005, 12:13 PM

With the announcement of a forthcoming Lone Ranger comic series coming from Dynamite Entertainment, one detail was left out – nearly, the creative team.

Dynamite has confirmed for Newsarama that the new Lone Ranger series will be written by Brett (Serenity) Matthews, and art directed by John Cassaday.

“We’ve been working on this for quite a while, because we have to get this just right,” explained Dynamite Spokesperson J. Allen in a statement. “After all, The Lone Ranger is the archetype of the modern superhero, he is the definition of ‘Americana,’ a crusader for truth, justice and the American way. With all that in mind, our series has to be both faithful to the true essence of the character while creating exciting new situations for him, and we’ve found two guys to do just that.”

Allen noted that Cassaday will not be the series artist, but will be providing design work and will oversee all the art for the interiors by the yet to be named series artist, and will be the only cover artist for the series.

"What interests me is that people tend to know elements of The Lone Ranger -- the mask, the white horse, the silver bullets, the faithful Indian companion -- but not where those elements came from,” Matthews said, indicating the direction he plans to go with the series. “I want to see these things happen, and within the bounds of a turbulent and very specific period in American history. The Lone Ranger is first and foremost a Western, and I want to get back to that and explore what that means. I want to remind fathers why their boyhood hero was the Lone Ranger, and show their kids why that's cool."

Cassaday added: “The Lone Ranger is an icon close to my heart, I'm looking forward to seeing the legend return in style. The knee-jerk reaction from the general populace is that of a masked boy scout, but a second look reveals an unrelenting enigma. What is widely known about the Lone Ranger's past would fit inside a thimble. Locked away and hidden, his story is one of our most mysterious and misunderstood. We're cracking open the dusty book of battle scar secrets, revenge and an empty grave."

The Lone Ranger, perhaps best known for his televised exploits, originally debuted on WXYZ Detroit in 1933, created by George W. Trendle and writer Fran Striker. The radio series ran for 2,956, inspiring all that would come later - comic books, two movie serials, books, and the aforementioned live action TV series, which ran from 1949 – 1957 and starred Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels, as well as a Saturday morning animated series. The masked hero is set to ride onto the silver screen once again in 2007 with an all-new live action theatrical film.

THE LONE RANGER and associated character names, images and other indicia are trademarks of and copyrighted by Classic Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

victorderas · 12-12-2005, 12:23 PM

And the western craze continues...

Aquajacket · 12-12-2005, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by victorderas
And the western craze continues...

Thank goodness.

Punchy · 12-12-2005, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by victorderas
And the western craze continues...

It's like 3 books, not really a craze.

Cassaday is a top artist.

Art Director? I hope his covers are good.

Kerouac · 12-12-2005, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by victorderas
And the western craze continues...

Well, better than that, say, bringing back the New Universe.

Oh...never mind.

Matt

Patrick_Wedge · 12-12-2005, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by victorderas
And the western craze continues...

Yeah, variety...boo....

I'm curious how the "art director" role will be served by Cassaday. Very interesting. Not in a bad way, I think an artist could gain valuable experience this way if it is a newer artist. Follows much of the mentor line of thought. And John seems to have the passion for the character. Good for everyone involved.

samnoir · 12-12-2005, 12:43 PM

Hopefully Dynamite will put out trade collections of Tim Truman's excellent revisionist take on the Lone Ranger from a few years ago.

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BrotherI · 12-12-2005, 12:46 PM

Nice! No-one should forget how much of a feat it is that they got Matthews on the title. Let's remember, this guy wrote the great Firefly episode "Heart Of Gold". He gets the western theme good and proper.

Gawd, I thought Cassaday was PENCILLING the series. That would be unstoppable.

astronato · 12-12-2005, 12:52 PM

Could we pretty please get a peek at one of the character designs? I'm interested to know if the Ranger will be wearing the red and black outfit or the sky blue pimp suit? both or something else? I like both looks.

I certainly hope the new movie is better than the 1981 clunker.

ParisCub · 12-12-2005, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kerouac
Well, better than that, say, bringing back the New Universe.

Oh...never mind.

Matt

I dunno... I personally prefer the New Universe to horse-riding cowboys...

Jeremy Williams · 12-12-2005, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kerouac
Well, better than that, say, bringing back the New Universe.

Oh...never mind.

Matt

What`s the point of pulling for something when you put down another one? Your argument becomes void.

Neuromancer · 12-12-2005, 02:08 PM

Wow, I can't say much more about this than...holy $#!+, this is going to be FANTASTIC. John is my favorite active creator, not to mention one of my at-least top-ten of all time...and to see him let loose on the Lone Ranger, which he gave us such a wonderful "preview" of in Desperadoes and especially Planetary #22? So even to have him just do covers, and possibly layouts, is enough for me!

But yes, to get him DRAWING Mr. Reid would give me a heart attack right now, LOL!

Hypestyle · 12-12-2005, 02:22 PM

interesting.. I hope for the best.. I'm curious, though-- who exactly owns the character rights? is it a major company?

..last year (or '03) the WB had this pilot movie of Lone Ranger.. they cast a couple of college-aged guys.. needless to say, I guess it didn't take off for a series..

I have dim memories of the movie that was produced circa 1981.. is that even on video?

.. is the original tv show on dvd?

what's been the longest comics run of the character?

PreCrisisDC · 12-12-2005, 02:29 PM

Well it would actually be four if Images Dusty Star ever comes out.

chap22 · 12-12-2005, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Punchy
It's like 3 books, not really a craze.

Cassaday is a top artist.

Art Director? I hope his covers are good.

being the Ellis-fiend that you are Punch, i assume you've seen Planetary 22, right?

i don't think you have anything to worry about re: Cassaday's covers....

twoarmman · 12-12-2005, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by victorderas
And the western craze continues...

do you say "and the superhero craze continues" when a new superhero book comes out?

idkidd · 12-12-2005, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Allen noted that Cassaday will not be the series artist, but will be providing design work and will oversee all the art for the interiors by the yet to be named series artist, and will be the only cover artist for the series.

The most interesting statement to me was that Cassaday will be the ONLY cover artist. Coming from the king of the variant publishers, this is a big change up.

BlueThunderArmy · 12-12-2005, 02:51 PM

Might be interesting. I don't mind giving a good western a try. Although admittedly, I haven't run into many good westerns...

Jedi White · 12-12-2005, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BrotherI
Let's remember, this guy wrote the great Firefly episode "Heart Of Gold". He gets the western theme good and proper.

Although I don't think there was a bad episode of Firefly, I would have to say "Heart of Gold" was one of the two worst episodes.

michael-k · 12-12-2005, 03:47 PM

I like westerns but the comics are always either revamps of old characters i have no interest in, like this one, or are spaghetti western nostalgia. Why won't anybody do a new western?

KACH · 12-12-2005, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by samnoir
Hopefully Dynamite will put out trade collections of Tim Truman's excellent revisionist take on the Lone Ranger from a few years ago.

You mean that "realistic" take where the Ranger & Tonto took on the "desert Pirates" who had a pirate ship-on-wheels that drove around the sand dunes of the Old West . . ?

Looking forward to this if they promise to stick to a real "western" feel, like Sergio Leone's Lone Ranger or something. And Western Cliches are cool, so nyah!

--J.

Mister · 12-12-2005, 03:59 PM

if these get collected properly I might just buy

Doc Holiday · 12-12-2005, 04:16 PM

I am familiar with the Lone ranger reference in Planetary, but tell me more about the "tribute" in Desperados, would you?

Thanks.

There was also one of those reference-appearances in Moonstone's Cisco Kid.

dpg · 12-12-2005, 04:17 PM

Uh oh another blacked out image.... I bet the Lone Ranger is Jason Todd. And the real Lone Ranger is in a madhouse.

hondadohc18 · 12-12-2005, 04:49 PM

i grew up on a cattle farm in tx so needless to say i love anything that has a western theme but hex is a good book so far and the clint eastwood looking hex is cool

i hope the lone ranger keeps it simple like the t.v show have one issue stories not long drawn out stories it just doesnt fit the character

anything cassaday does is gold anyway so whatever