Broken Frontier

John Reid is a dead man. So what do dead men do? They seek retribution. Reid finds a new ally in his quest and a new enemy as well... although he doesn’t know about that yet.

Dynamite Entertainment continues its retelling of the classic Lone Ranger origin with a modern twist. It is a fine line for writer Brett Matthews to walk; staying true to decades of stories, history, and continuity that spans a multi-media kingdom of comics, books, radio, television, and the silver screen while injecting something new. What is done here is a testament to the elasticity of the concept and the cultural icon status of the character.

After the Ranger massacre last issue, John Reid is found, more dead than alive, by a mysterious Native American. As Tonto puts Reid on the path to health, Reid puts himself on a path that will change his future forever. Meanwhile, we meet Black Bart – an African-American killer who is far more vicious and clever than any man has a right to be. Bart and Reid are headed for a collision course and right now, Bart looks to have the upper hand.

Most people know the basic story of the Lone Ranger’s origin and it is a difficult task for Matthews to inject dramatic tension into such a familiar story. It is a tribute to his skill that he rises to the challenge and reimagines the familiar in new and interesting ways. For example, here Reid’s first thoughts are not of justice or the law – no, understandably, his thoughts are of revenge – returning death for death. Will he change his mind? If so how and why? Then there is Tonto. This ain’t your grandfather or father’s Tonto. No more friendly Indian sidekick; the man readers meet here is dark, dangerous, bitter, and a damn sight more familiar with dealing out death than Reid. The changes make what was once a stereotypical character into one more three dimensional. Why Tonto saves this young white man’s life is a mystery but one Matthews will hopefully explore. Finally, there is the character of Black Bart. It is a logical stroke of genius for Matthews to make the character match his name. A name that was once something corny – instilling images of black hatted, mustachioed villains from silent movies – instead becomes something darker and far more terrifying. Bart is intelligent, conscienceless, and devoted to his heartless work. Readers quickly understand that Bart will do what he is paid to do and he will not let anything or anyone stop him from doing the job.

Artist Sergio Cariello continues to display a fine talent for capturing the Western landscape as well. Figures and facial expressions are spot-on and he handles some of the more gruesome aspects of the comic with just the right touch – shocking but not overdone. He is aided in this work by colorist Dean White. In dealing with the desert landscape White has chosen to load his palette with browns, oranges, reds, and yellows. He makes excellent work of what would limit others. His choices help to ground the comic in a real, earthy way.

This creative team is helping to redefine a much-beloved character for a whole new generation of fans while still keeping things true at heart for the older generation. It is gratifying to see The Lone Ranger among the resurgence of Western comics in today’s market. There is a place in the world for characters like these as long as teams like Matthews, Cariello, and White are on the job.