The Lone Ranger #16
Written by Ande Parks
Art by Esteve Polls
Colors by Marcello Pinto
Letters by Simon Bowland
Cover by Francesco Francavilla
Dynamite Entertainment
Release Date: July 10, 2013
Cover Price: $3.99

The Lone Ranger #16 is yet another shining example of how to make a great comic book. Honestly, I’m really tired of this book not getting the recognition that it deserves.

In this issue, writer Ande Parks takes us back to those thrilling days of yesteryear. The Ranger and Tonto have to travel to Chicago to track down the villain of the arc. It’s got some great fish out of water elements, and tastefully deals with the racism against Native Americans at that time in this country’s past. The book is also sprinkled with humor, as The Ranger learns that walking around in a big city wearing a leather mask doesn’t quite go so well. The villain of this story arc is particularly entertaining. He’s more than the stereotypical western bad guy. Hat’s off to Ande for turning the western genre on it’s ear and coming up with some truly unique characters.

The Lone Ranger #15
Written by Ande Parks
Art by Esteve Polls
Colors by Marcelo Pinto
Letters by Simon Bowland
Cover by Francesco Francavilla
Dynamite Entertainment
Release Date: June 5, 2013
Cover Price: $3.99

The Lone Ranger #15 kicks off a four-part story line that looks to take the Ranger & Tonto to places around the country that they’ve never been before. And, I’m sure, where ever they go, adventure and trouble are sure to follow.

Thank you, Ande Parks, this is JUST what I was in the mood for…a big Lone Ranger summer story arc!! The Ranger and Tonto are on the chase of a crooked government agent, and their search takes them from the Missouri River to…well, that would be spoiling. As usual, what starts as a quiet, low key search for justice ends up a full blown bar-fight/shoot-out. Just like any story set in the old west should. What I really loved about this issue was that it delivered everything I wanted and have come to expect from this comic-action, adventure, a solid, compelling story that has a definite ending yet leaves just enough to whet your appetite and get you psyched for the next issue.

The Lone Ranger #14
Written by Ande Parks
Art by Esteve Polls
Colors by Marcelo Pinto
Letters by Simon Bowland
Cover by Francesco Francavilla
Dynamite Entertainment
Release Date: April 3, 2013
Cover Price: $3.99

The Lone Ranger #14 is the very definition of the word “payoff.” Not only is it a great issue, it’s one that rewards long time readers for sticking with the series. Not that we needed a reward. An awesome comic every month is pretty much reward itself.

THIS has got to be writer Ande Parks‘ finest issue yet, and I mean that sincerely. Sure, I say that all the time, but after reading this issue, I don’t know how he’s going to top himself after this. Now, you won’t get any spoilers, but this issue deals with something that happened years ago (in the book, not in real time) and it’s not even something that we knew was coming. Now THAT’S storytelling! Did I mention that this is a “one & done” issue? Yes, it’s ALL those things! Great dialogue and a great story, this issue from Parks. He could write this book forever and I’d be happy.

The Lone Ranger #13
Written by Ande Parks
Art by Esteve Polls
Colors by Marcelo Pinto
Letters by Simon Bowland
Cover by Francesco Francavilla
Dynamite Entertainment
Release Date: February 27, 2013
Cover Price: $3.99

The Lone Ranger #13 starts out REALLY different. For about two panels, I thought that I was reading the wrong review copy. Then, everything started to fall into place and it fell into place VERY well.

Ande Parks uses a great storytelling method to tell this issue’s very heroic tale of The Lone Ranger. I don’t want to give it away, but it’s unique and, to my knowledge, it’s never been done in this book before. Very groundbreaking in the western genre. As for the meat of the story, it’s a fantastic tale of The Lone Ranger and Tonto being their normal heroic selves, and rescuing a group of Asian girls who are being sold by a VERY crooked criminal. What I loved about this issue, and all Park’s issues, is that it’s not ever a “normal” Cowboys & Indians tale. There’s always a twist, or a moral, or both. And THAT’S what makes this book fantastic month after month.

Red Sonja Unchained #1
Story by Peter V. Brett
Pencils by Jack Jadsen
Colors by Marcelo Pinto
Letters by Simon Bowland
Covers by Mel Rubi & Walter Geovani
Edited by Joseph Rybandt
Dynamite Entertainment
Release Date: February 13, 2013
Cover Price: $3.99

Red Sonja: Unchained #1 is a different kind of Red Sonja comic than we’ve had in a while. It has many of the classic elements we’ve come to know, love, and expect from a Red Sonja book, but it’s got a little bit more that makes this a great start to this comic series.

I’m not sure where writer Peter V. Brett‘s tale takes place continuity-wise, but it seems like Sonja is a little bit older here. Not as old as say, Queen Sonja, and by no means near the end of her life, but it seems like she’s more experienced about the facts of life and is a little more battle weary and skeptical about life. This is a really entertaining story about Sonja and her falling ass-backwards into a plan to rob a hidden tomb of its riches. But, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Half the book is an awesome fight between Sonja and a group of barbarian wanderers that are (naturally) up to no good. Any more story details than that would be spoiling, so I recommend you pick this one up and find out for yourself.