Dead Ranger #1
Reviewed by R. Krauss
Writer: Allen Freeman
Artist Pgs 1-3: Billy Littlepage
Artist Pgs 4-6: Bryan Bretz
Artist Pgs 7-9: John Sergesketter
Artist Pg 10: Craig Bailey
Artist Pg 11: Jeff Lindall
Artist Pg 12: Jim Jones
Artist Pgs 13-15 Clint Basinger
Artist Pgs 16 & 18: Nathan Girten
Artist Pg 17: Chris Tyner
Artist Pgs 19-21: David Branstetter
Artist Pgs 22-24: Tony Venturi
Cover has four versions
Version C (shown) by Allen Freeman
Comic Quest Creators Alliance, May 2008
28 b&w pages, plus color cover
Standard comic book size
$2.99
Website: http://www.comicquest.com
The first issue of this new horror/western comic is a different kind of anthology book. The origin story by Allen Freeman runs the full length of the 24-page comic section, but every two or three pages, it's drawn by a different artist. This continuity-interruptus is both intriguing and distracting. On the one hand it's great fun to see different cartoonist's drawings, storytelling styles, and their interpretation of the characters. But the downside is that the constantly changing visuals distract your attention from the story itself. And that's unfortunate, because Freeman has turned in a nicely written script.
A Texas Ranger is struck from behind during a gun fight with a gang of bank robbers. He wakes up face down in an old watering hole surrounded by Indians. Miraculously revived, he sets off to finish the job he started. But he soon faces an even deadlier challenge as his mortal form begins to deteriorate right before the eyes of the horrified outlaws and the townsfolk he seeks to rescue.
The final pages of the book include photographs and biographies of the contributing artists and a gallery of character sketches. In the end, there's more positives to this collaborative effort than negatives. It really is a treat to see so many artists working on a single story. And unlike a traditional jam session, in this book one person is doing an entire page or pages by themselves. If you enjoy westerns and/or experimental approaches to storytelling, you'll enjoy this one.
Take A Look Inside
Reviewer Bio
R. Krauss reviews small press and mini comics on Midnight Fiction, Poopsheet Foundation and Comic Related.
Name: Richard Krauss
email: arkay@midnightfiction.com
Been reading comics: since I started reading Marvel comics in Junior High School.
Review Bio: After several years I discovered titles like Zap and Bijou at a headshop and was seduced by the freedom and variety they offered. When the new-wave comix era sprouted from the seeds of the undergrounds, I quickly joined the ranks of other struggling cartoonists with phenomenally low print runs. After almost a decade of small press comix, I retired and made a solemn vow never to return. Several years later the Internet happened and over time many of my favorite new-wave cartoonists got online. The bug bit again and I started exploring the new crop of small press cartoonists. Today's explosion of small press comics is more exciting than any time I've ever seen.
Favorites: Papercutter, Not My Small Diary, Slam Bang, Comic Eye, stuff from Main Enterprises and Weird Muse, to name a few.
Website: MidnightFiction.com
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