EXTRACTS: Illustrators issue 27 © 2019 The Book Palace (96 PAGES in Full edition)

71 The Lone Ranger This is the story of probably the best-known Western hero of all time who was created originally for a radio show that turned into a T.V. series and then a best-selling comic book. The fascinating history behind the masked man… Origin and development Perhaps the most popular western hero of all time was created by Detroit showman George W. Trendle for the radio. When Detroit station WXYZ terminated its affiliation with Columbia Broadcasting System in 1932, Trendle, who was part owner, decided to create a new show for young people. He had been a fan of Westerns as a child, reading the stories about Buffalo Bill and the works of James Fenimore Cooper. He decided the new show had to be a Western. However, unlike most Westerns, it wouldn’t rely on violence, but on moral American values that would at once entertain, instruct and inspire. Trendle called on Fran Striker, a writer from Buffalo, NY, and together they discussed the project. The main character would wear a mask to cover his real identity, but would fight in the name of the law and not against it. He would also use silver bullets to make him unique, and never shoot or kill a person, just shoot the guns off their hands. He would also speak in perfect and fluent English and not in some regional slang. He had to be motivated to help the builders of the West, never pursuing action to gain a reward, but for the good of the country. With these criteria in hand, Striker went on to work on what turned out to be the first episode of the series. The character would be known as the ‘Lone Ranger’, for he was the sole survivor of a group of six Texas Rangers. The show was first broadcast in January 30, 1933, each episode ending with the famous phrase, “Hi-yo, Silver, away!” which was reprised in both the TV series and the comic books. © King Features Syndicate FACING PAGE: Original gouache on board by Hank Hartman, used for the cover of ‘The Lone Ranger’ No. 73 (Dell, 1954). ABOVE: ‘The Lone Ranger’ No. 33 (Dell, 1951). Early Dell comics used the version from the Sunday pages that had the Lone Ranger wearing a red shirt. His customary blue shirt came from the TV series, and then the comics also adopted it. BELOW: Brush and ink on board with zip-a-tone. Daily strip 10-21-1963 by Charles Flanders.