Layout:
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Panel 1 - Wide two-shot in a grassy patch in the hot, flat savannah. On the left side of the panel, a gallows tree, somewhat like this:
. Silhouetted against the rosy dawn sky, we see that a man stands underneath it's lowest branch, his wrists bound above his head and lashed to the branch with thick rope. A noose hangs on a nearby limb. On the right side of the panel, the LONE RANGER stands next to his horse, one hand on his hip, the other hand holds a Bowie knife.NO COPY
Panels 2 to 5 are staged the same: foreground is the stubbled and sweaty profile of the HORSE THIEF, background is the LONE RANGER standing close by.
Panel 2 - The LONE RANGER adjusts his hat with the knife as he addresses the THIEF.
LONE RANGER: You know, out here in the Great Plains of Texas, stealing a horse is a hanging offense.
Panel 3 - The LONE RANGER examines the knife as the THIEF watches nervously.
LONE RANGER: A man out here, on the frontier, can lose his livelihood, a man could his LIFE, without his horse.
Panel 4 - The LONE RANGER points the knife at the THIEF's nose.
LONE RANGER: So I don't reckon you as a thief. I see you as just another killer.
Panel 5 - The LONE RANGER puts the knife between the THIEF's clenched teeth.
LONE RANGER: You try and steal MY horse, though...well, things go a bit differently.
Panel 6 - Same two-shot as Panel 1. The LONE RANGER mounts his horse. The horse thief still stands bound with the knife between his teeth.
LONE RANGER: El Paso is a ten-mile hike from here. If you have the guts to cut yourself down.
Panel 7 - Same as Panel 6, but the sun rises and the LONE RANGER rides into it.
LONE RANGER: And if you make it, tell them all -
LONE RANGER: God gave us firewood, but you still have to gather your own and light it yourself.
I like the call back to the 'code' at the end of the strip.
ReplyDeleteThe Ranger had a bit of a viciousness to him that you don't normally see. I guess that's what happens if you steal his horse? (or try to)
It's a powerful page for a classic western comic, but it feels a little too sinister for the Lone Ranger to me. But you do manage to make his Code seem slightly badass.
ReplyDeleteHarrowing page. A classic creeping dread crawls across your scene, capturing the true nature of the old west/new frontier period, where law was a very flexible thing.
ReplyDeleteJ.D points out that it's a little sinister for the lone Ranger, and whilst I do agree, I couldn't help but be so compelled by your set up and use of the code that it still totally worked for me.