80 years ago this month was the copyright date for an odd issue of Large Feature Comics from Dell. Typically, each issue featured a different character and was usually reprints of previously syndicated daily comics.
Not so for #7, Hi-Yo Silver, The Lone Ranger To The Rescue -
Instead of comic reprints, the issue featured a 48 page text story written by Fran Striker. For the issue, including cover art, Henry Vallely provided a total of 35 illustrations...
Eight of those were full page illos. Henry E. Vallely worked at the dawn of the comic book era, but did very little work for the comics books. This comic was closer to his typical work, illustrating books starring such familiar characters as The Green Hornet, Zorro, and - of course - The Lone Ranger.
Here are the full page illustrations from the tale:
Vallely is another of the early creators at whom we'll be looking closer at some point. Though mostly forgotten now, he was well respected enough in his day that when Dell needed new chapter pages for Hal Foster's Tarzan strips it was Henry they called upon to deliver them. And when Bob Kane needed artwork to crib from for his first Batman story, Vallely is believed to be one of the two primary sources for his images.
So, yeah - we'll be riding back this way again.
Oh - from out of far left field...
I saw someone saying that the title of The Lone Ranger is a lie because he always has Tonto. So, for those who don't understand the name...
There was a Ranger patrol that was ambushed and all were believed to be murdered. But - they were wrong.
A Lone Ranger survived to hunt down the gang and avenge the others. That is what the name means - not that he's alone now, but that he's the lone survivor.
(Note - Han Solo doesn't ride solo, either)
And, now -
¡Vámonos! We Ride!
artwork by Henry E. Vallely for Large Feature Comics #7 (1939)
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