Lone Ranger #16

A villain issue is always fun.  The evil Cavendish visits a church for a confession.

Lone Ranger is now 16 issues deep (plus a special), and it has consistently delivered quality story, books on time, and very nice art.  Issue #16 is a nice single-issue story, a perfect example of the book if not for the fact the Lone Ranger only appears in one panel.

There were some excellent moments. 

- A victim, about to be shot dead in cold blood by Cavendish, asks if he can have a minute to "make right with God".  The next panel shows Cavendish studying his watch patiently and then the next panel, presumably a minute later, he blows the poor guy's head off.

- The art during the execution sequence that opens the book, showing Cavendish in dark shadow, until ultimately illuminated by the flash of his murdering pistol.  Nice.

- Cavendish, upon entering the church, contemptuously saluting the large crucifix with Jesus suffering upon the cross with a sly "Howdy".

- The splash page of the Lone Ranger Angel.

- Cariello, using the old tied and true trick of casting the jet black shadows of a confessional window screen on the face of the sinner, to great effect.  There's a reason it's a tied and true trick (ask Frank Miller), when it works, as it does here, it really amps up the drama.

The majority of the book is Cavendish's "confession", an origin story of what makes him such a mean ornry guy. 

What really sealed the deal for me on this issue, however, was the surprise ending.  I love when a story has a good ending, and this book had one.

The Lone Ranger is not the most amazing series I've ever read, I think by its very nature it is a bit limited as to the types of stories and surprises it can offer, but the consistent quality of the book keeps bringing me back issue after issue.  Dynamite is putting out a great book here, fans of Zorro, Jonah Hex, Westerns, and pulp should check this book out.