Dynamite will be starting a new Lone Ranger series in November.  Justin Gray will be writing it, which is interesting for a couple reasons.  First off, it’s unusual to see Gray’s name without his usual co-writer/co-conspirator, Jimmy Palmiotti.  Secondly, Gray (along with Palmiotti) is the longest tenured writer of the western genre in recent memory.  His association with Jonah Hex goes back to 2006, so that’s 8 years.  Although if you wanted to make the argument that All-Star Western wasn’t a western, so much as a comic with a western lead, I probably wouldn’t quibble.  Either way, Jonah Hex and All-Star Western were two of DCs most consistently well-reviewed series of the last decade.

Joining Gray on art will be Rey Villegas, who’s been doing Lady Zorro for Dynamite.LRvol3-01-Cassaday

 

JUSTIN GRAY, WRITER OF JONAH HEX,
RIDES INTO DYNAMITE WITH THRILLING NEW CHAPTER
IN THE LONE RANGER‘S HISTORY

July 22, 2014, Mt. Laurel, NJ:  Dynamite Entertainment is proud to announce the signing of Justin Gray, who will be continuing Dynamite’s long standing success with America’s quintessential Western hero, as he takes the reins on a brand new series of The Lone Ranger.  Launching with a new #1 in November 2014, The Lone Ranger will feature the exciting interior artwork of Rey Villegas (Lady Zorro), as well as covers by John Cassaday (Uncanny AvengersAstonishing X-Men) and Marc Laming (All-New InvadersKings Watch).

“I’m proud to be working with one of the longest standing and best known Western characters in all of literature, because to me The Lone Rangerrepresents a moral code, unquestionable justice and a sense of adventure that embodies the classic American western,” says Justin Gray.

No stranger to Western thrills, Justin Gray is a frequent contributor to Jonah Hex and All-Star Western, tales of an Old West gunslinger set within the larger DC Comics continuity. Gray has contributed to dozens of name-recognizable titles from Marvel Comics and DC Comics, including BatwingAme-Comi GirlsPunisherPower GirlCountdown, and many more.

Since his radio debut in 1933, the masked Lone Ranger has endured as an icon of American culture. Dynamite first launched The Lone Ranger as a comic series in 2006, written by Brett Matthews and illustrated by Sergio Cariello.  Its #0 prelude issue was a part of that year’s nationwide Free Comic Book Day celebration, and the series would go on to score an Eisner Nomination for best new series in 2007. A second volume of The Lone Rangerfollowed, as did such miniseries called The Lone Ranger and Tonto and The Lone Ranger: Snake of Iron.

“We are incredibly excited to have Justin on board for this title,” said Nick Barrucci, CEO and Publisher of Dynamite Entertainment. “We’ve had a great run with The Lone Ranger as one of our most consistent critically acclaimed comics, and needed someone who we could trust to fill these ‘big boots,’ continuing one of the best Western heroes ever.  With a track record like his, we’re in for a Western comic that we won’t soon forget!”

The Lone Ranger #1 will be solicited in Diamond Comic Distributors’ September Previews catalog, the premiere source of merchandise for the comic book specialty market, and slated for release in November.  Comic book fans are encouraged to reserve copies of The Lone Ranger #1with their local comic book retailers.  The Lone Ranger will also be available for individual customer purchase through digital platforms courtesy of Comixology, iVerse, and Dark Horse Digital.