The Lone Ranger #5 Cover (John Cassaday)

Hi-yo Silver Away!

And with silver bullets to boot! Many thanks, Kemo Sabe!

Bravo!

Many thanks, Rick. I am assuming that there is no further meaning?

No, just the theme song performed with bravado ;)

Now that is the Rick whom we all know!

My apologies, Rick. I hadn't noticed the link at first - of course, that's the theme song that we all know and love.

Outstanding!

Many thanks. As mentioned, it is so simple, yet so complex and nuanced in its execution.

Excellent Cassaday cover and the kind of image that reminds you exactly why he was one of the top artistic voices in comics of his generation. Both somber and special that he had kept it for his own collection and now the caretaking for it passes onto you. It has a real timeless quality to it and is illustrated and inked to clean perfection.

Many thanks, Kavi. An excellent and succinct description, if I may say so. This piece has gone to a good home for the time being.

Looks like you got this from Heritage. You chose wisely. It is one of his finest. I considered buying this years ago and would loved to have had it but refused to buy anything else from his dealer.

Yes, Peter. This was the Heritage auction from his collection for the benefit of his family. And, yes, it's also tough - or even wholly frustrating - dealing with some dealers and/or individuals.

Great example of Cassaday'd enormous talent

It is, Carlo, and, if I may say so, this is a particularly exceptional example all round.

I don't know about that.  I don't think there's anything simple about this.  Without even getting into the linework (which is fantastic), the combination of tones and textures is sublime.  From the darkest blacks to the most subtle shading, the play of light and shadow is brilliant and absolutely perfect.  While I have enjoyed Cassaday's work, it was never to a point of actively wanting to add an example to my collection.  But I would buy this in a heartbeat.  Stunning, stunning, piece.

Many thanks, Eric. I totally agree with you. However, at first glance, the concept as well as framework for this cover is actually quite simple and straightforward - that is until you look at it more closely. It is absolutely stunning indeed.

Great cover!

Many thanks, Andy. It is more and more stunning the more I look at it. The execution is almost flawless.

Simply fantastic! Iconic pose for a true icon of the American West! Congratulations on another great cover!

Many thanks, John. I actually don't have many covers so it was a real thrill to be able to obtain this one.

Best cover in that auction!!!  Hi Ho Silver!!

Many thanks, Ron. It is such an iconic pose and so well executed.

One of John's most striking covers!  This was not only the cover to the series, but also the cover to the Dynamite Cover Art of John Cassaday, which both John and I thought was best.

Congrats on having one of the single best covers, and one used on a few covers!

Many thanks, Nick. I am honored to be the steward of this cover which is also posted here as a tribute in John's memory.

Even though Cassaday's body of work is so impressive, it's still easy to see that this is a superlative example. Congrats CAB!

Many thanks, Mikail. I totally agree - this is Cassaday plus plus!

It's a simple composition, but a brilliantly executed drawing of the Lone Ranger, especially with the dramatic up shot!

Many thanks, Rubén. Yes, the composition is deceptively simple indeed but the execution is amazingly intricate.

The iconic cover used for issue 5.  Better than the one used for issue 1 which was a just a badge.  Good thing Nick took over, because whoever ran Dynamite Comics at the time didn't know what they were doing.

Now I am confused, Marcus. Wasn't Nick the founder of Dynamite Entertainment and wouldn't he have had a say, in particular, in this particular series which he had fought so hard to get the franchise for. Or are you just pulling our leg again! Regardless, this IS an iconic cover. Just brilliant.

Two statements can be true at the same time.

Excellent piece. Congrats 

Many thanks, Joseba. And many congratulations on a wonderful gallery of Batman original artwork!

Great cover, huge congrats on this beautiful piece from Cassaday.   Cheers!

Many thanks, James. John Cassaday is a wonderful artist but he far exceeded even my expectations for this particular cover.

It's such a great piece with the power stance and the perspective showing the Lone Ranger as a towering figure ready to dispense silver justice with both barrels.  I was so tempted to bid on this.  Congrats on picking it up.

Many thanks, Jarred. That's an excellent description. And the detail on it is so nuanced and beautiful.

Wow such a beautiful cover CAB! Major congrats. I agree and love your statement of the piece being simple yet complex as I feel it's quite a perfect way to describe. Simple in that the image is focused on one subject and also done very cleanly yet the way he achieved this simplicity with so little is quite complex. The places where he added detail feels so impactful and thought out due to how sparingly he used the darker values. Such a striking image and an amazing cover done by Cassaday. Awesome tribute to an awesome artist! 

Many thanks, David. This means a lot, especially coming from you. Do take care.

What a nice Tribute, my friend. That cover as you said talks by itself about its quality and the artistic skills Cassaday had. I can imagine a better place to curate this amazing "western".

Many thanks, Toni. And, as mentioned, I love Westerns. This is such a fantastic cover - probably the best in this series, and then some.

Love the perspective of this...also the shading is.top.tier

Many thanks, Corey. I totally agree. The concept is simple but so very well executed indeed.

John knew how to draw. Sorely missed. 

Many thanks, Brian. Yes, it's so very sad that he left us so soon.

Love the recent theme and this piece in particular is stunning. Congrats on a magnificent addition!

Many thanks, Dave. The recent theme is purely coincidental but most welcome!

John Cassaday at the absolute pinnacle of his flawless composition and otherworldly execution.  I love the fact that John obviously loved this subject matter so much; he really poured his time and signature talents into a long run of Lone Ranger covers, and they are arguably his definitive work, imho.  I do love me some Planetary, but good heavens... just -look- at this thing.  So many of his Lone Ranger covers were stunning, but you got a powerhouse example here, with the rich lighting, immaculate shading, and unmistakable sense of place and environment (the wind blowing the billowing smoke, as well as lifting the corner edge of his kerchief is just perfect) nestling together into a perfectly balanced Cassaday composition.  Not blackening the smoke cloud until it's basically past the Ranger (so as to not dilute focus or weigh down the composition) is sheer mastery, as is the block-black debris jutting up in the bottom right corner, channeling the viewer's gaze to the right, to mirror the wind and instill a distinct sensation of motion into the piece.  Just... WOW.  A masterwork, right at home with your other incredible treasures, CAB!  Bonanza! :)

Many thanks, Jason. All I can say is that I am sorely tempted to cut and paste your description and substitute it for mine! You analyse artwork so perceptively and profoundly and are always on point! BTW, I loved the Bonanza TV series as well!

Cassaday was a special artist. 

Many thanks, and really like your Cassaday piece too.

Lone Ranger or TGK...a perfect fit for your collection. 

Many thanks, Felix. I must confess that I hadn't realized the correlation before until I noticed the fact that I had posted the Two-Gun Kid commission immediately before this one.

Stunnning Lone Ranger cover by the late, great John Cassidy. I love how threatening the Lone Ranger looks here--threatening to evildoers anyway. The backlighting does a lot to give him that dark, foreboding look. But then so do the two six-shooters in his hands. Just a great ciover featuring one of those legendary heroes from days of yore. Fabulous pick-up, congrats!

Many thanks, Bill. Yes, it's simply a glorious cover and you've captured the mood and atmosphere so very well.

What an iconic cover ! Simply perfect.

Many thanks, Alex. And many congrats on a very well-curated CAF Gallery!

Dramatic as all get out.  The detail, the lighting, the worm's eye view...dramatic, indeed.  Outstanding work from the late great JC.  Congrats!

Many thanks, Kahlil. This piece is even more wonderful to view in person.