The Rangers Disciple
Written by Toy Spears
Fonts by Shara Weber
Art by Adrian Crasmaru
Editing by Jason “Pop” Murrell
Published by Soul Bullet Entertainment
Lettering by Toy Spears
Story Consultation by Marcus Curris
Special Thanks to Mike Schneider
Purchase this book here.
Now, if you are going to grab my attention right away with a book, there are a few things that should be involved. I like them set in the West. I like them in the late 1800’s. I like Cowboys and Indians (it just flows better than Native Americans). And if there is advanced technology, but not too far advanced, then you got me.
Jobe (the Ranger) is a biomechanical Confederate cowboy, riding a biomechanical horse, tracking a wagon carrying contraband into Indian territory. I’m hooked on the story immediately.
Unlike many books who drag out an introduction of the protagonist the whole first book, they give you the basics within a few pages. They also introduce the Choctaw Light Horse, who has shot the Ranger, which allows the Ranger to sum himself up. There are still some questions, like…say…how he became half mechanical, as is his horse, but a more than satisfying introduction. Eventually they catch up to the wagon at a trading post, there’s some gun fighting, the mysterious cargo turns out to be some young girls being shipped out to pedo cowboys, and they are saved. Light Horse takes five of them to the Church, and the Ranger takes the odd one because she doesn’t fit in.
The book ends on a most excellent cliff hanger, which really makes me look forward to the second book.
This book really hit all my marks. First and foremost, it was economical in its introductions, and made me want to learn more about the characters, which will happen in future books I hope.
The characters are engaging, and leave me wanting to know more. The main three characters have a solid base for the book, though I’m not sure Light Horse will be in it as much in the future, but I am positive he’ll turn up here and there. I’m not sure if Ranger and the Girl will keep their relationship, but I hope they do, at least for the immediate future.
As for the art, it is done in a semi realistic black and white, and though sometimes I feel a book is done that way for economics, in this case it adds to the grittiness of Ranger, and the story. My biggest pet peeve in western movies and comics is that they haven’t showered in a week, have been riding a horse, and they look like they are showered, and their clothes are pressed each night. The black and white style used gives me the grittiness I want and love in a book.
I liken this book to if Jonah Hex and the Terminator had a baby, it would come out as Ranger, and I don’t hate it. Only part of Ranger is mechanical, so it does add a vulnerability that you don’t get with a Terminator, and the human side is just as matter of fact as Hex is, with a strong belief in what he feels is right and wrong.
So if you like the same things I do, or if you just like a good story, this book is definitely worth a read.