The Lone Ranger

Few figures from the Platinum Age have ridden as far or as long as The Lone Ranger, who first galloped onto comic pages in 1938 and kept going strong for over eight decades — a testament to just how deeply this masked hero captured the American imagination. Debuting in The American Legion #3, he's a Dell stalwart whose 55 catalogued appearances span an extraordinary sweep of comics history, including three collector-recognized key issues that any serious fan would want on their shelf. His adventures have brought him alongside the likes of Tonto, Silver, Britt Reid, The Green Hornet, and Kato — remarkable company that speaks to his standing as a genuine icon of the form. Whether you encounter him in his own long-running series, a crossover with Lone Ranger Green Hornet, or even a satirical turn in Mad, The Lone Ranger is one of those rare characters whose presence on a cover still makes a collector's pulse quicken.