[positronic1]

It's amazing that the Lone Ranger was not only able to inspire dozens of knock-off versions in his own country of origin, but more than one internationally as well. Truly demonstrative of the immense reach and influence of the character worldwide.

1948? I'm wondering what that estimate is based on (cover price, or the publisher's history?). If someone had asked me to guess based on just the artwork itself, I'd have said closer to 1938 than 1948. Looks a little too primitive for 1948, doesn't it? Then again, the paper itself doesn't seem to have aged enough for a 1938 publication (unless just extraordinarily well-preserved by chance).

Link to the book: The Phantom Ranger 002

[paw broon]

The date isn't estimated, it's slightly wrong. Actually 1949, from a book titled "The Early Australian Comics" unfortunately I don't know the author. As to the art, the first 19 issues were drawn by Jeff Wilkinson with Peter Chapman taking over from #20. Big difference in style and quality. The format also helps date the book. This really odd format of upright cover but landscape interiors was only used early on and for a short while in Australia. Aus. publishers also used landscape format, covers and interiors, in the same way as in Spain, Italy, France and Netherlands, where it was used for hundreds of titles for a much longer time. Format Italien is a term widely used.