Major Spoilers
    Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Twitch Discord RSS
    Major Spoilers
    • Home
    • Reviews
      • Random Access Memory
      • Retro Review
      • So You Want to Read Comics
    • Podcasts
      • Critical Hit
        • Critical Hit House Rules
        • Critical Hit World Building
      • Dueling Review
      • Finally Friday
      • Geek History Lesson
      • The Legion Clubhouse
      • Major Spoilers Podcast
        • MSP TPB for 2019
        • On the Next Major Spoilers Podcast – 2013
        • On the Next Major Spoilers Podcast – 2012
        • On the Next Major Spoilers Podcast – 2011
      • Munchkin Land
      • Top Five
      • Wayne’s Comics
      • Zach on Film
    • Features
      • Casual 60
      • Comic Casting Couch
      • Comics Portal
      • Did You Hear?
      • Editorials
      • Features
      • Gamer’s Corner
      • Hero Histories
      • Let’s Get Nerdy
      • Major Spoilers Adventures
      • Random Access Memory
      • So You Want to Read Comics
    • Movies
      • Did You Hear
      • Movies
      • Television
    • Comic Previews
    • Patreon
      • Patreon
      • Store
    Major Spoilers
    The Ringo Kid Western #1 Review
    Retro Review

    Retro Review: The Ringo Kid Western #1 (August 1954)

    Matthew PetersonBy Matthew PetersonMarch 13, 2022Updated:March 13, 20225 Mins Read

    Everybody knows the genius of Marvel mainstay Jack Kirby, but not everybody knows the story of Joe Maneely. Your Major Spoilers Retro Review of The Ringo Kid Western #1 awaits!

    THE RINGO KID WESTERN #1

    Writer: Uncredited
    Penciler: Joe Maneely/Joe Sinnott
    Inker: Joe Maneely/Joe Sinnott
    Colorist: Stan Goldberg
    Letterer: Uncredited
    Editor: Stan Lee
    Publisher: Hercules Publishing Company (Marvel Comics)
    Cover Price: 10 Cents
    Current Near-Mint Pricing: $300.00

    Previously in The Ringo Kid Western: Having gone to art school under the post-WWII G.I. Bill, Joe Maneely joined the ranks of Atlas Comics in 1949. Initially a freelancer, he joined the office staff, where his speed as an artist made him a favorite collaborator of editor-in-chief Stan Lee. That speed was remarkable enough, but Maneely also managed to add a stunning amount of detail to his work, especially for an era where reproduction wasn’t as sensitive as it is today, meaning that many of the details would get lost during printing. Maneely was an Atlas Comics star at a time when superheroes were few and far between, allowing him to work on horror books, humor titles, and co-create The Black Knight, an Arthurian hero, in 1955. As far as I’m concerned, his biggest impact came in the pages of Atlas’ western comics, especially the adventures of The Ringo Kid.

    It all started in a small farmhouse, where one Cory Rand, Esquire, lived with his beautiful wife, Dawn Star…

    Mr. Rand had lost his job as a barrister due to old-fashioned racism, as his colleagues were unhappy with his interracial marriage. The birth of their son, though, was a time of great happiness and the boy was raised with his feet in both cultures. Maneely’s detailed, almost-but-not-quite busy art is on clear display from the very first page, showing off details that no other artist would have bothered with (and that the colorist clearly can’t keep up with.) The lad, whose given name is never revealed, is nicknamed Ringo by the ranch hands and home-schooled by Cory and Dawn Star (no relation to the later Legion of Super-Heroes member) to protect him from those who would hate him for his dual heritage. By his teens, things reach a boiling point, and local teens attack Ringo. When the Kid tries to defend himself, one Shad Rathburn attacks the boy, leaving Cory to take an unusual tack against the would-be bullies.

    Upon reaching home, though, Papa Rand finds the house in flames and his wife dying. The murderers then try to string him up, but Ringo arrives and shoots the noose with pinpoint accuracy, moving down the men who would have made him an orphan. With both of them now marked men, Cory and his now-outlaw son realize that they have to part ways.

    An indeterminate amount of time later, The Ringo Kid has become a wanted man, known throughout the territory for his skills with a firearm and his tracking abilities, but he’s also been forced to stay away from his father and his mother’s tribe. When Congress allocates fifty thousand dollars for the Native American tribes, a group of unscrupulous men realize that they can not only steal the money for themselves (which is the equivalent of 1.8 million in 2022 dollars), they can spur a war with the Comanche and Cherokee tribes, allowing them to kill with impunity.

    The Pony Express rider, whose presence places this story in 1860 or so, is shot dead by agents of the cabal, but he is found by The Ringo Kid who realizes the importance of his payload and sets off to deliver it himself. Doc Stiles and his gang set up multiple ambushes along the route, only to find themselves at the mercy of Ringo’s deadly accuracy and superior horsemanship.

    Having successfully delivered the pouch and averted a bloody war between settlers and the Native people, Ringo makes no attempt to hide his identity, but is allowed to go free by a representative of the Army, having proven himself better than the rumors about his murderous outlaw ways. Maneely’s art is the star of The Ringo Kid Western #1, as it is with every issue of his work, adding tons of detail work and realism to the wild west tales and elevating this issue well beyond standard ’50s fare, earning 4 out of 5 stars overall. Sadly, Maneely’s story ends tragically, as he fell from a commuter train in 1958, ending a career that rightly should have been heralded as ground-breaking. I sometimes wonder about what the Marvel firmament would look like if Maneely had joined Kirby, Ditko, Heck, and the other Marvel mainstays when the superheroes came back around again. Would he have been the driving force of The X-Men or The Avengers? Would he have created something equally as enduring?

    It’s truly regrettable that we’ll never know what might have been.


    Dear Spoilerite,

    At Major Spoilers, we strive to create original content that you find interesting and entertaining. Producing, writing, recording, editing, and researching requires significant resources. We pay writers, podcast hosts, and other staff members who work tirelessly to provide you with insights into the comic book, gaming, and pop culture industries. Help us keep MajorSpoilers.com strong. Become a Patron (and our superhero) today.

    THE RINGO KID WESTERN #1

    77%
    77%
    The Good Stuff

    It's impossible for me to read Joe Maneely's work without wondering what the Marvel Universe might have looked like had he been around in 1961, and even if the stories are nothing special, the visuals make this series worth tracking down.

    • Writing
      5
    • Art
      10
    • Coloring
      8
    • User Ratings (0 Votes)
      0
    atlas comics Joe Maneely joe sinnott marvel comics Retro Review Review Ringo Kid stan goldberg Stan Lee The Ringo Kid Western
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Previous ArticleMonkey Meat #3 Review
    Next Article Soltaic #1 Review
    Matthew Peterson
    • Website
    • Twitter

    Once upon a time, there was a young nerd from the Midwest, who loved Matter-Eater Lad and the McKenzie Brothers... If pop culture were a maze, Matthew would be the Minotaur at its center. Were it a mall, he'd be the Food Court. Were it a parking lot, he’d be the distant Cart Corral where the weird kids gather to smoke, but that’s not important right now... Matthew enjoys body surfing (so long as the bodies are fresh), writing in the third person, and dark-eyed women. Amongst his weaponry are such diverse elements as: Fear! Surprise! Ruthless efficiency! An almost fanatical devotion to pop culture! And a nice red uniform.

    Related Posts

    The Thing Clobbers the Marvel Universe with Ryan North and Ed McGuinness

    Read More

    Marvel shows off Fantastic Four variant covers

    Read More

    One World Under Doom #4 Review

    Read More

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    AMAZON AFFILIATE

    Support this site by making a purchase through our Amazon affiliate links

    Reviews
    6.0
    May 15, 2025

    One World Under Doom #4 Review

    6.7
    May 13, 2025

    Absolute Green Lantern #2 Review

    8.0
    May 11, 2025

    Storm #8 Review

    6.3
    May 11, 2025

    Retro Review: Daredevil #131 (March 1976)

    6.0
    May 9, 2025

    Blood and Thunder #1 Review

    Patreon Support
    Major Spoilers Store
    Recent Comments
    • Luis Dantas on Storm #8 Review
    • Michael Kenchington on PREVIEW: Giant-Size Wacky Races #1
    • derrigable on COMICS PORTAL: To (Almost) Everything, There Is a Season!
    • wiley on COMICS PORTAL: ‘Mouse Guard’ Is Back!
    • Elfo_oscuro on So You Want To Read Comics: Alternate History Edition
    Subscribe to the Major Spoilers E-Mail List
    Sponsor

    ComiXology Home Page

    Follow Us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • Twitch
    Major Spoilers Patreon
    • About
      • Major Spoilers Terms of Use
      • Major Spoilers Frequently Asked Questions
      • Major Spoilers Privacy Policy Statement
      • Major Spoilers Podcast Gear
    • Contact
    • Cookie Policy (EU)
    Major Spoilers is copyright 2006-2025 by Major Spoilers Entertainment, LLC

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
    Cookie settingsACCEPT
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    SAVE & ACCEPT