{"product_id":"rangers-of-freedom-volume-1","title":"RANGERS OF FREEDOM Volume 1","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eRangers\u003c\/em\u003e was one of Fiction House's long-running titles, alongside \u003cem\u003eFight\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eJumbo\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003ePlanet\u003c\/em\u003e. But the first seven issues were actually titled \u003cem\u003eRangers of Freedom\u003c\/em\u003e and the lead-off feature was this \u003cem\u003eBoy Commandos-\u003c\/em\u003estyle group: \"Biff\" Barkley, \"Tex\" Russell and Peter Cabot, three young men who were recruited by the FBI, plus Ranger Girl. They donned patriotically themed bulletproof costumes and fought Nazis. The rest of each 64-page issue featured back-up strips like \"The Royal Watch,\" Defense Patrol, Anzac Hawks by \u003cstrong\u003eBob Jenny, \u003c\/strong\u003eRocky Hall Jungle Stalker, Sea Squad, and Don Stuart of the Far East Rangers.\n\nFiction House was not one for superheroes, and our Ranger of Freedom had no secret identities. But in their bullet-proof outfits, together with Ranger Girl, they fought villainous Nazis and Japanese forces led by the Super-Brain and the Black Dragon Society. If anything, they were influenced by the world-dominating menaces found in the pulps. After all, Fiction House was also a pulp publisher.\n\nThis young group actually pre-dates Simon \u0026amp; Kirby's \u003cem\u003eBoy Commandos, \u003c\/em\u003ewho are today much better known. Kid groups like this were found also in \u003cem\u003eStar Spangled \u003c\/em\u003e(The Newsboy Legion, also by S\u0026amp;K), \u003cem\u003eDaredevil Comics, Boy Comics... \u003c\/em\u003eBut our Rangers here had the advantage of special outfits and costumes rarely seen in other kid groups, with the possible exception of the super-hero sidekicks in Timely's \u003cem\u003eYoung Allies.\u003c\/em\u003e\n\nIssue #3 has a bondage\/torture cover. Additional artists include \u003cstrong\u003eDan Zolnerowich \u003c\/strong\u003e(covers), \u003cstrong\u003eJoe Doolin\u003c\/strong\u003e (a top-notch and prolifc cover artist for Fiction House), \u003cstrong\u003eAl Walker \u003c\/strong\u003e(who deserves an entire book of his own; Michael Gilbert did a multi-part series on this genius)\u003cstrong\u003e, Harry Fisk\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eRichard Case. \u003c\/strong\u003eThree massive 64-page issues were all published in 1941, just before the U.S. entered World War II.\n\nThe title reverted to just \u003cem\u003eRangers \u003c\/em\u003ewith issue #8 as the U.S. jumped into the war. Later covers featured American doughboys and lovely ladies in peril, nurses, island girls, even flyers, with an abundance of bondage and good-girl art. With #40, the half-Native American beauty Firehair took over the cover and ran with it with western-themed lead stories, until the final issue with #57 in 1951.\n\nThe hardcover and softcover editions have different covers.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"vendor-unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":59640451334430,"sku":"RANF01","price":22.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0999\/0684\/7006\/files\/ranf01-rangers-pf-freedom-vol-1-book.jpg?v=1784498142","url":"https:\/\/shop.budsartbooks.com\/products\/rangers-of-freedom-volume-1","provider":"Bud's Art Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}