Rangers (comics)

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Rangers

The Rangers. (Living Lightning not pictured.)
Art by Steve McNiven.
Publication information
Publisher Marvel Comics
First appearance The Incredible Hulk #265, (November 1981)
Created by Bill Mantlo
Sal Buscema
In story information
Base(s) Texas
Member(s) Firebird
Living Lightning
Phantom Rider
Red Wolf
Shooting Star
Texas Twister

The Rangers are a superhero team published by Marvel Comics. The team first appeared in The Incredible Hulk #265 (November 1981) and was created by Bill Mantlo and Sal Buscema.

Contents

[edit] History

Incredible Hulk #265, artist Al Milgrom
Incredible Hulk #265, artist Al Milgrom

The Rangers began basically by accident. Rick Jones was being held captive by the villainous Corruptor, who had the Hulk under his influence. Rick managed to sent a shortwave radio message to attempt to contact the Avengers. The message never reached the Avengers, but instead five individuals intercepted the message and responded: Shooting Star and Texas Twister, Firebird, the Phantom Rider (Hamilton Slade, then called Night Rider), and Red Wolf II. [1]

Although the five Southwestern adventurers were unable to stop the Hulk's rampage, they did enable him to defeat the Corruptor. At the battle's end, Texas Twister suggested that the five of them get together whenever a threat to the Southwest crops up. They agreed and took the collective name of the Rangers.[1] However, because of the geographical separation among the members, they rarely acted as a team. Additional, Shooting Star was revealed to be possessed by a demon at the next meeting of the team and the demon had acted against the team meeting. [2]

[edit] Initiative

The Rangers next appear as a team towards the end of the Civil War, in which it seems they have been reformed as the state superteam for Texas. The original five members have been joined by Armadillo, a reformed supervillain, as well as Living Lightning, a former Avenger.[3] The Rangers next assist in protecting the President from HYDRA's attack. There are injuries but no fatalities.[4]

Team members hail from Arizona, Texas, and New Mexico.

[edit] Membership

FOUNDERS

POST-CIVIL WAR RECRUITS

  • Armadillo - Antonio Rodriguez, a mutate given super strength and durability by the Power Broker (fired shortly after for drunkenly touching Shooting Star inappropriately)[1].
  • Living Lightning - Miguel Santos, an electrical manipulator.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b  Sal Buscema (plot), Bill Mantlo (plot, script) (w),  Sal Buscema (p),  Sal Buscema (i). "You Can't Always Get What You Want, But If You Try Sometime You Just Might Find You Get What You Need!" Incredible Hulk, The  #265 (November 1981)  Marvel Comics
  2. ^  Steve Englehart (w),  Al Milgrom (p),  Joe Sinnott (i). "A Bird In The Hand" West Coast Avengers vol. 2,  #8 (May 1986)  Marvel Comics
  3. ^  Mark Millar (w),  Steve McNiven (p),  Dexter Vines (i).  Civil War vol. 1,  #7 ()  Marvel Comics
  4. ^  Dan Slott (w),  Stefano Caselli (p),  Stefano Caselli (i). "Hero Moment" Avengers: The Initiative vol. 1,  #2 (June 2007)  Marvel Comics