Boomer Badger Joins the Gang (1984)

Boomer, from the November 1995 issue of Ranger Rick

1984 certainly was a year for Ranger Rick readers if you wanted to meet new characters during Rick's adventures. Scarlett Fox had already joined the gang as a permanent character early in the year. The August issue brought another face to the cast, one who is exceedingly well-known if you grew up with Ranger Rick in the 1990s and 2000s due to his immense exposure in the adventures. Enter, stage right, Boomer Badger.

Boomer Badger was introduced in a story about rattlesnake roundups in Texas written by editor, Sallie Luther. (Luther was also key in Scarlett's introduction one year earlier as she had written that story as well.) Boomer, named for his loud voice, comes across as a pompous know-it-all with an attitude that spelled indifference to environmental issues. As Boomer put it, he didn't care about rattlesnake roundups and was glad people were doing something to them because snakes would snap out if you got anywhere near them, even if you meant them no harm. Boomer and Scarlett talk with a rattler about the situation while Rick napped in the shade. Boomer, not interested for very long, turned his attention to digging a burrow, causing a rockslide. Scarlett moved Rick to safety in time, but the rattlesnake was crushed. Boomer, overwhelmed with guilt over the accident, begs to join Rick and Scarlett as they try to help wildlife around the world. Rick agrees to give Boomer a second chance, and Scarlett gives him a hard talking-to about the way things are done in Deep Green Wood.

Boomer and Scarlett go at it when they first meet in the adventure.

Boomer, through the 80s and 90s was a regular character in Ranger Rick's adventures in Deep Green Wood and around the world. His brash attitude towards environmental issues (more notably during his earlier years) almost gave the gang a student to teach the ways of environmental conservation much in the way people have to learn new things they never really knew. Boomer was not always willing to listen, or as he often would, try and go things about his own way to solve issues, often causing more problems. As the 90s went on, Boomer's personality morphed from snotty to simply more naive and silly. He still retained his assurance that he knew what he was doing and was right about it, but Boomer lost his edge. His personality undoubtedly was the reason he was featured so often because he was the anti-Rick, practically his alto-ego. Alton Langford kept generally true to badger anatomy and markings when drawing Boomer throughout his tenure up till 2000. Earlier drawings of Boomer in the 1980s clearly style Boomer as, well, a large male badger, very round and muscular. Drawings in the 1990s show Boomer clearly thinner with slight changes in coloring.

Boomer remains one of the more popular characters and is found many times in many adventures, even to this day. In reality, thank Ms. Luther for not one, but two very popular recurring characters for Ranger Rick to have at his side.

1980s / 1990s drawings by Alton Langford

2000s drawings by The Character Shop

Boomer in 1987

Boomer in 1995

Boomer in 2010