[4] By the late 1940s, the writer-artist team of Joe Simon and Jack Kirby was enjoying the commercial success of the duo's Young Romance and Young Love romance comics titles,[5] and had formed a studio that employed artists such as Mort Meskin, Steve Ditko, John Prentice, Marvin Stein, Bruno Premiani, George Roussos, Bill Draut, and others.

[5] According to a biographical page in one of the issues, Simon and Kirby claimed they had spent ten years researching what became Boys Ranch, traveling to Texas, Wyoming, and Arkansas.

[6] They had previously created the successful kid-gang features the Newsboy Legion and Boy Commandos for DC Comics.

The last three feature special "theme" stories, the US Cavalry Army,[13] the Pony Express,[14] and the Great Train Robbery.

[22][23][24] Marvel Comics published Kid Cowboys of Boys Ranch, a hardcover reprint edition of all six issues in 1991 (ISBN 087135859X).

[25] A Boys' Ranch portfolio of illustrations from the original series' artwork appeared in Joe Simon's The Comic Book Makers in 2003.

Running Bear's parting words were 'The war clouds darken once more over the white man and the Indian nations ... there is much need for warriors who talk peace to both sides!

Usually depicted wearing a Union Army uniform, he left his adoptive parents from a small Ohio farm to explore the west.

[18] Wabash is an easy-going lad who "springs from the hill-folk"[29] His dubious banjo-accompanied singing skills are a source of comedy relief.

His family history is explicated in the Johnny Appleseed / Paul Bunyan-style tale "The Legend of Alby Fleezer".

When expressing a desire to get involved in fighting, Clay Duncan insists that, because it is too dangerous for a woman, she must remain at the ranch.

For example, in issue #2, Comanche and Blackfoot tribes are falsely told by white traffickers that their land will be seized so they can sell them rifles.

The début issue opens with the chance meeting of Dandy and Wabash, who had been on opposite sides of the then recent Civil War, but became friends and decided to head out West together.

Meanwhile, Clay Duncan meets up with Angel and the four come together in the defence of a ranch belonging to Jason Harper against an attack by Apache warriors.

They are later joined by Wee Willie Weehawken, because he was a middle-aged man, cited the technicality that the will didn't specify the maximum age to qualify as a "boy".

Boys' Ranch has become one of Simon and Kirby's most critically acclaimed creations[8] and was held in high esteem by both creators.

[34] R. J. Vitone qualifies the series as having "much more depth than previous S & K kid-gang strips – the basic elements that had made the romance and crime books so thematically strong were applied here as well".

[12][36] According to Richard Morrissey, Simon and Kirby's final effort in the "kid gang" genre showed signs of evolving in new directions: "In Boys' Ranch, Kirby seemed to be attempting to be going beyond his previous limitations ... More and more, the team was abandoning adolescent adventure for more adult concerns ... more than one observer has noted the similarities between the kid gangs of the '40s and early '50s with the adult teams of the late '50s and early '60s".

[35] Kirby has cited it as a personal favorite,[38] and it has received accolades by critics, comic book professionals and fans alike.

A 20-page tale of betrayal, revenge, and redemption referencing the similarly themed biblical story of Samson and Delilah,[40] the story features Clay Duncan, Angel, and Delilah Barker, a character influenced by Marlene Dietrich's character from Destry Rides Again.

[35] A character named Virgil Underwood provides a Greek chorus-like background commentary: "Those who find love are indeed fortunate, but woe betide them who demand it"; the story's final panel reads: And thus it ends.