Scalped Vol. 1: Indian Country TP

Title: Scalped Vol. 1: Indian Country TP
Publisher: Vertigo
Retails: 9.99
Writer(s): Jason Aaron
Artist(s): R.M. Guera
Colorist(s): Lee Loughridge
Letterer(s): Phil Balsman
Covers: Jock
Cover Artist: Jock
Collecting Issues: Scalped #1-5

Breakdown: Is he back to set things right or just to get a piece of the action?

Fifteen years ago, Dashiell “Dash” Bad Horse ran away from a life of abject poverty and despair on the Prairie Rose Indian Reservation in hopes of finding something better. Now, he’s come back home to find nothing much has changed on “The Rez”

Short of a glimmering new casino and a once-proud people overcome by drugs and organized crime.

At the center of the storm is Tribal Leader Lincoln Red Crow, a former “Red Power” activist turned burgeoning crime boss who figures that after 100 years of the Lakota being robbed and murdered by the white man, it’s time to return the favor.

Now, armed with nothing but a set of nunchuks, a hellbent-for-leather attitude and (at least) one dark secret, Dash must survive a world of gambling, gunfights, G-men, Dawg Soliderz, massacres, meth labs, trashy sex, fry bread, Indian pride, Thunder Beings, the rugged beauty of the Badlands…and even a brutal scalping or two.

Story and Concept: (9/10) All I can say is this is the Sapranos on an Indian Reservation and I love it! The story is steeped in history involving this reservation and the people that lived there and the choices they made and the repercussion of said choices.

Writing: (10/10) Jason Aaron has become one of the hottest writers on the strength of this book, after finally reading it I can understand why. The dialog is very sharp, witty, and hip but grounded in a reality that only can be provided by being published over at Vertigo. Aaron does a good job setting up the world of Scalped in just five issues, before you finished this trade you know all the major players and their motivations. He gives you tidbits of there past as well that really rounds out the characters and make them feel that much more real. As a new reader you couldn’t ask for anything more going into a new series, I must say Aaron has got me locked in hook line and sinker. It seems like anytime I try a Vertigo series I fall in love with it 100 Bullets, DMZ, Northlanders, Loveless, and now Scalped oh well here I go again.

Art: (6.5/10) R.M. Guera art style on this book for me borderlines on the side of abstract, which took me a little time to get used too. That being said though it is not my favorite artwork personally it does add and even enhances the book and that is what art is all about. Guera gives this book tons of attitude and atmosphere that works in perfect concert with Aaron’s words they have magic here folks trust me. His use of shadows and color palette really bring a type noire vibe into a non-noire type stage and it works well. So again personal preference aside I can not deny that R.M. Guera is a talent artist and it will be interesting to see him evolve as an artist going forward.

Cover: (7/10) The cover art was produced by Jock and it is standard at a glance but if you look a little further it reveals a lot about the main character and the world that surrounds him.

Design and Overall Presentation: (8/10) With all first trades with Vertigo this is a barebones trade you get the story a couple pages of ads and that is that. I understand why they do it because it helps keep the cost down which with a 9.99 cover price I’m more than comfortable with the lack of extras in this trade.

Bottom Line: This book is great if you ever liked TV shows like the Sopranos, OZ, the Wire or movies like Good Fellas, Casino you will freaking love this book as much as I did. With a low entry cost of only 9.99 you can’t afford not to give at least this first trade a try.

Comic Book Savant

Comic Book Savant