CSBG Archive
Scalped – The Best Case for Renumbering
So, Jason Aaron and R.M. Guera have been doing a book for Vertigo for a few months now called Scalped. It’s an interesting enough “high concept,” an FBI agent going back to do undercover work at the reservation that he grew up on, but for the first three issues, the book really faltered. It faltered so much that I was not all that looking forward to issue #4. But suddenly, out of nowhere, #4 was quite good, and now, the last issue #5 was also very good. Suddenly, Scalped has become a good book! In fact, the two-parter in #4 and 5 was so good, I really do not understand why THEY weren’t the first issues of the series. I think Scalped is a great case for renumbering, because if #4 was the first issue of this series, I think you’d be hearing a lot about the quality of Scalped, but since it came around after three pretty lackluster (not BAD, mind you) issues, I fear that people have already made up their minds about the book.
Well, let me tell you, if you HAD written the book off, give it another shot with #4, I don’t think you’ll regret it.
The first three issues focused on the book’s star, Dashiell Bad Horse, a character out of the John McClane/Jack Burton character mold, and the rest of the characters were basically ciphers.
In #4 and 5, though, we get the spotlight taken OFF of Dashiell and placed upon the many supporting characters in the book, and the result is quite illuminating (to carry the spotlight analogy farther than I should). We get the back story of the older characters, and it is by far the most interesting thing that we have learned so far in the book. The flashbacks are excellent, and I think if we OPENED with them, we’d be more drawn to the storyline as it develops. Lord knows that I am more interested in the characters after having read #4 and 5.
Even the art, by R.M. Guera, seems to have improved a bit. He appears to work better with the more moody, character-driven stories of #4 and 5, as opposed to the slightly more action-oriented stories of the first three issues (in the first few issues, when the scenes WERE character-driven ones, he did well).
So yeah, Scalped #4 and 5 are good comics that I would recommend.
Give this book another shot!
By the way, the Jock covers are always awesome, though!
EDITED TO ADD: It’s not just me who thinks this! Blog pal Ryan Day had the exact same thought about Scalped #4 and 5 (and, I’ll admit, he did a better job articulating his point). Check his piece out here. Here is a link to his review of the first three issues.
9 Comments
stealthwise
May 15, 2007 at 9:12 pm
I get everything in trade, so… I guess we’ll see how the first tpb turns out.
Ryan Day
May 15, 2007 at 9:25 pm
I said much the same thing in a review last week. The first issue was pretty good. 2 and 3 were just so-so – nothing important really seemed to happen. I liked the idea of the “Burn Victims”, but they didn’t amount to much. I was on the fence with the series – if I hadn’t enjoyed The Other Side so much, I might have given up.
But yeah – Bam! 4&5 hooked me. This is the basis for the series right here, not Dash wandering around being a generic badass. Mostly, I think it’s pacing – this background info should have been spread out over the opening five issues, not stashed in a fairly arbitrary two-issue story arc.
And Guera took a big step up, too – I love the scenes of post-Dash carnage. He seems to tell more of the story on his own, too, with less narration and dialogue from Aaron.
I’m with Brian 100% – if you weren’t impressed with the first three issues, pick up #4 & 5. And if you haven’t read it at all, start with these issues. Scalped turned a corner real quick and is looking like a very good book.
Brian Cronin
May 15, 2007 at 9:28 pm
Wow, I just checked out your review, Ryan. That’s eerie!
You actually do a much better job talking about the improvement, though. I’ll edit in a link to your take on it.
Stony
May 16, 2007 at 4:39 am
Can I just start with #4 and forget about picking up the first 3?
Lambo
May 16, 2007 at 10:07 am
I was so excited about this book but #1 seemed like the worst kind of setup issue and I never bothered looking at any of the others. I may check back in because I love crime stories and I think Aaron has potential as a writer.
layne
May 16, 2007 at 10:25 am
I’m going to have to disagreet. Opening the series in the ’70s with the activist group would have come across as pretty cliched and uninteresting, especially for anyone familiar with AIM, Wounded Knee, and Pine Ridge. Aaron did a great job at hinting at the backstory in the first three issues, and because we know where the characters are today, those flashbacks have that much more impact. Rereading from #1, the characters no longer come across as ciphers, and there’s a lot more depth.
Granted, Aaron probably could have trimmed some fat (The Burn Victims felt a little too “Obligatory Grotesque Vertigo Baddies”-esque, but I suspect and hope they’ll get fleshed out – pun unintended – as well) and brought us to the same place in four issues, but heck, we’re only five issues in.
I’m not fan of the Decompressed/Writing-For-The-Trade writer’s crutch, but we as an audience sometimes have to be more patient and trust that the creators know where they’re going.
Yeah, I’m Pollyanna.
Ryan Day
May 16, 2007 at 1:26 pm
I wouldn’t put all of the flashbacks up front. I’d leave the first issue as-is, since it’s a pretty good introduction.
But I’d start with the flashbacks in issue #2. Some of Dash’s history with his mother and how he got into the FBI. And then spread things out over the next 2-3 issues.
Obviously you need to build things gradually. But the first three issues felt like not enough development and revelation, and then everything got crammed into 4-5. The first three issues just don’t really tell you enough about the series: It’s all about Dash being an angry dude, but 4-5 makes it clear that he’s just one piece on the board.
Tim Callahan
May 16, 2007 at 3:42 pm
I really loved the first issue and enjoyed every issue since. What’s not to like? Why did it take you all so long to appreciate the goodness?
DubipR
May 18, 2007 at 8:17 am
Scalped is becoming one of the better Vertigo titles out there. The comic hit hard for me in issue 2 with Red Crow’s statement about the state of the American Indian nation. I knew right there, Jason Aaron wasn’t writing a standard American Indian comic. It had depth from right there and so far has carried strong into issue 5.
As for RM Guera’s artwork has gotten stronger with each issue. The only problem I have with the book overall is the craptacular coloring of Lee Loughridge. Seriously, how many Vertigo books has he butchered? At least lighten up on the dark muted colors and the book would be fantastic.