Scalped Vol. 1: Indian Country

As others have written in their reviews, this is definitely one of the best new Vertigo series in a while (Vertigo being DC Comics "mature" line). It takes place on a Native American reservation, with Dash Bad Horse returning home having left at a young age (as soon as he possibly could, basically). He joins the "rez" police, which means he basically works for Lincoln Red Crow, who runs the rez and the new "Crazy Horse" casino that's opening soon. It's an unusual comic book, in that there's no superpowers (like so many of DC's non-Vertigo characters), no angels or devils (like "Preacher", "Hellblazer", etc), just regular people. There are some supernatural aspects, which fits in well with the mystical/spiritual side of Native American culture and philosophy, but the emphasis is on the human drama -- love and hate, hopes and fears, and the reasons why we do the things we do, and how it puts us into conflict with others, and the reasons why they do the things they do. It's great writing with good art, and I'm always looking forward to the next issue. In a way, that's the best recommendation there is.

Scalped is by far one of the best stories in comics today. Jason Arron brings a realism that just can't be seen in many other comic currently being written. Scalped however is not for the faint of hart or younger readers. It is very much so a book for mature reader but if that doesn't bother you then this is a book you should check out.

I've just finished a fresh re-read of the five issues collected in this trade specifically for prep in writing this review. Jason Aaron, previous to giving us Scalped, penned a mini-series called The Other Side, also published through Vertigo. Prior to that, Aaron was basically unheard of. The fact that he's hit a bullseye with his very first monthly series is incredible but I assure you, dear pondering reader, that it is a fact. Indian Country introduces us to Dashiell Bad Horse, a native to The Prairie Rose Reservation, South Dakota. The first thing Dash does is get into a fight with fifteen guys in a bar. With nunchaku, no less! He is, to put it mildly, looking for trouble. He's been off the Rez for fifteen years and has just come back for reasons made clear at the end of the first issue (or part I of the Indian Country arc). Right away Jason Aaron assaults the reader with abrasive language and since we're reading a Vertigo book, there are no asterisks, ampersands, question or exclamation marks to cover up the naughty words. It's hardcore, is what I'm saying, and it reads like real talk for real thugs and hoodlums. It isn't long before the main "villain" is introduced, Lincoln Red Crow. Red Crow is the Council Tribal President and essentially runs the reservation. His introduction leaves no question as to how ruthless a character he is but I don't like to use the label of villain to sum him up, hence the quotation marks above. Again, putting it mildly, he's complicated. In describing these two characters, I do hope I'm implying the excellence in Aaron's writing and characterization. All the characters in this book are, at best, morally grey. They're whole humans, not caricatures. Without spoiling too much, we learn very quickly that Dash is back on the Rez for a reason, even if he knows he's in over his head. He's an undercover FBI agent who's been sicced on Red Crow by probably the most miserable and hateful FBI minder ever to "grace" South Dakota with his presence: Special Agent Nitz. Nitz has an axe to grind with Red Crow that goes back twenty some years to the murder of two FBI agents on the Prairie Rose Reservation. All of this is deftly explained over the course of this five part collection. Meanwhile we get to see Dash kick some teeth and break some heads as he's quickly hired on as Tribal Police under Red Crow. Through this, the character becomes re-initiated into life on the Rez and the reader gets a glimpse of what life might be like there. This is a crime story but it's told in a way that's as unique as it's setting; an American Indian reservation. Aaron uses some slick time displacement gimmicks to trade back and forth between past, immediate past and present as he brings us along on a ride through this poverty stricken wasteland. When we meet Dash's mother, Gina Bad Horse, all question about the tone of the book should be laid to rest. Gina's first reaction to Dash is to slap him and call him a fascist.

Easily one of the best new books out there. Jason Aaron weaves an amazing story that draws the reader instantly and rewards them with every page. The story is split between past and present and builds a rich pantheon of deap characters. I'll be honest the story didn't appeal to me while reading reviews of it but once I started reading I was hooked. R.M. Guera's artwork is masterful, he captures the somber mood of the reservation in every page. I find it easy to get detached from the story when the artwork doesn't work well with the writing but in Scalped the two elements merge perfectly. I strongly suggest giving Scalped a try, I for one can't wait for more.

The protagonist: A hard as nails nunchak-wielding Indian FBI Agent who is a master of Tae Kwon Do and the art of stomping people's brains out. The Villain: A former "Red Power" Indian activist turned Crime Boss and Casino Owner with a penchant for scalping. The Supporting cast: A beautiful drug-addicted alcoholic suffering from nymphomania (the Crime Boss' daughter), and one lone woman standing against the forces of corruption threatening to tear her community apart (the mother of the proverbial hero of the story). Enough to get you interested yet? But wait...there's more! Throw in a mystery surrounding the events that led to Dashiel Bad Horse (our FBI agent) returning to the Prairie Rose Reservation which he escaped from when only 13, and why a certain FBI superior blackmails him into doing the Bureau's bidding, coupled with the relationship between his mother and Boss Lincoln Red Crow as well as the romantic attentions of the enemy's daughter...Isn't this enough to make you want to pick up this book? Trust me, there's still more, but I don't want to ruin it for anyone. I'll finish by saying this: Scalped is the best comic book out there at the moment. Buy it if you like a fast-paced narrative with lots of action and intrigue (meant for mature readers; this is DC's Vertigo imprint after all), as well as some pretty amazing art. I simply can't recommend it highly enough.