So I was recently catching up on some of my comic reading, and I implore you - READ “SCALPED”, by Jason Aaron and R.M. Guera. I simply can’t say enough about this book, and there are few that I go out of my way anymore to get my hands on but this is on the top of the list. I had a backlog at the store and picked up my backs of Scalped and “The Spirit” and read the Spirit first… and was severely disappointed in the drop since Darwyn Cooke gave up the reins. A little bummed, I saw that Guera didn’t illustrate the issues of Scalped I’d picked up and was worried.
No need - though the art, to me, didn’t knock me out the way Guera’s does, Davide Furno’s work was true to the tone of the story and Jason Aaron continued to go to darker and darker places, daring to take us further than we want to go. Dash! Don’t smoke that shit, it’s bad for you and you’re fucked up enough! NOOO!
Growing up Indian (such as it was) isn’t anything to sneeze at, and he hits much of it right on the head. It’s been a long time since I’ve headed up to my “people” but this book brings back many uncomfortable memories, and the emotional core of it rings so true that it’s made me rethink how I’ve disconnected myself from roots that are uncomfortable and strained.
I’m not saying you need to be Indian to love this book. Trust me, if you dig a dirt-core story and some of the most beautiful artwork out there right now (Guera has returned) check out “Scalped” now. I don’t know how well it’s doing on the shelves but books with balls this big usually slide off the popularity scale sooner or later- it will offend someone for something eventually - so pick it up TODAY!

Jim