Scalped #38 – Review

by Jason Aaron (writer), R.M. Guera, Giulia Brusco (colors), and Steve Wands (letters)

The Story: From the Vietnam War to the reserve, a character crucial to Scalped’s history is illuminated for the very first time.

What’s Good: It’s hard to write a comic centred on a character in existential crisis.  The problem is that it’s difficult to have readers be sympathetic with a character with no fixed identity or to understand a character who doesn’t understand him or herself.  Yet somehow, Aaron manages it.

I think it’s largely due to Aaron’s focus on mood, atmosphere, and environment (the end of the Vietnam War) despite the heavy character work.  While we never fully grasp Wade’s motivations, aside from some vague ideas of destiny towards issue’s end, we are carried along the stream right with him.  Wade seems to float through his life in this book and so, that’s what we do.  Regardless of what major historical events he’s a part of or what completely spontaneous acts of violence or cruelty he commits, there’s a constant sense of meandering and meaninglessness, possibly because of that very spontaneity.   Even when he does a fairly heroic deed, it doesn’t feel like a fist-pump; Wade rescues an old man from slavery, only for the man to spit in his face and say “go home.”

That sums up the effective moodiness of this issue, really.  A constant sense of drifting lethargy and confusion encircles a man who bounces from day to day, surviving but not really living, making as few choices as he has to and often being unaware of it when he actually does.  Due to Wade’s “curse” (by dumb luck, he seemingly can’t be killed), even war is made bland and un-invigorating.  Wade’s life is just one big wash that sees him increasingly isolated on his existential island.  By issue’s end, when Wade actually begins to have some sense of destiny, this lasts all of a couple pages before that is quickly inverted and problematized.

Weekly Comic Book Review’s Top Picks

DS’ Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Legion of Super-Heroes – Levitz really came through on Legion of Superheroes #1. The book felt right and started with a bang that left me satisfied with the intro, but waiting for more. Best book for an starved Legion-fan. And in keeping with DC’s marketing, I want my flight ring!Morrison started us slowly in his 6-part saga, but the adventure, and the anticipation built up around it, were enough to propel this book into first place in my pull list.

Most Anticipated: Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne #2 – Where and when the heck is Bruce? What’s happening to him and why will his return to the present destroy everyone?

Other Top Picks: Brave and the Bold #34, Green Lantern #54, Green Lantern Corps #58, Power Girl #12, The Thanos Imperative: Ignition #1, X-Force #27

Alex’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Ex Machina #49 -Tough one, but despite a valiant effort by American Vampire #3, I have to give it to Ex Machina.  There was no more emotionally significant moment this week than seeing the Great Machine take the skies once again.  Seeing a comic geek like Mitchell Hundred being drawn, and responded to, like Superman is sure to be one of the many great moments this series has given us.  I’ll be sad when this book finally says its farewells in July.

Most Anticipated: Secret Avengers #1 – Ed Brubaker and Mike Deodato.  What’s not to love.  Pair that creative team with a clearly hand-picked line-up and comics gold is all but guaranteed.  The book isn’t even off the ground yet, and I’m already fairly certain that this will end up being the best Avengers book out there.

Other Picks:Batman: the Return of Bruce Wayne #2, Fantastic Four #579, Green Lantern #54, Madame Xanadu #23, Scalped #38, Secret Warriors #16, Thor #610, Unknown Soldier #20, Wolverine: Weapon X #13

Dean’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: American Vampire #3 – These aren’t your grandfather’s vampires.  While the more mainstream comics were bumbling around with “good, but not great” efforts last week, Scott Snyder, Stephen King and Rafael Albuquerque gave us a very strong comic with great story and glorious art.  There has been nothing to dislike about this series yet.

Most Anticipated: Thanos Imperative Ignition #1 – I feel like I haven’t gotten a Marvel Cosmic fix in months, so even in a week where Secret Avengers and a few other strong titles are coming out, I am really excited to kick off the next big Cosmic event.

Other picks: Amazing Spider-Man #632, Choker #3, Secret Avengers #1, Wolverine Weapon X #13, 7 Psychopaths #1