PGHHEAD’S 2022 COMIC ODYSSEY, PART 40
In 2021 I set a goal to post reviews here for 1,000 comics, and finished the year at 1,008 reviews. It was a stretch - - not to read that many comics, because I actually read quite a bit more. The challenge is to find and take the time to write a fair review of what I read - - but I made it. I’m up for a new year, and a new challenge. My goal for 2022 is to read and document 1,200 comics. That’s an average of 100 books per month, easy enough to check and update. Wish me luck!
# GOAL FOR October 20, 2022 . . . 964 comics documented
CURRENT COUNT . . . . . 910 comics documented
#878 - #883 SCALPED, VOLUME TWO: CASINO BOOGIE by Jason Aaron and R.M. Guera (DC/Vertigo, 2007) While diving deeper into the troubled past of FBI Special Agent Dashiell Bad Horse the second story arc of SCALPED includes portraits of several supporting characters, and becomes an even more powerful example of captivating story-telling because of it. As soon as I put this down, I felt a strong impulse to pick it up and read it again. Have to delay that for now. There's just too many works on my to-be-read pile waiting for my attention.
Cinema On Paper is the best blurb to describe in succinct terms what's on display here. The best crime comics all have the potential to become great movies or television mini-series, and SCALPED could be good for multiple seasons via your favorite streaming service. The storyline leaves so many possibilities for great visual scenes and the pacing is fluid and seamless. The art is incredible to behold, as if the storyboards were all mapped out already.
It's the opening night of the casino, and there are multiple contrasts between the bright lights, glitz and glitter of the gambling palace and the dark, desolate and depressed areas of the rest of the reservation. Dash has his hands full this arc, and receives enough reasons to turn in his badge to Lincoln Red Crow as well as split from the FBI investigation and head for safer pastures. There are great profiles in this volume of Lincoln Red Crow, Gina Bad Horse, young Dino, the mysterious Catcher, and half-breed Diesel Engine. Their past is revealed and provide reasons to empathize with all of these characters. I'm locked in now. FIVE STARS.
Haley's Circus, the big top where Dick once performed, makes a stop on its tour in Gotham City - bringing with it murder, mystery and superhuman evil. On his dying bed, the circus operator reveals that his will bequeaths ownership to Dick Grayson. There are several reasons for this, including the murder of his parents, and the big reveal ties in nicely to Scott Snyder’s BATMAN continuity. Nightwing tries to uncover more clues as to why a mysterious assassin is targeting him, with an assist from Batgirl. But as Dick becomes reacquainted with the big top he once called home, he learns there are darker secrets to be discovered.
A good beginning to the New 52 version of Nightwing, with tie-ins to the Court of Owls storyline and more background information that fills in the gaps regarding Dick Grayson's early days with family at the circus.
Despite an assortment of artists across the seven issues, the work is consistent - - with the art of Eddy Barrows the most impressive and visually engaging.
THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
There’s certainly no lack of Batman-related characters here - - there’s enough to make a team. Plus, the playing field is the entire planet with Issue #1 taking place in several different locations. There are two mysteries unfolding simultaneously for Batman Incorporated to investigate: 1) All of Lex Luthor’s Batman labs have been destroyed, records erased, and test subjects gone. (One of his former subjects, the beast-like Gray Wolf, is a member of the new team.) 2) Any former teacher/mentor of either Batman or Ghost-Maker is being killed, whether he or she was a knife expert, car driver, bomb maker, or whatever.
Brisson does a nice job of mixing action with the unfolding mystery/detective work. There are even hints that Ghost-Maker, who is leading the team may have something to do with the murders. There are little character reveals here and there, albeit brief considering how much ground needs to be covered here. I was prompted to pick this book up by the interesting angular art of Timms and panel placement. One odd note: every character seems to have very long and skinny legs.
I’m not as enthused about this title as I am about DETECTIVE or BATMAN, so my excitement doesn’t necessarily transfer to all Bat-titles. I’m just not feeling it for this one, perhaps because I’m not really interested in any of these characters. I may stick around for the first story arc just to read how and why things are occurring. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
Gillen continues to play around with Arthurian themes and adds Beowulf and the Grendel monsters for good measure this time. There's more of Merlin this story arc and a little less of the revived Arthur (both hanging out in the Otherworld and plotting their return to England).
The battle at the nursing home is a hoot! Chainsaw-wielding Gran is a real bad ass, and one of my favorite characters from Gillen's imaginative mind. FOUR STARS.
#898 - #904 SCALPED, VOLUME THREE graphic novel by Jason Aaron and R.M. Guera, John Paul Leon, Davide Furno (DC/Vertigo, 2008) If anyone needs convincing or a reason to stay with this series, Volume 3 provides plenty of evidence. This is the strongest entry so far, and that says a lot. Crime noir on an Indian Reservation with enough serious characterization to fuel a series of novels. Plus, readers can easily jump on here and pick up the story. The only missing elements are the intriguing back-story of Dash, Gina, Red Crow, and Diesel Engine from the earlier volumes.
My notes:
Issue #12 is a compelling re-cap of events and more - - - especially all the things running through Dashiell Bad Horse's head as he straddles the line between serving as a reservation cop for the corrupt casino boss/Prairie Rose reservation Chief Red Crow while trying to obtain convictable dirt on him as an undercover agent for a revenge-driven FBI field boss.
The worst case scenario replays itself as a nightmare that always wakes him as it reaches finality. Now his mother (whose body is soon to be discovered) is reaching into his dreams to warn him. Moody art by John Paul Leon is extremely effective this issue.
The most powerful single issue so far (in my opinion) is Issue #13, wherein Dashiell has to decide between two murder cases to pursue and surprises everyone with his choice. It's a heart-rending story, and with R.M. Guera back on art, the emotions just bleed from the panels. The final three pages rely on just the art to communicate the tenderness and sorrow of the moment, and it's a grim gut-punch.
Issues #14-#18: Following up on the most powerful single issue so far is the five-part Dead Mothers storyline, the most powerful story arc so far. Two mothers murdered. Which one do you think Dash will pursue the most relentlessly? Right --- the prostitute, after her newly orphaned five children tug at his heartstrings. His dislike/estrangement from his mother must run far deeper than what has been revealed so far. He holds his sorrow in check until much later, in a moment lovingly detailed in glorious cinematic fashion by R. M . Guera. Wow. So powerful. There are many moments like this throughout this story arc, where the art tells it all and far better than mere words can convey.
The introduction of the Hmongs, an Asian-American organized crime gang, occurs during this arc and is sure to play a pivotal role in issues to come.
I'm even starting to empathize with Chief Lincoln Red Crow, the former protestor and radical who later morphed into the powerful gangster and political figure he is now. He had a past with Dash's mother, Gina Bad Horse, and there were obviously feelings there.
The resolution of the side plot involving the oldest of the murdered prostitute's children and his budding mentor relationship with Dash was both sorrowful and shocking. Plus the twist ending of this storyline involving Catcher, he of the visions of doom, was stunning and disturbing. Keep reading and you'll get sucked into this saga. I am. Gratefully. This is brilliant.
Issue #18 is another stand-alone story, "Falls Down", about Officer Franklin Falls Down, the oldest member of the Prairie Rose Reservation police force and a 25-year veteran slowed down by years and miles and scars and a step behind the younger members. He's been assigned to investigate the death of Gina Bad Horse and reflects on his sorrow-filled past as he contemplates the new assignment. In the meantime his older methods prove effective in pursuit of a runaway criminal. A good story that kind of pales beside the other standalone ("Dreaming Himself Into The Real World") but there's no shame in that. The art by Davide Furno is interesting but not as effective in embracing the mood and atmosphere as Guera's work. FIVE STARS.
On top of all that, Aaron's skillful writing and the evocative art have managed to get me to like every single native American character in this series. Now I understand Chief Lincoln Red Crow better. I get why his daughter took such a bad turn the way she did. I'm dripping with empathy . . and sorrow. I need to read something a little lighter in tone as a breather before I tackle the next volume.
The only characters I don't like, and even despise, are the outsiders - - the manipulative, revenge-driven FBI agent and the Hmong gang members. So much so, that I wanted Mr. Brass to die in a very brutal fashion. Shame on me. That's the power behind this book. You have to react to it. FIVE STARS.
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