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Scalped #7-8
Scalped: The Deluxe Edition, Book Four
Celebrated writer Jason Aaron (Original Sin, Southern Bastards) and artist R.M. Guéra (BATMAN ETERNAL, DJANGO UNCHAINED) turn up the heat on their epic chronicle of crime, sin and salvation.
Undercover FBI agent Dashiell Bad Horse may not believe in God, but recent events suggest that some higher power is working overtime to keep him alive. In fact, after several well-placed needles and a few well-aimed bullets, he’s better positioned than ever to take down the kingpin of the Prairie Rose Indian Reservation, Chief Lincoln Red Crow.
But for all of Dash’s good fortune, his mother is still dead, and her murderer is still at large. He’s still strung out on heroin, and so is his unborn child’s mother—Red Crow’s daughter. And now he’s triggered the suspicions of the Chief’s deadliest enforcer, Shunka, a man more than willing to employ violence in the service of both discovering and keeping secrets.
SCALPED: THE DELUXE EDITION BOOK FOUR also features guest art by Davide Furnò, Danijel Žeželj and Jason Latour, and covers by Jock.
Collects SCALPED #35-49.
Undercover FBI agent Dashiell Bad Horse may not believe in God, but recent events suggest that some higher power is working overtime to keep him alive. In fact, after several well-placed needles and a few well-aimed bullets, he’s better positioned than ever to take down the kingpin of the Prairie Rose Indian Reservation, Chief Lincoln Red Crow.
But for all of Dash’s good fortune, his mother is still dead, and her murderer is still at large. He’s still strung out on heroin, and so is his unborn child’s mother—Red Crow’s daughter. And now he’s triggered the suspicions of the Chief’s deadliest enforcer, Shunka, a man more than willing to employ violence in the service of both discovering and keeping secrets.
SCALPED: THE DELUXE EDITION BOOK FOUR also features guest art by Davide Furnò, Danijel Žeželj and Jason Latour, and covers by Jock.
Collects SCALPED #35-49.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published April 19, 2016
7 people are currently reading
189 people want to read
About the author
Jason Aaron
2,357 books1,675 followersJason Aaron grew up in a small town in Alabama. His cousin, Gustav Hasford, who wrote the semi-autobiographical novel The Short-Timers, on which the feature film Full Metal Jacket was based, was a large influence on Aaron. Aaron decided he wanted to write comics as a child, and though his father was skeptical when Aaron informed him of this aspiration, his mother took Aaron to drug stores, where he would purchase books from spinner racks, some of which he still owns today.
Aaron's career in comics began in 2001 when he won a Marvel Comics talent search contest with an eight-page Wolverine back-up story script. The story, which was published in Wolverine #175 (June 2002), gave him the opportunity to pitch subsequent ideas to editors.
In 2006, Aaron made a blind submission to DC/Vertigo, who published his first major work, the Vietnam War story The Other Side which was nominated for an Eisner Award for Best Miniseries, and which Aaron regards as the "second time" he broke into the industry.
Following this, Vertigo asked him to pitch other ideas, which led to the series Scalped, a creator-owned series set on the fictional Prairie Rose Indian Reservation and published by DC/Vertigo.
In 2007, Aaron wrote Ripclaw: Pilot Season for Top Cow Productions. Later that year, Marvel editor Axel Alonso, who was impressed by The Other Side and Scalped, hired Aaron to write issues of Wolverine, Black Panther and eventually, an extended run on Ghost Rider that began in April 2008. His continued work on Black Panther also included a tie-in to the company-wide crossover storyline along with a "Secret Invasion" with David Lapham in 2009.
In January 2008, he signed an exclusive contract with Marvel, though it would not affect his work on Scalped. Later that July, he wrote the Penguin issue of The Joker's Asylum.
After a 4-issue stint on Wolverine in 2007, Aaron returned to the character with the ongoing series Wolverine: Weapon X, launched to coincide with the feature film X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Aaron commented, "With Wolverine: Weapon X we'll be trying to mix things up like that from arc to arc, so the first arc is a typical sort of black ops story but the second arc will jump right into the middle of a completely different genre," In 2010, the series was relaunched once again as simply Wolverine. He followed this with his current run on Thor: God of Thunder.
Aaron's career in comics began in 2001 when he won a Marvel Comics talent search contest with an eight-page Wolverine back-up story script. The story, which was published in Wolverine #175 (June 2002), gave him the opportunity to pitch subsequent ideas to editors.
In 2006, Aaron made a blind submission to DC/Vertigo, who published his first major work, the Vietnam War story The Other Side which was nominated for an Eisner Award for Best Miniseries, and which Aaron regards as the "second time" he broke into the industry.
Following this, Vertigo asked him to pitch other ideas, which led to the series Scalped, a creator-owned series set on the fictional Prairie Rose Indian Reservation and published by DC/Vertigo.
In 2007, Aaron wrote Ripclaw: Pilot Season for Top Cow Productions. Later that year, Marvel editor Axel Alonso, who was impressed by The Other Side and Scalped, hired Aaron to write issues of Wolverine, Black Panther and eventually, an extended run on Ghost Rider that began in April 2008. His continued work on Black Panther also included a tie-in to the company-wide crossover storyline along with a "Secret Invasion" with David Lapham in 2009.
In January 2008, he signed an exclusive contract with Marvel, though it would not affect his work on Scalped. Later that July, he wrote the Penguin issue of The Joker's Asylum.
After a 4-issue stint on Wolverine in 2007, Aaron returned to the character with the ongoing series Wolverine: Weapon X, launched to coincide with the feature film X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Aaron commented, "With Wolverine: Weapon X we'll be trying to mix things up like that from arc to arc, so the first arc is a typical sort of black ops story but the second arc will jump right into the middle of a completely different genre," In 2010, the series was relaunched once again as simply Wolverine. He followed this with his current run on Thor: God of Thunder.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
November 13, 2025
(A-) 83% | Very Good
Notes: Review pending re-read. Individual reviews for included volumes can be found here:
- Scalped: Rez Blues
- Scalped: You Gotta Sin to Get Saved
Notes: Review pending re-read. Individual reviews for included volumes can be found here:
- Scalped: Rez Blues
- Scalped: You Gotta Sin to Get Saved
April 15, 2025
There's actually a story in here with a happy ending!
Stop getting my hopes up, Aaron.
But that one story about the old couple who live all alone out in the middle of nowhere and it looks like so dire for these two? That's my favorite story in this whole entire Scalped run. But you know me, I love a little something sweet from time to time.
There are several stories in the beginning of this that go off on their own and look at characters that may or may not be important later on.
Shunka's big secret! <--did not see that one coming.
Carol's pregnancy was the big story arc for me in this one.
Will she be able to kick the habit? And even if she does, then what?
It tackles really tough subject matter and talks about several abortions that characters had, mothers who wanted to abort but didn't, and how all of these decisions trickled down for good or for bad. There's no black-and-white answer to any of it, and I appreciate that Aaron didn't try to give one.
Dash might be the main character, but I have a sneaking suspicion that Dino is the character that all of us are following. Watching him walk that razor's edge, hoping he doesn't fall, that's what draws our eyes to the page. It's such a subtle but incredibly powerful vein running through the entire storyline.
This was one of my favorite books out of the whole bunch.
Highly Recommended.
Stop getting my hopes up, Aaron.
But that one story about the old couple who live all alone out in the middle of nowhere and it looks like so dire for these two? That's my favorite story in this whole entire Scalped run. But you know me, I love a little something sweet from time to time.
There are several stories in the beginning of this that go off on their own and look at characters that may or may not be important later on.
Shunka's big secret! <--did not see that one coming.
Carol's pregnancy was the big story arc for me in this one.
Will she be able to kick the habit? And even if she does, then what?
It tackles really tough subject matter and talks about several abortions that characters had, mothers who wanted to abort but didn't, and how all of these decisions trickled down for good or for bad. There's no black-and-white answer to any of it, and I appreciate that Aaron didn't try to give one.
Dash might be the main character, but I have a sneaking suspicion that Dino is the character that all of us are following. Watching him walk that razor's edge, hoping he doesn't fall, that's what draws our eyes to the page. It's such a subtle but incredibly powerful vein running through the entire storyline.
This was one of my favorite books out of the whole bunch.
Highly Recommended.
July 28, 2018
"You gotta sin to get saved..."This penultimate chapter of Scalped reads like more of a waypoint on the way to it's inevitable finale. While the writing is still incredibly strong and the story continues to be compelling, much of it focuses on the characters dealing with the aftermath of the events from the previous book and setting them in place for the next one. It's really a transition story so it's not as stunning as the last installment. But you'd be hard pressed to find a better comic book series than this one.
May 13, 2021
Out of the four deluxe editions of scalped that I read so far, this one was the best. It is still brutal and over the top but it also was human and that was a bit missing in the previous books. 4.5 out of 5 stars.
May 29, 2018
Amazing storytelling. This needs more praise than it gets. The first fee issues were about side character which changed the story a little and I was worried the main story arc wasnt going to be coveree thoroughly for awhile. Cant wait for Book 5.
September 18, 2016
The best book in the series so far. Jason Aaron is a genius and scalped is a masterpiece.
August 1, 2019
As a kid I read Marvel comics. As a young adult I read indie and underground. Now as a 50 year old I’m reading Image, Vertigo, Dark Horse titles that I missed because I thought that indie stuff was elevated and somehow of higher quality. I was wrong. A series like Scalped brings the best art and writing together in a compelling combination. I’m Anishinaabe and I live on a reserve and quite frankly this is great fiction. It is not offensive because these scenarios exist in my community and I don’t believe Aaron is engaged in cultural appropriation because he is not pretending to be Lakota. He quite simply is a great crime writer using Lakota characters and there is a difference. Cultural appropriation is the fakery of Joseph Boyden and David Bouchard or those 1950s cowboys and Indians Cherokee princess children’s books with non-native authors.
January 25, 2019
Помаленьку нитки зшиваються, рушниці мають вистрелити. Аарон продовжує фокусувати увагу на окремих героях, не забуваючи про сюжет. Зокрема, історія Шунки (не знаю чи відміняється), чи не найближчого помічника в оточенні Червоного Ворона, показує його як суперечливого, контрастного й місцями ірраціонального персонажа, який, попри все, має свій моральний кодекс. Водночас піднімається тему гомосексуалізму серед корінного населення. Це цікаво тим, що права ЛГБТ спільноти особливо загострюються на тлі традиційної культури індіанців, побудованої на чітких ґендерних ролях. Черговий соціальний пласт, який показує, що Аарон зробив наукове дослідження на тему сучасного життя індіанців в Америці, грамотно це вписавши в кримінальну історію (чи радше навпаки).
Тема повоєнної травми індіанців - додаткова пунктирна лінія, теж варта уваги, адже індіанці й інші корінні племена патріотично служили у військах (відданість державі накладається на відданість племені), проте після закінчення тієї чи іншої війни ветерани лишались без соціального захисту. Тому й не дивно, що згодом спивались чи закінчували життя самогубством - покинуті й самотні. Травматичний досвід війни та постколоніальне минуле накладаються один на одне, загострюють і так не легку долю резервації (the rez).
Нарешті, образ Ловця для мене найбільш загадковий. Що керувало його мотивами? Чому він вирішив вчинити так, а не інакше? Легко його вважати божевільним, але Аарон хоче цим образом розкрити й інші аспекти життя індіанців, торкаючи також проблеми пам'яті, архетипів і, напевно, заблукалих людей. Це дуже умовна теорія, адже реальна сюжетна лінія веде нас до минулого - історії Джини й племенного руху. Наостанок, лінія Керол мене просто емоційно вибила, виснажила й опустошила. Аарон справді безжалісний до своїх героїв, але потім ти собі кажеш: напевно, інакше й не могло бути. За це й люблю цей комікс - за правду.
Тема повоєнної травми індіанців - додаткова пунктирна лінія, теж варта уваги, адже індіанці й інші корінні племена патріотично служили у військах (відданість державі накладається на відданість племені), проте після закінчення тієї чи іншої війни ветерани лишались без соціального захисту. Тому й не дивно, що згодом спивались чи закінчували життя самогубством - покинуті й самотні. Травматичний досвід війни та постколоніальне минуле накладаються один на одне, загострюють і так не легку долю резервації (the rez).
Нарешті, образ Ловця для мене найбільш загадковий. Що керувало його мотивами? Чому він вирішив вчинити так, а не інакше? Легко його вважати божевільним, але Аарон хоче цим образом розкрити й інші аспекти життя індіанців, торкаючи також проблеми пам'яті, архетипів і, напевно, заблукалих людей. Це дуже умовна теорія, адже реальна сюжетна лінія веде нас до минулого - історії Джини й племенного руху. Наостанок, лінія Керол мене просто емоційно вибила, виснажила й опустошила. Аарон справді безжалісний до своїх героїв, але потім ти собі кажеш: напевно, інакше й не могло бути. За це й люблю цей комікс - за правду.
May 19, 2017
Este tomo comienza con la que sin duda es una de las historias más humanas y conmovedoras que he leído en un cómic... en ella un matrimonio de ancianos que viven en una cabaña perdida en las tierras baldías, lleva a cabo una lucha diaria contra la vejez y la enfermedad para continuar con el tipo de vida que siempre han querido vivir... una historia de amor, orgullo y esperanza que abruma por su realismo y sentimiento, un interludio brillante y cálido entre toda la oscuridad de las historias que ocurren en la reserva de Prairie Rose.
Después volvemos al deambular de nuestros personajes habituales, Cuervo Rojo se encontrará con oposición por el liderato de la reserva, Nitz cae y se vuelve a alzar, aparecerá por la reserva el padre de Dash, al que por otro lado Catcher pondrá a prueba, Carol tendrá que tomar decisiones importantes en lo que posiblemente será su camino a la redención cuando la acoge la familia Oso Pobre... cada uno sigue su camino de cara al último tomo... espero mucho de ese tomo final, esta serie merece un cierre a la altura.
Después volvemos al deambular de nuestros personajes habituales, Cuervo Rojo se encontrará con oposición por el liderato de la reserva, Nitz cae y se vuelve a alzar, aparecerá por la reserva el padre de Dash, al que por otro lado Catcher pondrá a prueba, Carol tendrá que tomar decisiones importantes en lo que posiblemente será su camino a la redención cuando la acoge la familia Oso Pobre... cada uno sigue su camino de cara al último tomo... espero mucho de ese tomo final, esta serie merece un cierre a la altura.
September 9, 2018
This one brings on a statement of nihilism from the Dostoevsky school of literature, which is the perfect setup for the inevitable conclusion. One interesting technique that I really noticed in these volumes was the combination of thought bubbles and dialogue. Characters talking - or not talking as it were - and then showing their thoughts, the words they want to say but can't or won't say. This a powerful bit of omniscient narration that maybe can only be done in graphic novels, where you can show it all simultaneously in one panel.
August 31, 2016
4,5.
Is amazing how well written this book is. This is so far the best one of the series, can't wait for the fifth volume!
Is amazing how well written this book is. This is so far the best one of the series, can't wait for the fifth volume!
February 21, 2017
This series just gets more impressive with every volume. I'd even go so far as to say that Scalped is one of the finest crime comics ever published. I admit to not having read 100 Bullets, but I've generally not been impressed with any of Brian Azzarello's other comics that I've read, so I suspect I wouldn't like it as much as I like Scalped.
As always, Aaron makes sure we understand everyone's motives. We see how difficult their choices are. I think I've been rooting for every single one of the main characters at least once, even when they've switched sides. Volume Three seemed like the end, that there was nowhere left to go story-wise and it would all be coasting downhill from that point, but instead, we turn a corner and a new, bigger mountain comes into view. Aaron shows that, no matter how bad things got before, they can still get worse. I believe that Volume Five is the last one. I am looking forward to it with a mixture of dread and fascination. Highly recommended!
As always, Aaron makes sure we understand everyone's motives. We see how difficult their choices are. I think I've been rooting for every single one of the main characters at least once, even when they've switched sides. Volume Three seemed like the end, that there was nowhere left to go story-wise and it would all be coasting downhill from that point, but instead, we turn a corner and a new, bigger mountain comes into view. Aaron shows that, no matter how bad things got before, they can still get worse. I believe that Volume Five is the last one. I am looking forward to it with a mixture of dread and fascination. Highly recommended!
July 26, 2020
5⭐️
Scalped still holds the grimy, blood-splattered, numero uno spot in my heart for graphic novels.
This deluxe edition contains volumes 7 and 8 of Jason Aaron’s/ R.M. Guerra’s neo-noir masterpiece and is full of poignant “calm before the storm” moments.
You can feel things spiraling toward a conclusion for Dash, Red Crow and co., but this book starts with a touching story about an older Indian couple on the res, unrelated to anything else in Scalped, but it still hits just as hard.
I liked the background stories about Shunka and Dash’s father. Agent Nitz hits rock bottom. Carol and Dash work some things out and we start to think maybe those 2 crazy kids have a chance.
One of the themes in Scalped is how past mistakes are relived and repeated in each generation. Bullets fly and blood spills as the table is set for the conclusion of Scalped.
Scalped still holds the grimy, blood-splattered, numero uno spot in my heart for graphic novels.
This deluxe edition contains volumes 7 and 8 of Jason Aaron’s/ R.M. Guerra’s neo-noir masterpiece and is full of poignant “calm before the storm” moments.
You can feel things spiraling toward a conclusion for Dash, Red Crow and co., but this book starts with a touching story about an older Indian couple on the res, unrelated to anything else in Scalped, but it still hits just as hard.
I liked the background stories about Shunka and Dash’s father. Agent Nitz hits rock bottom. Carol and Dash work some things out and we start to think maybe those 2 crazy kids have a chance.
One of the themes in Scalped is how past mistakes are relived and repeated in each generation. Bullets fly and blood spills as the table is set for the conclusion of Scalped.
February 12, 2019
Scalped is a visceral tour de force into the badlands, both physically and metaphorically.
The gritty, punched up artwork accentuates the dialogue and the multi-threaded plot careens towards perdition.
There is no clear divide between the proverbial "good guys" and "bad guys". Rather each character grapples with their own inner demons in hopes of taking a right turn towards redemption.
Scalped is sublime in its execution, it doesn't shy away from dealing with harrowing issues and never seeks to dehumanise the many broken people that litter the landscape.
Scalped may start slow, there is also some uneven pacing, but that is understandable for a story that spans 60 issues, a labour of love, four years in the making.
To sum up in one word: brilliant!
The gritty, punched up artwork accentuates the dialogue and the multi-threaded plot careens towards perdition.
There is no clear divide between the proverbial "good guys" and "bad guys". Rather each character grapples with their own inner demons in hopes of taking a right turn towards redemption.
Scalped is sublime in its execution, it doesn't shy away from dealing with harrowing issues and never seeks to dehumanise the many broken people that litter the landscape.
Scalped may start slow, there is also some uneven pacing, but that is understandable for a story that spans 60 issues, a labour of love, four years in the making.
To sum up in one word: brilliant!
January 21, 2018
Algunas de las historias de Rez Blues y las respectivas catarsis de Dash y Carol se encuentran entre lo mejor que he leído en Scalped. Alcoholismo, drogas, abusos, homofobia, embarazos no deseados... Pequeñas estampas de la miseria y la crudeza a las que deben hacer frente mujeres, niños y hombres en las reservas. Mientras la trama central, la telaraña que conecta a los protagonistas, continúa girando mientras se cierra a su alrededor. Tengo ganas de leer el desenlace.
February 11, 2018
Hay algo que me perturba mucho en este tebeo y es que todo el mundo tiene sexo sin ganas.
En otros temas, empieza con una grapa que es simplemente preciosa. Una historia conclusiva, agridulce y llena de emociones que me hizo querer abrazar el tomo.
Después tenemos un pequeño alegato a la diversidad, condimentado con muchos tiros y sexo como no podría ser de otra manera en Scalped.
Y finalmente seguimos con nuestros protagonistas donde les dejamos, la cosa está que arde.
En otros temas, empieza con una grapa que es simplemente preciosa. Una historia conclusiva, agridulce y llena de emociones que me hizo querer abrazar el tomo.
Después tenemos un pequeño alegato a la diversidad, condimentado con muchos tiros y sexo como no podría ser de otra manera en Scalped.
Y finalmente seguimos con nuestros protagonistas donde les dejamos, la cosa está que arde.
September 23, 2022
I dalje odličan serijal. Malo ima nekih oscilacija i događaja za koje mislim da su mogli biti bolje rešeni, ali to su potpuno subjektivne stvari.
U ovoj knjizi priča o Kečeru je odlična, priča o Šunki je fenomenalna (podseća na Omara iz Žice po mnogim stvarima), otac Lošeg Konja se pojavljuje i stvari kreću da se razrešavaju.
Najbolji krimi serijal koji sam čitao i nadam se da će tako ostati i u zadnjoj knjizi.
U ovoj knjizi priča o Kečeru je odlična, priča o Šunki je fenomenalna (podseća na Omara iz Žice po mnogim stvarima), otac Lošeg Konja se pojavljuje i stvari kreću da se razrešavaju.
Najbolji krimi serijal koji sam čitao i nadam se da će tako ostati i u zadnjoj knjizi.
December 21, 2019
Still a very very good read, but have to give it just 4* because of the number of extremely random things that happen inside the book. Especially one part is completely needless, does not develop the characters or anything and is just...really, really a let down.
February 26, 2022
Absolut fenomenal!
December 31, 2022
The vision came and the end is probably near for everyone.
July 5, 2017
So, while Dash gets straightened out, he finds himself being in the middle of Nitz's and Red Crow's attention, a place where you really don't want to be with both parties ready to kill Dash, or throw him under the bus. As that goes on, the story shifts focus on the other characters of the rez. We see Shunka being sent out of the rez to deal with another Native American tribe (and boy did it hold some surprises). We get back to Carol, and how old Granny Poor Bear brought her to the closest thing to family she ever got. We also learn of Wade, Dash's father, and his incredible luck when he fought through Vietnam, as he suddenly makes an appearance in the rez. Most importantly, we see Nitz's fall and rise into power which keeps him on the tail of Red Crow.
I really love the opening issue of this book, with the old couple, living far away from the rez center. It's not much of a showcase of the couple as new characters, but more as a confirmation that the whole reservation and the Native American lineage as characters in the story. The dilapidated lands, street corners filled with drugs and murder, gives the general tone of somberness over everyone; countered by the resilience of the Native Americans who are still willing to stay despite the conditions and actually fight for a living. That's really good story-telling right there!
I really love the opening issue of this book, with the old couple, living far away from the rez center. It's not much of a showcase of the couple as new characters, but more as a confirmation that the whole reservation and the Native American lineage as characters in the story. The dilapidated lands, street corners filled with drugs and murder, gives the general tone of somberness over everyone; countered by the resilience of the Native Americans who are still willing to stay despite the conditions and actually fight for a living. That's really good story-telling right there!
March 16, 2017
Przedostatni tom tej znakomitej serii wciąż jest mroczny, a fabuła po raz kolejny zaskakuje. W sierpniu polskie wydanie ostatniej części. Myślę, że nie będzie rozczarowania. Oby tylko planowany serial sprostał tej wybitnie napisanej i narysowanej historii.
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March 22, 2021I had friends who swore by this series, as well as my local comic shop guy, and Youtubers that I watch who like to talk about comics, so I was quite excited to get into this series. In fact, some of the first reviews that I read on this site before I myself starting using it were of this series. Then I found a certain review of this series that so shocked me by its forceful use of its voice and language that, for one, I had to go out and find this guy and befriend him, as I was quite impressed with this review, and two, ruining a lot of chances for me to enjoy this series, as I couldn't get his opinions out of my head. So for that, I thank you Keely.
I've grown quite fond of Aaron through my readings of him, some of his works have given me a lot of joy and fun over these last few years. Though it's quite interesting to see him at an earlier point of his career, still finding himself as a writer, sadly I find that Scalped represents some of the lesser aspects of a debut, rather than the more stronger aspects of one.
Scalped seems unsteady, unpolished, and unsure of itself. Aaron hasn't quite come into his own voice here, and seems to be borrowing (quite liberally I might add) from some of his inspirations. At once we see Ennis' influence on this series, and then Miller's and yet, we don't see the strengths of those two's most celebrated work. Aaron shares Ennis' penchant for over the top extremes, though Aaron can't quite match Ennis' skill for merging his extremes with his storytelling in a natural way until later on in the series.
Scalped seems jarring to read at times with its chaotic pacing and constantly switching around from scene A to scene B. It's one of those cases where I find that if he had a good editor on his side, assuaging his more wild tendencies and focusing him in the right direction, then the series would've had a much stronger outing when it first began. Luckily, this jarred pacing does lighten up as the series moves along, and Aaron gains some more confidence in his voice.
The central idea of Scalped is strong, and the set ups of these characters was also strong, so I suppose it's why I kept with it, to see if this potential paid off in any way and in some ways it does. I was particularly fond of the one off stories focusing on the many characters who live in 'The Rez' as it's known, getting inside their heads and seeing their motivations as to why they are the way that they are. I was particularly intrigued by the story of Red Crow, the Native activist turned crime lord, I was fascinated by the internal conflict that he struggles through as the series goes on, and I was compelled as his story went on. It shows the Aaron that I've come to know, the one who likes to muddy the waters about who is good and evil in his stories and often makes who you root for much more complicated in the process.
The series continues to improve as Aaron continues to find his stride, though its still flawed in several ways. The pacing ends up becoming more streamlined as Aaron continues to roll along, finding his voice. But he never quite gets to the heights that he would eventually when he would go to write Southern Bastards, yet we do see the signs of the later Aaron as we go along, leading to an ending that left me melancholic, but also empty. Yet, it was an ending that was rather fitting to this series: not quite at its peak, but almost.
Guera's art is also intriguing, it has the classic 'Vertigo look' in terms of its color palate and texture, but it also is rather fitting for the series, having a style that's moody while also being ugly and decadent, much like the Rez that the series takes place in. But like with Aaron's writing, I find that the art never quite reaches its full potential, I often found it off-putting and shoddy as much as it was evocative and occasionally rich.
As said before, it is quite curious to see Aaron at the beginning of his career, still in the cusp of finding his voice, still finding his way through the Rez, and seeing where the journey takes him along the way. Scalped is an incomplete work (thematically). But it does show Aaron slowly coming to his own, and giving us a hint of the greatness that Aaron would eventually prove himself to be capable of.
July 11, 2023
Scalped: The Deluxe Edition Book Four takes readers on a gripping journey through the gritty and tumultuous world of the Prairie Rose Indian Reservation. Written by Jason Aaron and illustrated by R.M. Guéra, this volume presents a compelling continuation of the Scalped series, filled with intense character development, visceral storytelling, and a thought-provoking exploration of themes such as identity and redemption.
Set in the fictional Prairie Rose Indian Reservation, Scalped delves into the lives of its inhabitants, primarily focusing on Dashiell Bad Horse, a former resident turned undercover FBI agent. Book Four intertwines multiple story arcs, building upon the tumultuous events of the previous volumes as Dashiell finds himself entangled in a web of crime, corruption, and personal demons.
Aaron's writing remains consistently captivating throughout this volume, capturing the raw emotions, complexity, and harsh realities of life on the reservation. The dialogue is authentic and raw, convincingly portraying the everyday struggles, challenges, and conflicts faced by the characters. The narrative is punctuated by Aaron's deft ability to create tension, keeping readers engaged and eagerly turning the pages.
Guéra's artwork complements the dark and gritty tone of the series perfectly. His illustrations are striking, with a raw and gritty style that immerses readers in the world of Scalped. The use of muted colors and intricate detailing adds depth and realism to each panel, capturing the raw emotions of the characters and the harshness of their environment. Guéra's skillful portrayal of facial expressions further enhances the storytelling, effortlessly conveying the anguish and turmoil experienced by the characters.
In Book Four, the character development takes center stage, illuminating the depths of each character's struggle with their past, identity, and personal demons. Dashiell Bad Horse continues to grapple with his conflicting loyalties while seeking redemption for his own past choices. Other characters, such as Red Crow, Carol, and Catcher, undergo profound transformations, revealing their layered personalities and the internal conflicts they face.
The plot of this volume is intricately woven, with multiple storylines intertwining and converging towards a climactic finale. Aaron's masterful pacing keeps readers captivated, effortlessly balancing intense action sequences with poignant character-driven moments. The narrative offers a visceral exploration of the consequences that arise from the characters' choices, highlighting the complexities of morality and the blurred lines between good and evil.
Scalped also delves deep into social and cultural issues, shedding light on the struggles faced by Indigenous communities and the legacy of historical trauma. Aaron's storytelling does not shy away from addressing these issues head-on, adding layers of depth and relevance to the narrative. The series serves as a testament to the power of comics as a medium for social commentary and reflection.
In conclusion, Scalped: The Deluxe Edition Book Four is a triumph of storytelling that further solidifies the series as a must-read for fans of gritty and character-driven narratives. Aaron's writing is masterful, accompanied by Guéra's stunning artwork that brings the world of the Prairie Rose Indian Reservation to life. With its deeply human exploration of flawed characters, complex themes, and a gripping plot, Scalped continues to captivate readers and leaves them eagerly awaiting the next installment.
Set in the fictional Prairie Rose Indian Reservation, Scalped delves into the lives of its inhabitants, primarily focusing on Dashiell Bad Horse, a former resident turned undercover FBI agent. Book Four intertwines multiple story arcs, building upon the tumultuous events of the previous volumes as Dashiell finds himself entangled in a web of crime, corruption, and personal demons.
Aaron's writing remains consistently captivating throughout this volume, capturing the raw emotions, complexity, and harsh realities of life on the reservation. The dialogue is authentic and raw, convincingly portraying the everyday struggles, challenges, and conflicts faced by the characters. The narrative is punctuated by Aaron's deft ability to create tension, keeping readers engaged and eagerly turning the pages.
Guéra's artwork complements the dark and gritty tone of the series perfectly. His illustrations are striking, with a raw and gritty style that immerses readers in the world of Scalped. The use of muted colors and intricate detailing adds depth and realism to each panel, capturing the raw emotions of the characters and the harshness of their environment. Guéra's skillful portrayal of facial expressions further enhances the storytelling, effortlessly conveying the anguish and turmoil experienced by the characters.
In Book Four, the character development takes center stage, illuminating the depths of each character's struggle with their past, identity, and personal demons. Dashiell Bad Horse continues to grapple with his conflicting loyalties while seeking redemption for his own past choices. Other characters, such as Red Crow, Carol, and Catcher, undergo profound transformations, revealing their layered personalities and the internal conflicts they face.
The plot of this volume is intricately woven, with multiple storylines intertwining and converging towards a climactic finale. Aaron's masterful pacing keeps readers captivated, effortlessly balancing intense action sequences with poignant character-driven moments. The narrative offers a visceral exploration of the consequences that arise from the characters' choices, highlighting the complexities of morality and the blurred lines between good and evil.
Scalped also delves deep into social and cultural issues, shedding light on the struggles faced by Indigenous communities and the legacy of historical trauma. Aaron's storytelling does not shy away from addressing these issues head-on, adding layers of depth and relevance to the narrative. The series serves as a testament to the power of comics as a medium for social commentary and reflection.
In conclusion, Scalped: The Deluxe Edition Book Four is a triumph of storytelling that further solidifies the series as a must-read for fans of gritty and character-driven narratives. Aaron's writing is masterful, accompanied by Guéra's stunning artwork that brings the world of the Prairie Rose Indian Reservation to life. With its deeply human exploration of flawed characters, complex themes, and a gripping plot, Scalped continues to captivate readers and leaves them eagerly awaiting the next installment.
October 3, 2021
(Zero spoiler review) 3.5/5
The highest rated book of the series according to the reviewers here... please. This is the most disappointing of the four so far, and Unfortunately, I could see it coming. I lamented, with much foreboding in my bones, that book 3 was heading in a different, and much less enjoyable direction from books 1 & 2, which were some of the best comics I've read. This collection had a distinct feeling of filler to it, with several of the issues, including the opening three, being of no real consequence to the ongoing story, and the two part Shunka solo run, not only being drawn by the weakest of the now three artists on this title, but making some revelations about his character that had my audibly groaning and shaking my head. It certainly wasn't the start to this series I wanted, and whilst things ebbed and flowed from there, Aaron's once delectable dialogue and plotting have fallen into distinctly average territory.
The pacing was once on point, but now it is either unnecessarily rushed or awfully pedestrian. Once imposing characters have been neutered through either Aaron's indifference or malaise, or taking them in some unconventional and bizarre directions. Chief Red Crow, once an amazingly nuanced character, is a damp squib, who now speaks and acts like your average C grade movie villain. I went from loving this character to lamenting his metaphorical death. Dash is another that has been butchered, with the outstanding initial plot and arcs being butchered or ground to halt to seemingly grind out its length or because Aaron just didn't know what else to do. Despite the decent score I've given it, because I do love this world, despite its growing list of flaws, I really am very disappointed with this.
Guerra's art is still poignant and proficient in places, although his cleaner style that appeared through book 3 and continues here has lost some of the magic it once had. Sure, my dislike of my direction could be an influence, but I'm objective enough to separate my feelings for both (at least I think I can, anyway).
I'll keep this relatively succinct, as a zero spoiler review somewhat hampers the depth and detail I can go into, but believe me, I would love to go balls to the wall and really delve into the occasionally fantastic and deeply flawed story here. Until then, I only hope book 5 pulls it all back in and finishes on a high. 3.5/5
OmniBen.
The highest rated book of the series according to the reviewers here... please. This is the most disappointing of the four so far, and Unfortunately, I could see it coming. I lamented, with much foreboding in my bones, that book 3 was heading in a different, and much less enjoyable direction from books 1 & 2, which were some of the best comics I've read. This collection had a distinct feeling of filler to it, with several of the issues, including the opening three, being of no real consequence to the ongoing story, and the two part Shunka solo run, not only being drawn by the weakest of the now three artists on this title, but making some revelations about his character that had my audibly groaning and shaking my head. It certainly wasn't the start to this series I wanted, and whilst things ebbed and flowed from there, Aaron's once delectable dialogue and plotting have fallen into distinctly average territory.
The pacing was once on point, but now it is either unnecessarily rushed or awfully pedestrian. Once imposing characters have been neutered through either Aaron's indifference or malaise, or taking them in some unconventional and bizarre directions. Chief Red Crow, once an amazingly nuanced character, is a damp squib, who now speaks and acts like your average C grade movie villain. I went from loving this character to lamenting his metaphorical death. Dash is another that has been butchered, with the outstanding initial plot and arcs being butchered or ground to halt to seemingly grind out its length or because Aaron just didn't know what else to do. Despite the decent score I've given it, because I do love this world, despite its growing list of flaws, I really am very disappointed with this.
Guerra's art is still poignant and proficient in places, although his cleaner style that appeared through book 3 and continues here has lost some of the magic it once had. Sure, my dislike of my direction could be an influence, but I'm objective enough to separate my feelings for both (at least I think I can, anyway).
I'll keep this relatively succinct, as a zero spoiler review somewhat hampers the depth and detail I can go into, but believe me, I would love to go balls to the wall and really delve into the occasionally fantastic and deeply flawed story here. Until then, I only hope book 5 pulls it all back in and finishes on a high. 3.5/5
OmniBen.
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April 24, 2020Aaron cambia marcia. La storia è andata a 1000 all'ora nei primi volumi, poi forse gli viene chiesto di tirarla più per le lunghe di quando aveva in mente. Con una serie di albi in cui cambia stile (in maniera anche coraggiosa) incentrandoli su un personaggio e sul narrare le vicende quasi esclusivamente da un limited pov, si prepara già da questo volume una resa dei conti che arriverà presumibilmente nel prossimo. Come se la parte più importante fosse stata già raccontata, ci sono ellissi temporali fortissime, un ritmo più dilatato. Volontario o no, gradevole o meno, si cambia marcia e si va verso il finale.
E comunque provateci voi a scrivere un western noir di 60 albi in una riserva Lakota.
E comunque provateci voi a scrivere un western noir di 60 albi in una riserva Lakota.
May 4, 2020
The second last Deluxe Volume of Scalped continues the shifting narrative approach that Jason Aaron adopted in the previous volume. The primary story arc is periodically interrupted by one-shot style story lines that focus on different characters from the expansive cast. For some comics this might appear to be an unwelcome distraction or an excuse to pad out the narrative with irrelevant content. In this case however, I found each one shot to be an engaging diversion that sheds light on the motivations and back stories of different characters including Chief Red Crow, Shunka and Agent Nitz. A superb continuation of this great series. Only one more volume to go!
May 20, 2024
There are issues that are building too something and then there are those occasional issues that put everything out there in one crazy read. Wow what an intense last issue. Everything that has been laid out over the past year comes to a head this issue. All loose ends are tied up as the monumental 50th issue approaches. The action was fast and intense. Each of our main characters was faced with a moral decision and both decided to go with the angels. These characters are so complex and when they barely know themselves we can't be called upon to guess how they will react. I can't wait to see where things are headed in this series.
August 1, 2025
It took me quite some time to finish this book.
Simply because of its extraordinary combination of storytelling through art, excellent dialogue and moving character arcs.
I do not know whether this book is a good reflection of Indian culture, but I found much wisdom in this book as well.
The cover art of this book is one of the most beautiful covers I have seen in a long time.
Highly recommended, again…
Will read something different for now, to postpone reading the final volume (I feel a bit sad knowing some likeable characters probably won’t survive volume 5).
Simply because of its extraordinary combination of storytelling through art, excellent dialogue and moving character arcs.
I do not know whether this book is a good reflection of Indian culture, but I found much wisdom in this book as well.
The cover art of this book is one of the most beautiful covers I have seen in a long time.
Highly recommended, again…
Will read something different for now, to postpone reading the final volume (I feel a bit sad knowing some likeable characters probably won’t survive volume 5).
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