Scalped Vol. 1: Indian Country - Softcover

Jason Aaron is an Eisner and Harvey Award-nominated comic book writer whose best known work includes the Native American crime series Scalped for Vertigo and stints on series such as Star Wars, Ghost Rider, Punisher MAX, Wolverine, Incredible Hulk, Wolverine & The X-Men, Thor, and Avengers vs. X-Men, all for Marvel. Jason was born in Alabama but currently resides in Kansas City. He enjoys many things, but shaving is not one of them.

R.M. Guera is a Serbian comic book author and illustrator. His work has been published in Spain, France, and the United States. His work includes the Vertigo Comics series Scalped, with writer Jason Aaron, as well as on Le Lievre de Mars, with writer Patrick Cothias for French publisher Glénat. He has lived in Barcelona, Spain since 1991.

Jock is the pseudonym of British comics artist Mark Simpson, best known for his work with Andy Diggle on the cult British comic 2000 AD and Vertigo's The Losers. He has also illustrated stunning covers for DC Comics titles including Batman, Nightwing, and Catwoman, as well as interior art for Swamp Thing and John Constantine, Hellblazer from Vertigo.

Starred Review. Aaron's reservation setting, described by a character in the first chapter as a third world nation in the heart of America, is perfect for a story of crime and family. Dash Bad Horse has come back to the reservation he ran away from at age 13. Now he enforces the law in a land where many have given up hope. Bad Horse is also an undercover FBI agent, put back in his home so federal authorities can take down crime boss and casino owner Lincoln Red Crow. Aaron masterfully depicts Bad Horse's tortured split psychology. The character is tough as nails and switches quickly between displaying likable and unlikable behavior. The family dynamics, which includes Bad Horse's activist mother and Red Crow's wild daughter, could come off as soap opera, but Aaron knows how to use personal relationships to explain character and setting. The world of the Prairie Rose Reservation is full of life thanks to the art of Guera, somewhat in the vein of Eduardo Risso's on 100 Bullets. His characters contain a certain amount of grace no matter how ugly the situations get. The second story collected in the book is the flashback-heavy Hoka Hey, which shows that Aaron has a complex history planned for these characters. (Aug.)
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