SCALPED #50

Maybe Erik Larsen has me spoiled. If you read Savage Dragon then you know that when a big-number issue hits (i.e. #100, #150), you're in for a very large, very special, very shocking issue. It's a big-number issue, a milestone, why not make it a special book to celebrate all the years, the hard work? Lately, though, the big issues have been retrospective issues and all-together lame, often chucking the good, main artist for a bunch of fill-in artists. I'm thinking of Ultimate Spider-Man #150 and Superman #700, which were downright awful, but Scalped #50 plays into that as well. Scalped is a great book. The art by R.M. Guera helps. His stuff is dark, edgy, detailed, and off-kilter. It fits the bleak mood to a T. The dialogue, pacing, and plot by Jason Aaron are almost always top-notch. The main character might be the biggest anti-hero (and total asshole) you've ever met, but that doesn't mean you aren't rooting for him to save the day (and stay alive). The problem I've had with this book is that it's been treading water for way too long. The premise is that Dash is an undercover F.B.I. agent that has infiltrated the nefarious, criminal world of his Indian reservation that's led and ruled by Red Crow. Eventually Red Crow will find out that Dash is undercover and the shit will hit the fan. The problem is getting to that crucial juncture. There have been a ton of fill-in issues about other characters and issues not drawn by Guera that just haven't worked. #50 is no exception. It basically follows the "history" of scalping and leads into a bunch of splash pages by guest artists. For a big issue, this is a complete letdown. It's the big 5-0...do something that actually pushes the plot forward. Do something surprising, shocking. How many Vertigo titles even make it this far? Will this book just keep stalling for another fifty issues? Seriously, dude, wrap this fucker up. * (out of ****).