While Casino Boogie (the second volume of Jason Aaron’s new series, Scalped) ends at the exact same point as the first volume, Aaron has greatly expanded what we knew about the world Dashiell Bad Horse has returned to. Bad Horse is an undercover FBI agent who has been sent back to the Oglala reservation to bring down current tribal leader Red Crow, who was involved with a militant Indian Rights group 30 years before. While the first volume was all about Bad Horse, this volume shines a light on several characters, including Red Crow. By the time the second book wraps up, it is hard to tell who to root for. Everyone has blood on their hands and everyone is striving to escape the stifling poverty and oppression of the “rez”. Particular individuals, like Red Crow, are trying in their own warped way to lift up the entire reservation. In his case, it’s through the development of the new casino, which is marred by setback after setback. This adult series definitely has a dark tone, but there are noble intentions starting to show through all the murkiness.
Other interesting reads in ongoing graphic novel series:
Ultimate Fantastic Four V. 9: Silver Surfer by Mike Carey
This series has been faltering lately, though it has nicely reinvigorated the Fantastic Four concept by making them all younger. Carey does some interesting, scary things with an old FF villain with a lame name, Psycho-Man. He is called the King in this version (though the phrase Psycho-Man does pop up a couple of times) and he has the power to make everyone love him. In another nice change, instead of being the herald of Galactus, the Silver Surfer is now the herald of the King. Carey has set Reed Richards up as an incredibly smart teen whose youth and egotistical confidence in his ability to solve every problem is constantly putting the earth in jeopardy. Here the earth is close to being under the King’s permanent dominion after Richards summons the Silver Surfer to our galaxy by mistake. This young man’s flaw provides a rich vein for the storytellers to mine and it will no doubt come to a head in future volumes.
DMZ V. 4: Friendly Fire by Brian Wood
In the fourth volume of DMZ, we find out more about the incident that led to the US government giving up on reunifying the demiliterized zone of the former New York with the rest of the US. The friendly fire incident is depicted from multiple perspectives as Matty Roth interviews numerous figures in the tragedy, trying to find the truth. Much like real life, the truth is in the eye of the beholder and Matty is confronted with the limits of what the press can do in a war zone. This story continues to deepen and reflects on much of our current predicament around the world.
Ultimate Spider-man V. 19: Death of a Goblin by Brian Michael Bendis
Bendis returns to the Norman Osborn Green Goblin storyline one more time, and while he has made Peter’s relationship to Osborn the backbone of the title, it still works several story arcs later. Osborn’s final confrontation with his son, Harry, is handled well and we are left wondering what they can possibly do with the Green Goblin after this tragic ending. Only time will tell, but I hope they will give the Goblins a long rest. New artist, Stuart Immonen, does a nice job maintaining the style of Mark Bagley’s art on this title, while adding a touch of reality as well.
