|
Have I mentioned how good the comic Scalped is? Yes, I think I have. But now that it's available in TPB it gives you (comic nerds) the perfect excuse to get into what I think is the best currently running comic title. Less gimmicky than the writing in 100 Bullets has become, with artwork on par with Risso's, it is hard not to compare the two since the creative team, Jason Aaron/R.M. Guera, seem to borrow a lot stylistically from Azzarello/Risso. Even the colour schemes are similar.
At first it might seem like a calculated effort on Vertigo's part - let's do the same thing again because it worked before. But it's got an assured, back-to-basics storytelling style with classically high-quality artwork, and an even better-researched and more authentic-feeling setting of a modern day Indian reserve. It may not be quite as fresh as 100 Bullets would have been when it came out, but has an undeniably honest creative force behind it that very quickly makes you not care how superficially similar it may or may not be to any other comic. One interesting difference is in the storytelling format: Scalped takes an approach where each issue is told from the point of view of a different character. The overall story arc is moved forward in this way. It's all very seamless however, and I didn't even notice this until I was several issues in. I've also been reading Buffy Season 8. Mostly for completism. Even though Joss Whedon is writing it, the comic thus far feels very much like a generic mainstream superhero comic. Whedon himself has said that now he gets to do all the stuff that he wanted to do on TV but couldn't, due to budget and special effects limitations. Unfortunately this seems to have sapped all the great little writing tricks and unconventional goodness that the show had.
Still, it's not horrible... just average. I'll probably keep reading it for a while just out of habit.
Most recent pin-up from me... torso maybe not so good. I need to get to a life drawing session this week.
|
