From Very Short List:
On a weekend when the box office is about to be dominated by the film adaptation of Frank Miller’s graphic novel 300, it’s worth asking: Can an adult still read a contemporary comic book and feel like an adult afterward?
In the case of SCALPED, the answer is a resounding, bloodcurdling yes. Written by Jason Aaron and illustrated with mordant relish by R. M. Guéra, the monthly serial takes the familiar noir formula of babes, bullets, and bad language to a place it’s never gone before: a dilapidated Native American reservation. As a story of corruption and redemption unfolds (and the bodies pile up), Aaron and Guéra pay tribute to genre masters from Mickey Spillane to Quentin Tarantino — they even have the good sense to name their protagonist Dashiell Bad Horse.
No cultural stereotypes and no pulled punches — just an unflinching look at what one character calls “a third world nation in the heart of America.”
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2 comments :
Hi Jason,
You may (or may not) remember from the recent NY Comicon where I was the fan who had a copy of every book you'd published up to that point. I'm also the one who couldn't come up with an opinion as to how you'd ended The Other Side. I'm just dropping you a line to let you know how much I appreciated your kindness to me as well as to ask a couple questions.
1) I know that at this point you only have 9 actual comics out there for fans to purchase with two trade paperbacks forthcoming. With that in mind, I've been wondering how actively you've been a guest on the convention circuit? Was NYC one of your first?
2) I'm very much enjoying Scalped right now. The end of the first issue had such a nice twist to it. You mentioned that R.M. Guera was someone who'd published extensively in Europe. I hope that translations of his work become as readily available as Eduardo Risso at some point in the near future. As a beginner in this field, did you have your choice of artist or was this one chosen for you? Can you offer a list of other candidates?
Thanks again, Jason. Hope you get the opportunity to do that Batman story you have in mind. I wish you the best as far as your career is concerned. Bye for now.
Sincerely,
Patrick Herman
Hey, Patrick. Yes, of course I remember you. In answer to your questions:
1) I've been going to conventions for years, but NYCC was the first time I'd ever signed at the DC booth. I'll also be at San Diego this year.
2) My editor Will Dennis and I chose the artist together. We looked at a bunch of different samples, mostly European artists, but once we saw Guera's work, we both knew instantly he was our man. Guera's previous work consists of a lot of westerns, and like you I'd love to see them translated.
Thanks.
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