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troncocionco's review
3.0
A caldo, dopo appena 11 numeri, vi direi che #Scalped di Jason Aaron è una bella lettura ma assolutamente non il capolavoro che tanti decantano. Ha dalla sua una ambientazione davvero originale ma è tutto un po' troppo prevedibile. Forse avevo delle aspettative troppo alte e dalle voci che girano intorno a questo fumetto mi aspettavo chissà che cosa. Fatto sta che sono rimasto un po' disilluso. Sopratutto la lettura è maledettamente altalenante: ci sono momenti in cui non vedi l'ora di girare pagina e altri in cui l'attenzione e l'interesse scemano velocemente. I personaggi sembrano fatti un po' con lo stampo, tutti un po' troppo simili: spietati ma nel profondo giusti, taciturni ma tormentati. Tipo, Caino di The Goddamned è più o meno la copia sputata di Dash o di Wolverine. Cambiano le motivazioni e il contesto ma il nucleo sembra lo stesso. Mo detto così sembra che Scalped mi abbia fatto schifo - cosa che non penso assolutamente - però l'aura da masterpiece, non dico vada dissolta perché dopo tutto sono 11 numeri, però andrebbe un minimo diradata.
runjohnnyrun845's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
dereksilva's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
I think you'll really enjoy this book if you're looking for a gritty crime story. In a lot of ways, I was reminded of Preacher. The plot is interesting and I like the pace, which isn't the fastest but does nicely roll out over the course of this book. I also enjoy the flashbacks mixed throughout to share the backstories of the characters. I prefer slightly clearer art, but this was drawn well and is very much like other Vertigo series.
This book lost a star for me because even though I like gritty, over-the-top stories, it felt like Aaron was really playing up the Native American angle in a way that could seem offensive. I was initially drawn to this series because I wanted a story with Native characters and it does seem like Aaron has done his research on the Lakota and reservations in general. He mixes in the Lakota language, traditional cultural elements, and the issues that people on reservations face (like high levels of poverty and fetal alcohol syndrome). But Aaron also makes the reservation feel like a bit of a caricature. It's a complete wasteland full of nothing but drug addicts, whores, and degenerate humans. There are no positive aspects to life on the reservation. There was one character who got a more human backstory, but even that was written to feel very bleak. Perhaps making the reservation look as bad as possible is helpful for Aaron to tell a more dramatic story, but I would have preferred that he tone it down a bit. Now, with all that being said, I am not Lakota and have not lived on a reservation, so I can't say how offensive this book may be. It ultimately feels to me like any other gratuitous crime story with some cultural bits thrown in.
This book lost a star for me because even though I like gritty, over-the-top stories, it felt like Aaron was really playing up the Native American angle in a way that could seem offensive. I was initially drawn to this series because I wanted a story with Native characters and it does seem like Aaron has done his research on the Lakota and reservations in general. He mixes in the Lakota language, traditional cultural elements, and the issues that people on reservations face (like high levels of poverty and fetal alcohol syndrome). But Aaron also makes the reservation feel like a bit of a caricature. It's a complete wasteland full of nothing but drug addicts, whores, and degenerate humans. There are no positive aspects to life on the reservation. There was one character who got a more human backstory, but even that was written to feel very bleak. Perhaps making the reservation look as bad as possible is helpful for Aaron to tell a more dramatic story, but I would have preferred that he tone it down a bit. Now, with all that being said, I am not Lakota and have not lived on a reservation, so I can't say how offensive this book may be. It ultimately feels to me like any other gratuitous crime story with some cultural bits thrown in.
honguan's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
noreadingdegree's review against another edition
3.0
I was immediately drawn to the cover of this graphic novel and from the brief synopsis on the back it was giving me Breaking Bad-esque so it was a must buy for me.
Overall, I enjoyed Scalped. It's gritty, violent, suspenseful. Everything you could ever want in a noir crime story. However, the constant flashbacks ranging from 40 years ago to 8 hours ago created a disjointedness with the plot. Yes, it aided in the mystery and suspense, but stunted the flow of the plot.
Scalped depicts Native American Reservation issues such as organized crime, poverty, and alcoholism, but is told through the eyes of a non-Native. This gives me wonder into it's authenicity and potential appropriation of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. With that being said, I cannot make that judgement and must educate myself further through reviews.
Overall, I enjoyed Scalped. It's gritty, violent, suspenseful. Everything you could ever want in a noir crime story. However, the constant flashbacks ranging from 40 years ago to 8 hours ago created a disjointedness with the plot. Yes, it aided in the mystery and suspense, but stunted the flow of the plot.
Scalped depicts Native American Reservation issues such as organized crime, poverty, and alcoholism, but is told through the eyes of a non-Native. This gives me wonder into it's authenicity and potential appropriation of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. With that being said, I cannot make that judgement and must educate myself further through reviews.
abdullahi's review
3.0
The art and the flow of the panels are impressive, Guéra did a very good job. As for the story, I enjoyed the silent parts, where the characters moved around without uttering a word. The style reminded me of 100 Bullets and that's something that attracts me to the series.
nigellicus's review
5.0
I mean, I think it can be safely said that Scalped shows a great deal of sympathy for the plight of Native Americans, but for the most part the characters are divided up into those who succumb to the paralysing poisons of poverty, ignorance and despair and those who drift or charge or are pushed into a brutal and violent life of crime. There are a few sad relics of radical sixties idealism around, and it's their failures which drive the plot, so all in all it's a relentlessly grim and squalid story, with only occasional glimpses of humanity. I'm not sure I'd be thrilled if someone came into my community and told this kind of story about it, but who knows? Perhaps the anger at the results of injustice and neglect and racial prejudice is the important thing to take away from Scalped, aside from the crazy violent story.
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