Scalped #45

Written by Jason Aaron
Art by RM Guera

Ostensibly, Scalped is about Dash Bad Horse, the undercover FBI agent who is insinuating himself into Chief Lincoln Red Crow's crew to help bring him down.  But it's not really about that at all, as we have no idea what Dash's plans and motives are any more.

The thing is, Scalped has grown to be about so much more than just Dash.  My new theory is that this book is about Red Crow's search for redemption, that just seems to always elude him.  Previously, after Dash's mother was killed, Granny Poor Bear put Red Crow in charge of looking after her spirit for a year; a job he ultimately could not do.  Now, with the introduction of Hassell Rock Medicine, an old man who helped raise Red Crow after his father's death, we see the door to redemption open up once again.

You see, Rock Medicine has decided to challenge Red Crow for leadership of their tribe.  This puts all of Red Crow's criminal dealings and plans in danger, yet he won't lift a finger to work against the old man.  He keeps Shunka, his attack dog, on an ever-shorter leash, and is beginning to give Dash even more responsibility within his organization.  I believe Red Crow knows that Dash will bring him down, and is working towards that.

The character of Lincoln Red Crow is one of the best written to ever appear in comics, and I absolutely love this book, and the layers of complexity that Aaron brings to it.  It's also great to see Dino Poor Bear, my favourite character, appear briefly, and to see regular series artist RM Guera return.