Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews
Scalped #42
DC Comics
Aaron & Guera
Scalped deals out a shocking issue to its conclusion of the Unwanted arc. This series usually excels at taking its characters to new depths and this issue may top them all. The irony is that it does so without violence, drug use or questionable alliances. Instead the heart of the issue deals with the unsaid – the things we wish we could say to someone that could change everything. Or in some cases, the things we wish we didn't say that could have pushed our lives into a completely different direction. This issue is just gut wrenching.
The theme of the issue is the question of the baby growing inside Carol. Is the baby unwanted just as Carol and Dash seemed to have been spurn from by their own parents? Are Carol and Dash examples of how unwanted pregnancies don't necessarily debunk the flawed notion that any given baby can overcome its impossible surroundings? Would introducing a child into an impossible situation just bring another life into the world that has no chance of escaping the malaise its parents seem to be stuck in? Carol debates telling Dash about the baby.
Dash, dealing with his own demons, tries to say a lot of things to Carol but can only manage to half-apologize for hitting her and to invite her to run away with him once he's dealt with Carol's father, Red Crow. He walks away from the conversation wishing he had told her more, but also thinking he shouldn't have said all that he had.
Carol doesn't say much of anything. Instead, Carol pushes Dash away and manages to provide a level of forgiveness toward him. Her side is pretty much dominated by telling or not telling Dash that she is pregnant. She walks away from the conversation confident about her decision on whether or not to keep the baby. She is also confident in her decision about telling (or not telling) Dash.
The comic book relies heavily on the art. The issue contains very little dialogue between characters and makes use of the emotions and counter emotions depicted in the art. It's a very griping comic book, both when Carol and Dash talk and then after. The pain can be felt jumping off the page.
Scalped takes its two main characters into new directions as both are cleaned up, yet still broken. I found myself hoping each would say the right thing to each, but knowing that nothing could possibly solve their problems with each other. It turns out drugs wasn't their primary problem. This issue just helps highlight that the sins of the parents are definitely passed down to the children in this title. This was a very good story with an excellent and surprising conclusion.
5 out of 5 Geek Goggles
