Love Scalped or Don't Pay For It (Make Capitalism Shine)

This is a wake-up call for people who suck but that don't yet know it, which is not a positive way to go through life. If you haven't been following Scalped by Jason Aaron, you've been seriously missing out and should consider yourself one of the aforementioned tragedies. It's tough to be too hard on you though. When the series first began I assumed it was just a Brian Azzarello / Garth Ennis rip-off, missing the depths of some of their books and simply looking to find excuses to parade around in sex, violence and excessive profanity. I very nearly was with the unfortunate majority that chose to skip this title. And while the first several issues only slightly negated my concerns, the ride since then has been unexpectedly fascinating and a shit ton of fun. More so even, than anything those other guys have done in recent memory.

Perhaps, in hindsight, this should have been less of a surprise. Aaron's previous book, The Other Side, was nominated for an Eisner, losing only to some unheard-of-guy by the name of Pope. Praise for Scalped is in no short supply either. Since it's inception, the book has seen pretty much every major name currently working in the comic biz finding some time to give it a plug or a slap on the ass. Brubaker, BKV, Ennis, Brian Wood and a slew of others are falling all over themselves to give this book the credit it has shown itself to deserve.

So why are we hyping other people's hype? Because this book still isn't selling like it should be. In a fair, rational, world Scalped would be already solidifying itself as one of Vertigo's flagship titles and digging in for a long and grisly run. Instead, its numbers are somewhat piddly and there's some guy over on the Newsarama forum having an aneurysm as he convinces himself the title is doomed to cancellation.

Don't get too worried yet though, because if there's anything we're learning it's that Jason Aaron is a man of vast righteousness. He and artist R.M. Guera believe in this title so much that they've gone ahead and put forward an offer; Buy the first trade paperback, Indian Country, read it, and if you don't like it just mail the damn thing to Aaron and he'll reimburse you for both the book and your shipping.

This all but eliminates reasons not to give Scalped a shot. You quite literally have nothing to lose. Even if you end up hating it, and decide the like-it-or-your-money-back thing was a sneaky evil marketing device, think of the satisfaction you'll get in voicing that opinion to Aaron. I have an entire box in my closet full of nothing but newish unsellable comics I hated. It would bring me great pleasure to send these all away to their respective creators with snarky notes attached, only to receive financial compensation as an apology for my trouble and wasted time.

This situation pans out win-win for the buyer however you look at it. Win-win is good. Either you get turned on to a tremendous new title, or you get to revel in the glory of shoving your dissatisfaction down the throat of those responsible. And although the latter may sound more immediately exciting in that phrasing, it's the more likely result listed first that is the real treat and that you should expect going in to this deal. If you like winning, Scalped is the book for you.

How many other titles are you buying this week about which Ennis says, "[this is] the best new series in years. Spread the word. Tell your friends. Talk about it. Blog about it."?

Or, when Ed Brubaker beseeches you,"please give a great book a chance. Drop some superhero book (not one of mine of course) that you're buying out of habit and not enjoying and try something new," can you think of a few books like that?

Read Scalped. It'll make you want to kick the shit out of someone, have a cigarette, and then take a nice long reflective stroll through the countryside trying to figure out exactly what the hell it all means. This is more than I can say for a great deal of my other comic reading most of which, at best, only makes me want a sandwich.

Link - Information on money-back guarantee
Link - Jason Aaron's blog
Link - Scalped Vol. 1 on Amazon for less than $10