Scalped: Indian Country, Volume 1

Aaron's reservation setting, described by a character in the first chapter as a “third world nation in the heart of America,” is perfect for a story of crime and family. Dash Bad Horse has come back to the reservation he ran away from at age 13. Now he enforces the law in a land where many have given up hope. Bad Horse is also an undercover FBI agent, put back in his home so federal authorities can take down crime boss and casino owner Lincoln Red Crow. Aaron masterfully depicts Bad Horse's tortured split psychology. The character is tough as nails and switches quickly between displaying likable and unlikable behavior. The family dynamics, which includes Bad Horse's activist mother and Red Crow's wild daughter, could come off as soap opera, but Aaron knows how to use personal relationships to explain character and setting. The world of the Prairie Rose Reservation is full of life thanks to the art of Guera, somewhat in the vein of Eduardo Risso's on 100 Bullets . His characters contain a certain amount of grace no matter how ugly the situations get. The second story collected in the book is the flashback-heavy “Hoka Hey,” which shows that Aaron has a complex history planned for these characters. (Aug.)