Scarlet #1
Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Art by Alex Maleev
What if Ferris Bueller was a hot redhead with authority issues and a knack for violence? We find out in Scarlet, the new creator-owned title from Daredevil collaborators Bendis and Maleev. At a glance, the whole “hot girl with guns” angle looks very 1990′s, but the execution here takes Scarlet far from the boobs and bullets archetype from which she is seemingly born. Her world is ours. This is no post-apocalyptic tale. It’s the real world and it’s broken. At least that’s what Scarlet thinks.
Scarlet’s world views are easy to glean from the issue because she flat-out tells us. Sure, caption boxes on occasion speak “to” the reader, but Scarlet speaks directly to the readers here in a technique I personally have never seen before. At first, it’s a little unnerving, but it grew on me pretty quickly. It’s an interesting way to present the character, her world, and her mission of anarchy and destruction. For as much as she talks about how broken the world is, it’s clear early on that it’s Scarlet who’s broken. Rather than drag out her “secret origin,” Bendis mercifully shows us right up front how she got broken and why she is the way she is. It’s a sad story and she quite honestly snapped. She’s anarchistic and sociopathic and that’s a dangerous combination.
The art is, of course, a marvel to look at if you’re a Maleev fan. The man’s work continually evolves and this book is no different. It’s two talented creators doing what they do best. It’s talking heads, a beautiful female lead, a gritty environment and more character than you can shake a stick at. It’s easy to give Scarlet #1 5 out of 5 doctored news stories.
Can’t wait to read this.
I have always perffered Bendis when he writes his own creations then when he writes others, the exception being Ultimate Spider-Man. I wuill defnitly be looking into this once it is traded.
I… couldn’t get into this to save my soul. I found it boring, flat out.
I will say that, while not a Maleev fan in general, this is some of the best stuff I’ve seen from him.
Oh, and… I’ve seen this kind of talking to the reader before… in Deadpool. Not as extensively, but yeah, it’s been done.
Oh, come now. This is nothing like Deadpool.
Speaking to the audience sure as shit is.
Wow, you didn’t like this either? I loved it. Interesting take on a traditional story, with an ending that makes me wonder how the rest of the issues will go.
I can definitely see your Deadpool comparisons though. She had legs. Deadpool has legs. She had red hair, Deadpool wears red. [/sarcasm]
Lee said he’d “never seen anything like” a character talking directly to the reader. Deadpool does exactly that. That’s the end of the comparison I’m making.
This is a different type of device.
Ambush Bug talked to the audiance before Deadpool was even a thought.