Justice League Dark #12 Review

Not too long ago, DC had a very strict rule about letting characters from the Vertigo universe interact with the regular DCU. But now that there is no distinction between the two universes, certain books are taking advantage of the new freedom to mingle. Case in point -- Justice League Dark is quickly turning into fanboy heaven for anyone who adores DC's various horror and magically tinged properties.

Jeff Lemire continues his exploration of Tim Hunter in this issue as Books of Magic becomes the latest Vertigo inductee. The twist is that Tim Hunter has neither the books nor the magical ability any longer. Lemire reveals more about that situation while playing up the mystery of just what role Hunter will play in the series and who will wind up possessing the books.

Elsewhere, our heroes are divided into two camps, as some head to Slaughter Swamp and others to Felix Faust's Peruvian temple. There's some entertaining character interaction to be had now that the focus is more intimate. Perhaps the juiciest scene is the one where Constantine reveals what dark secret ties him to Zatanna. Their relationship, always an entertaining one in any continuity, looks to be taking on a new dimension in the New 52. Coupled with a bit of back-story for the troubled Dr. Mist and more scenes involving the mysterious foe guiding the conflict, and Lemire's character work drives this issue forward.

Mikel Janin's work remains pretty strong even after a year. Issue #11 suffered because the CG elements were often too obvious and the characters too stiffly posed, but issue #12 rebounds to an extent. And regardless, the ethereal mood and vivid colors are always present to provide the series with its signature style.

Unfortunately, Lemire doesn't end this issue on the resounding, definitive note I was hoping for given the Zero Month gap that's coming up. Still, there's no reason not to be excited for the continuation of this ongoing story in October.

Jesse is a writer for IGN Comics and IGN Movies. He can't wait until he's old enough to feel ways about stuff. Follow Jesse on Twitter, or find him on IGN.

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Scalped #60 Review

It’s hard to believe, but we’ve reached the end of one of the most engaging works to come out of Vertigo in the last decade: Scalped. It’s been a long, hard road paved with blood (lots of blood) and a fair share of misery to boot. If, for some misguided reason, you were expecting a happy ending, well, you’ve got another thing coming. To his credit though, Jason Aaron manages to subvert expectations and concludes this series in a fitting, if not entirely definitive, manner.

While the rather open ended conclusion is something you’ll be mulling over for quite a while (the Sopranos comparisons continue!), thematically, Aaron hits a home run in this issue. Most importantly, the evolution of both Dash and Red Crow finally reach completion as Aaron masterfully reverses their roles in many ways. At the bitter end, we’re left sympathizing far more with the former “big bad” of the series than we are our protagonist. Scalped is nothing if not shades of grey, and that is only underlined with its conclusion.

Through witnessing the paths of Dash and Red Crow cross and diverge into unexpected territory, reversing roles -- along with the fall from grace for the formerly innocent Dino and Carol taking on the nurturing role of Granny after spending most of the series toiling in her own personal demons -- Aaron underlines the cyclical nature of the Prairie Rose Rez. Though some of the cast learns from their predecessor’s mistakes and some are doomed to repeat history, all are inexplicably tied to the Rez no matter how much they pine to escape. Their lives simply become a matter of accepting their role within it.

While the thematic content of the issue is remarkably poignant, the actual narrative does leave something to be desired. Aaron begins with the much-hyped shootout that we left at the end of issue #59, but it wraps quickly, dispatching a few characters in haste. From there, the book moves to a series of “wrap-up” vignettes that deliver the aforementioned thematic triumphs. As an issue, #60 is disjointed and even jarring, but as a conclusion to the 59 issues that came before it, it’s far more successful.

R.M. Guera finishes out his work on the series with the same grimy-but-gorgeous grit that has been the earmark since the beginning. His blacks are heavy and his lines are plentiful, but Guera manages to tell Aaron’s story masterfully. The thematic beats are underscored with Guera’s subtle visual cues and panel pacing that help the sometimes scattered script remain poignant.

While the ultimate fate of Dash Bad Horse will leave some readers debating or perhaps even upset, in the context of the greater whole, it’s the only place he was going from the get-go. Scalped is a crime epic that it’s not hyperbole to call a modern classic, and its conclusion will put a serious void in my pull list.

Joey is IGN's Comics Editor and a comic book creator himself. Follow Joey on Twitter, or find him on IGN. He loves superhero pets so hard.

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