I’m trying a new approach to writing comic book reviews.  You may have read my post from quite a while ago covering Scarlet #1.  This post concludes the first in hopefully many more volumes of a girl who wants to change the world.

In an attempt to get away from supers for a while I decided to pick up Scarlet by Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev.  The story takes place in Portland, Oregon and our protagonist is a twenty something girl.  Like all great heroes something tragic happens and she is called to action.

I have to say that I always appreciate the call to arms when it is more realistically approachable.  If we think about super heroes, can everyone always be saved?  Should they? While I understand that some characters die (good and bad), it’s becoming a bit of a cliché to have someone come back after six months of their death.   Scarlet’s approach to her goal in life is a violent one, though necessary to her.  It’s obviously too grand of a dream for all of us to realize what a wonderful it could world it could be without corruption, but she knows it and still pushes on.  If you pick up the (hopefully released) trade paperback you might miss some of the emails and letters to Bendis and Maleev regarding the idea of corruption in the government.  It’s obviously a line that all officials face.  Some realize that they can benefit from abusing their privileges.

You’ll find the dialogue to be intriguing and sometimes thought provoking as she breaks the wall of communication and speaks to you, the reader (note: square boxes).  While it is quite common to break this barrier I have to say that at least hers invites you to her emotions and her struggle.  We’re introduced to a few characters that will gravitate around Scarlet.  I am appreciative of the fact that there are clearly no defined lines of good and bad as everyone is conflicted with what is going on, including Scarlet herself (at least at first).  The characters know the difference between right and wrong, but are starting to see the ripple effect of Scarlet’s crusade.

The artwork is fantastic.  It’s very much like photography painted over (if that’s what it is, by the way, I am a bit of an art numbskull).  The appropriate use of the color red in the cells highlights our character or any other else that needs our eye’s attention.  It might be the only color that is allowed to be more than earthy or dull.

If you are looking to escape the fantasy worlds of comic book heroes I recommend this title.  The first part of the series keeps a steady pace while introducing elements that will help and/or hurt Scarlet.

This review collects issues of Scarlet #1 – #5 (Book One) by Icon with Brian Michael Bendis as the writer and Alex Maleev as the artist.