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Scarlet, Issue #1
Scarlet, Issue # 1

The first issue of the Icon comic book series written by Brian Michael Bendis and with art by Alex Maleev.

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"This World Has To Burn Before All The F**kers Learn to Stop Being F**kers..."

  • Aug 12, 2010
Exclusive to the Lunch Network
Rating:
+4
Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev, the duo who brought “Daredevil” to new heights a couple of years ago and who are also responsible for the mini-series “Spider-Woman”; now they are teaming up with the folks (Icon, a division of Marvel comics) who released the acclaimed mini-series “Kick Ass” with the new comic series “SCARLET”. For those of you familiar with the comics released under “Icon”, they are anything but for kids. This comic book is very dark, gritty and comes out with a bang with this fabulous first issue.

It is difficult to describe the plot in this debut issue as it is more or less a monologue of the main character. The reader finds the titular character speaking to them, describing her past while filling in the blanks as to why she had just killed a cop.

I’ll let SCARLET describe issue # 1 herself:
“GOOD people are victims. Bad people are heroes. Dumb is a virtue. Food is poison. Corruption is a national past time. Rapists rape. The poor are left to rot. Religion is business. No one is safe and everyone thinks it’s funny. Why is the world allowed to be this way? Why doesn’t anyone do anything?”

“I am going to stop it…all of it. But the thing of it is…YOU’RE GOING TO HELP ME.”

           

                                                     

Whoa. Pretty strong words aren’t they? It is hard to judge whether the series is going to be awesome but I can assure you, Bendis and Maleev have never failed me when it comes to insanely dark, intense, entertaining comic book storytelling. Issue number one comes out pretty strong, (I usually don’t review single issues but this is special) and comes out with all guns blazing to entice new readers. The style of the comic is quite different, as it is an issue that focuses on Scarlet speaking to the reader directly as if she knows she is being watched. It is a clever approach for sure as we see her kill a police officer and then things become a lot clearer from there. 

       Scarlet

The reader is kept guessing just what are the motivations behind Scarlet’s actions. Who is she…an assassin or a government operative….or is she something else entirely? Well, one thing’s for sure, she is a woman with a very special skill and she slowly narrates what got her into this position. This is a woman who is very angry and don’t mistake her for being crazy or “looney“--she has good cause to be this angry. The reasons come in the form of flashbacks, as she gives us the details of her life in a quick fast-replay as in “Birth”, First Kiss and Boyfriend”, “First Disappointment”, “First Orgasm”, and so forth. Then once that one life changing event comes, it isn’t so much as original or different, but the way it was laid out for the readers.

The comic book’s dialogue is real mature and the illustrations show a hint of nudity. The script is rich with real gritty dialogue and tons of F-bombs and language that express rage and anger. Maleev’s art is gorgeous as always; he maintains that style that made him who he is today. Nope, Scarlet is no super-heroine who looks like a super-model; she looks like a regular woman who wears a simple half-cut tank top and leather pants. Don’t get me wrong, she is sexy, but she looks real. Bendis and Maleev always knew how to make each other’s work complement the other and “Scarlet” is no different.
As I’ve said, it is hard to say if this new series is going to be a top-seller; but let’s just say that “Scarlet” has my full attention. For a debut issue, this has all the elements I usually look for in a book. It is dark, it is hot and it sure seems very exciting!

“Scarlet” is part of my monthly buying list for sure. I await the next issue with bated breath.

Highly Recommended!
[4 ½ Out of 5 Stars] 

                                                                                                              
　                                                                Variant cover
　

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August 15, 2010
Hahaha if your words weren't enough to convince me of this work's charms, the "first shit" having been chronicled most certainly does! For real, excellent critique. Like FM Alex, I'm quite surprised to only now be hearing about this. Stellar work as usual William.
August 16, 2010
LOL! thanks for stopping by, Jason. It is a small readership for comics here in the site but I like doing a shout out to more mature titles! How have you been, bro? I dropped a review for a movie you might like...
September 12, 2010
review of issue two is up, bud.
 
August 15, 2010
Dude that sounds and looks great, to be honest as a comic fan and a Marvel fan I am shocked I have not seen this and picked it up. The pics look great and it sounds like something I would LOVE. Excellent review WP.
August 16, 2010
This was published under Marvel's independent company "Icon" and truth be told, their stuff are pretty hard to find. I get them because I order them; they are worth the effort since I am a little tired of the contrived, manufactured super-hero stories of mainstream titles--you know me, I stay level-headed and frosty when I make my choices. :)
August 16, 2010
Man I need to find this.
 
August 12, 2010
Damn it, now I'm intrigued and left hanging. So will you be reviewing issue 2 or waiting for the whole collection?
August 12, 2010
Since this series feels real different and special; I think I will review this as it goes along. I'll review issue # 2 once it drops.
August 12, 2010
Sweet! I look forward to a more in-depth examination of the series. I'm curious about the other characters and whether or not the series will continue in this narrative. It sounds like it could break some new ground.
August 12, 2010
I hope so too. Sometimes, Bendis holds back when it comes to regular Marvel books but I am optimistic about this one since it is being released under Icon publications. Hey, did you get my message?
August 13, 2010
I'm not sure. What's it about?
August 13, 2010
check your messages, it was about SHADOWLAND.
August 15, 2010
How come the stars are grey?
August 16, 2010
what do you mean?
August 16, 2010
Where the u and the c are stars in your review title. The rest of the review title is in black, but the stars are grey.
August 16, 2010
I have no idea. I just noticed it...
August 16, 2010
Oh, so you didn't type it that way. Naughty, naughty.
August 16, 2010
I did type it with the stars but I didn't change the colors...
August 16, 2010
Can we type in different colors too? Man, that would be fun. I'd color code my communities.
August 19, 2010
well, now the headlines are all in blue....and I like the blue. :)
August 19, 2010
I like blue, but I prefer black and purple.
 
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William ()
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About this book

Wiki

Scarlet is a creator-owned comic book series written by Brian Michael Bendis under Marvel Comics' Icon imprint. The title is illustrated and co-created by Alex Maleev.
The series is about a young woman from Portland who rebels against a corrupt society and ends up starting a new American revolution in the process. The series breaks the fourth wall in that the protagonist talks to the reader of the comic.

File:Scarlet 1 Cover.jpg
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Tags

Books, Comic Books, Marvel Comics, Brian Michael Bendis, Icon Comics, Alex Maleev
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Details

Author: Brian Michael Bendis, Alex Maleev
Genre: Comics & Graphic Novels
Publisher: Icon, Marvel Comics
Format: Comic Book Series

First to Review

""This World Has To Burn Before All The F**kers Learn to Stop Being F**kers...""
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