Probably the best crime comic of its generation, Scalped is a slow burning, meticulously researched account of life on an Indian Reservation in the dustiest, most parched corner of the USA. As a narrative, it is as rough as a glass bottle in your face and as cold and uncompromising as the resultant broken nose, but youll never read a book with more innate atmosphere or a better sense of pacing. Written by Jason Aaron and drawn by R.M Guerra, Scalped tells the story of Dashiell Dash Bad Horse, who fled The Rez as a young man and returns as an undercover FBI agent in order to infiltrate the organization of Lincoln Red Crow, a former Native Rights activist turned ruthless crime boss. However, the events of Dashs life simply provide the framework for a challenging and immersive storyline that is consistently surprising and uncompromising, whilst at the same time holding up a fractured mirror against the suppositions of the American Dream and loudly asking some important questions of it. Not only is Aarons gutsy, trashcan dialogue a joy to read (and speak aloud if no one is listening), it is also superbly accompanied by Guerras scratchy, off-kilter art style. This is a drama series, plain and simple and Guerra rings every drop of emotion from the scripts with his depictions of ragged, contorted faces and realistically proportioned figurework. Its all here, Native mysticism, sordid sex, Western style gun slinging and the best organized crime narrative this side of Scarface, all safely ensconced within the unique confines of a comic book series. During its initial run (it only wrapped in 2012), Scalped was every bit as essential as any must-see TV show, only better written and with a greater sense of purpose.