Scrapper | Comic Book Review
Why is The Gaming Outsider covering a comic book, you may ask? Besides the fact that I’m quite the stalwart Wednesday warrior myself, there’s a simple reason. The legend himself, Cliff Bleszinksi, has turned his sights on yet another medium. I never would have anticipated a comic book about a superhero dog named Scrapper from the creator of Gears of War and LawBreakers, but it’s a strange and fun world we live in.
The Canine of Crime
First issues of a series are always an uphill battle. Introducing readers to a brand new world and concept in 20 or so pages is no small feat, but luckily Cliff Bleszinksi had some talented help. Alex de Campi has had a strong history in comic books too long to list. Through their combined talents, we’re introduced to the dystopian setting of Scapper. It’s your standard heavily-surveilled and oppressed future, but the perspective of a dog and his animal buddy do help to differentiate it. Human superheroes are a dime a dozen, no doubt, which is why it’s refreshing to see an animal step into this familiar path. In the opening few pages alone, we learn quickly that our canine crusader is every bit as heroic.
There’s a charm to the characters I didn’t expect going in. I’m not usually a Funny Animals sort of guy for my comics, but I admit I got taken in by Scrapper and his friends. It’s not just dogs either, because the quick appearances of the rats or pigeons gave me a hearty chuckle. I don’t want to give too much away, but the darker elements are handled well, too, and the reveal on the last page has me antsy for more.
The Paladin Pooch
As fun as the writing is, the star of the show is the art from Sandy Jarrell. Sandy is handling the full art, a tricky task for any artist. I can’t say I’m familiar with their prior work, but I was pretty blown away here. There’s a life to the characters and backgrounds, and the action sequences have a fluidity to them. The colors pop and give a fresh feel to the dystopian setting. The panel-to-panel storytelling kept me engaged and excited throughout, and made the action easy to follow. Of particular note was the way each onomatopoeia is incorporated into the artwork. It was nothing short of stunning, and brought me right into the world with the characters.
I guess all in all, I really think Scrapper is off to a great start. The world seems to appreciate dogs more and more with each passing year, so this is probably a great time to introduce a brand new story with a dog superhero at the heart of it. Bleszinski and de Campi couldn’t have asked for a better artist in Jarrell on the title, either, and we are all the better for it. I look forward to further adventures with our paragon pup.
To hear me talk more about Scrapper, be sure to listen to the July 26, 2023 episode of The Gaming Outsider podcast.
This review is based on the first issue of Scrapper provided by Uber Strategist for coverage purposes. It can be found at your local comic shop.
Scrapper
$3.99
Pros
- Excellent Artwork
- Engaging Writing
- Excellent Final Page Reveal
Cons
- A Familiar Dystopia
