Scout, Vol. 1

SCOUT is one of those titles which terrifically impacted the independent comics market back in the 1980s. Considered a cult classic, SCOUT is the futuristic story of the implacable Emanuel Santana, a Native American of Apache lineage who carries out a one-man assault on the corrupt post-apocalyptic American government. This series is marked not only by a gritty science-fiction texturing but also by Native American mysticism. Scout, as Santana is sometimes called, is often in conversation with the Gahn, his shapeshifting spirit guide (who most often goes around in the form of a wisecracking chipmunk). It was the Gahn who charged Santana with seeking and dispatching four monsters from Apache legend, now returned to Earth and disguised as humans who wield influential positions in the American government. As he persists in his acts of "terrorism" against the governing regime, Santana, himself an ex-Army Ranger, is hunted down by his old military friends, deployed by the President himself. But, at least, Scout's got the chipmunk on his side.Timothy Truman branched out on his own, jumping ship from his illustrating gig at GRIMJACK (with co-creator John Ostrander's blessing) to create his own comic book. SCOUT, published by Eclipse Comics in 1987, lasted for 24 violent issues. This particular trade, published by Dynamite Entertainment, collects the first seven issues of that series and chronicles how Santana relentlessly took down the existing government. "Just another crazy Indian..." is what the military command deemed Emanuel Santana years ago when he mysteriously went A.W.O.L. I remember reading these first bunch of issues (the ones in this trade and a few more after), but I lost touch soon after. So I was never quite able to figure out whether Santana was actually hallucinating or not. I'm talking about the supernatural stuff (specifically, the Gahn and the four monsters), whether it was real or merely a figment of Santana's imagination, a representation of his tortured psyche, perhaps. Truman would create a second ongoing Scout series, SCOUT: WAR SHAMAN. There would also be two mini-series produced (NEW AMERICA and Swords of Texas (Complete Set), each four issues long and not written or drawn by Truman), taking place in the SCOUT universe and which bridge the continuity between the original SCOUT series and WAR SHAMAN. But, regretfully, I never had the chance to read these follow-ups.To quote Truman in an interview, SCOUT was "conceived in response to the bizarre and scary right wing political climate of the 1980's." That was also when the Soviet Union was still an imposing power, America's hated rival. In a way, with the Soviet Union's collapse, SCOUT loses a smidgen of relevance, coming off nowadays as a dated science-fiction adventure. Yet, with regards to independent comics history and in the landscape of Tim Truman's career, SCOUT is very much an important work. SCOUT is where he built much of his rep. This series marked Truman as not only an artist but a complete storyteller in his own right. He wrote and illustrated the dang thing. These pages are rife with Truman's distinctive style, which he would refine thru the years. Sure, some of the artwork is rough, but the vivid energy and compositional techniques are right there. And, for a debut writer, the story is solid.For fans of geopolitics, note that, unlike most post-apocalyptic stories, this one didn't come by way of a nuclear disaster. Rather, America fell prey to embargos imposed by its rivals and also to being bled dry and then discarded by its allied nations. Santana's tale is set in an impoverished United States, which has become a third-world country. Where ration cards are doled out, the bounties from its poisonous farmlands give one the squirts, and where the vice-president is drug-addicted. The seventh issue details how the land of the free and the home of the brave fell from grace, as well as presenting the origins of Santana and his sometimes friend, sometimes foe, Rosa Winter.Emanuel Santana is a hard man to know. Guy is taciturn, a remorseless loner who will do whatever it takes to achieve his mission. He's not easy to like, but this makes him interesting. This series is rough and rugged and borders on the depressing, steeped as it is in its dystopian culture. The most lighthearted character may well be Santana's spirit guide. There's plenty of paramilitary action and of Scout using his Apache heritage to confound his enemies. I particularly liked it when Santana went old school, ignoring his guns in favor of the bow and arrow. This renegade Apache is a bad mother-- Honestly, I'm tempted to pick up where I left off reading, all those years ago.Last paragraph: The stories in this trade are framed by a John Ostrander intro and a revealing 2006 Newsarama interview with Timothy Truman. Note that Eclipse Comics had put out two trade paperback collections of the comic: Scout : The Four Monsters (reprinting issues #1-7, which is the same as this Dynamite Entertainment version), and Scout: Mount Fire (#8-14).

Big Tim fan from way back. Check out Grimjack for more of his work. Tim rocks!

This was a special gift for someone who I know will love reading it

great

Always loved Scout and Tim s work. Already have the original issues, this allows me to share scout with others. Great author and artist. One of a kind. If you like his work for star wars, conan,, and others you have to read the early years

Trumans pencils are amazing

The more I go back, the more I find myself loving the independent comics of the 80s. This one is definitely a standout. Well-written, thoughtful and full of action. Bonus points for defying the noble savage stereotype and creating a Native American character that draws from history and tradition without turning it into a gimmick.