Indian Comics Irregular #42

Tim Truman's celebrated comic book introduces Emanuel "Scout"
Santana, a modern-day Apache warrior. Over 24 issues, Scout fights
to keep a post-holocaust America intact. Since one woman has called
SCOUT "the sole example of a comic written by a non-Native that most
Natives love," let's take a look.

The good: Truman's grasp of Apache religion and philosophy seems
real. Scout banters humorously with his gahn, or spirit guide.
Scout's look echoes that of Geronimo and his resistance fighters.
The supporting characters, especially Sgt. Rosa Winter, are
engaging. Scout has a sexual encounter, a rarity for comic book
heroes in general and Indians in particular.

The bad: Scout is a classic cliché: the stoic, ex-military,
one-man army. He kills anyone in his way, even US soldiers just
doing their jobs. His references to Apache culture dwindle as the
series progresses. Scout becomes a foil for Monday the Eliminator,
an even more deadly killing machine. By the end, Scout is merely
tagging along for the ride.

The ugly: Every SCOUT cover except one features armaments of some
sort. The exception is drawn by a guest artist, not Truman.

SCOUT's letters pages offer a few discordant reactions. They sum up
my feelings: "[Scout] really reminds me of Rambo"..."the SCOUT
character has seemed to metamorphose from a unique Apache character
into a banal mercenary"..."I am sick and tired of this 'gun worship'
so often found in comics like SCOUT"...and, charmingly, "Please keep
the violence in SCOUT, as this is the highlight of your series."
Indeed.

Truman says he tried to portray violence as "agonizing, destructive,
and unpretty." Maybe so, but when he shows it as often as he does,
as the solution to every problem, in lovingly rendered detail, it
doesn't matter how unpretty it is. He's glorifying it.

If you enjoy "post-apocalyptic macho power fantasies," as one reader
put it, check out SCOUT at your local comic book shop or online at
eBay. For more on Truman's work, visit
http://www.comicon.com/truman/truman.htm.

Telling It Like It Is

Speaking of glorifying violence, the Federal Trade Commission's
recent report on how media companies peddle violence is must reading
for concerned citizens. It explains how insidious marketing
techniques are overwhelming the best of parents. For more
information, visit http://members.xoom.com/peaceparty/ftcrpt.htm.

Also worth noting is the US government's recent report to the UN on
racism. It acknowledges that racism continues in our supposedly
colorblind society. A summary is available at
http://members.xoom.com/peaceparty/racerpt.htm.

Oldies but Baddies #2

In STRANGE TALES #1, Wyatt Wingfoot wears a fringed shirt a la Daniel
Boone. Three Keewazi boys have hair in bangs and sport headbands and
buckskins. Wyatt's grandfather Silent Fox casts spells and uses a
magic amulet.

These are all old stereotypes, yet Marvel published this version of
STRANGE TALES in 1994, just six years ago. Oops.

The Best Indian Media

Is anything more fun than a top 10 list? Hard to say, but our
tallies of the best Indian books and movies continue to grow. To see
who's ahead, or to vote for the best yourself, head to
http://members.xoom.com/peaceparty/nabooks.htm and
http://members.xoom.com/peaceparty/namovies.htm.

Rob Schmidt
Blue Corn Comics