If you were to ask me what book I look forward to most out of every comic currently coming out I would have to say Scalped. So, be warned, this review is just going to be one giant BJ for the creative team on the book. Get the tissues ready, this could get sloppy.

                Scalped #33 is the second to last issue in "The Gnawing" storyline. The Hmongs are moving on to the rez and Red Crow and the feds are trying to track down a witness who can testify against the former. As always, Jason Aaron's dialogue is top notch with a great interweaving of stories between Dash, Red Crow, and Diesel. There's a good amount happening at once but it’s never confusing or too much. I was afraid that this would suffer for being an interim issue by just setting up events for the final chapter, but there were actually a few self contained, yet powerful moments. I’m thinking specifically of Shunka’s confrontation with Nitz and Diesel being aided by Dash. Its things like that which help an issue stand out without relying on the suspense of what will happen in the next issue. That said, there is PLENTY to look forward to in the final book. This issue leaves us with Dash confronting Catcher and the Hmongs beating the Christ out of Red Crow. I think it’s safe to say Scalped #34 is going to be nuts.

Oh, R.M. Guera, you and J.H. Williams III can seem to do no wrong.  The art is just spectacular. The framing, facial expressions, heavy use of shadow, perspective, character poses, they’re all expertly executed. But what I like most about the art is the panel layouts. They’re all incredibly dynamic with lots of overlapping, variation in size and positioning, and all working together to give an appropriate pacing and rhythm. One of my favorite scenes in the issue is when Diesel is escaping from the feds. This all happens in two pages and culminates in a beautiful panel which switches from the interior shots of the previous page to an exterior one of the car as Diesel shoots the fed in the face and we’re treated to a spray of glass and blood. Little touches like a perspective change are what make the book such a delight read.

                Wow, any more of that and someone’s going to start chafing. Scalped #33 was awesome, some might go so far as to call it orgrasmic, but one thing’s for sure, if #34 successfully pays off what has been set up in the rest of this story, I’m going to need to invest in a mop.