Scout (comics)

Last updated

Scout
ScoutN23ComicCover.jpg
The cover to Scout #23, with art by Timothy Truman
Publication information
Publisher Eclipse Comics
ScheduleBimonthly
Monthly
Format Ongoing series
Publication dateSeptember 1985 – December 1989
No. of issuesScout: 24
Swords of Texas: 4
New America: 4
Scout Handbook: 1
Scout: Marauder: 24
Main character(s)Emanuel Santana
Creative team
Created by Timothy Truman
Written by Timothy Truman
Artist(s) Timothy Truman
Thomas Yeates
Flint Henry
Penciller(s) Rick Veitch
Inker(s) Stephen R. Bissette
Letterer(s) Timothy Harkins
Colorist(s) Sam Parsons
Steve Oliff
Editor(s) Cat Yronwoode

Scout is an American dystopian comic book series created and written by Timothy Truman, and first published by Eclipse Comics in 1985. The story stars a Native American Apache named Emanuel Santana. The setting of the series is a future United States which has become a Third World country.

Contents

In 2018 Truman launched a successful Kickstarter campaign, Scout Marauder, to expand on the storyline of his beloved character Scout. The promotion was a success, raising over $44,000.00 from supporters. The campaign was projected to be completed in February 2019. As of July 2024, the project is still in production. The Scout Marauder graphic novel is available on his website as a pre-order. [1]

Creation

Timothy Truman first met Eclipse publisher Dean Mullaney and editor-in-chief Cat Yronwode through mutual acquaintance Tom Yeates. At the time Truman's association with First Comics was winding down as he was beginning to tire of late payments, [2] and after a positive experience publishing the one-shot Killer Tales by Tim Truman (compiled from material created for Pacific Comics) he was impressed by their standards of creator ownership and struck a deal with them to publish new creation Scout. [3]

A student of Native American history, Truman based Santana's origin on 1890s reeducation camps, particularly Camp Falwell in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and also drew inspiration from Forrest Carter's Cry, Geronimo! , a fictionalized biography of Geronimo, and Apache mythical beliefs. He cited the influence of European artists including Paolo Serpieri, Hugo Pratt, Juan Zanotto and Jordi Bernet on his style for Scout's visuals. Truman's love of music also shaped the story; the characters Rosana 'Rosa' Winter and Raymond Vaughn were named for two of Truman's favourite blues guitarists - Johnny Winter and Stevie Ray Vaughan, while issue titles referenced some of his favourite songs, including "Evil" by Howlin' Wolf, "Little Red Rooster" and "I Ain't Superstitious" by Willie Dixon and "Machine Gun" by Jimi Hendrix. Truman intentionally made it ambiguous as to whether Santana was truly communicating with Apache spirits or just under the influence of drugs administered by his former employers. [4]

Publication history

Scout

Twenty-four issues of the first series were published, initially with John K. Snyder III's Fashion in Action as a back-up strip. The series started off as a bimonthly title before becoming a monthly from the fourth issue onwards. [5] The series was initially planned as a six-issue limited series but positive response saw it instead become an ongoing. Truman would then loosely plot the series in lengthy arcs of around 12 issues a time. He largely wrote and drew the series himself; however Scout #7 saw Yeates fill in on art duties. [6] In place of a backup feature, Scout #10 featured a gallery of pinups of characters from the series by the 'XQBs' (ex-Kubies, a nickname for Truman's fellow Joe Kubert School of Illustration alumni). From #11 the backup became Truman's own Monday, the Eliminator with art by Flint Henry; the story was set in the Scout universe. [7] When Eclipse attempted to create a shared universe for some of its titles, Truman and Eclipse decided Scout's alternate future setting made it unsuitable; [8] the characters were also absent from cross-property series Total Eclipse for the same reason. [9] However, Scout #17 did feature a brief unlikely crossover with Larry Marder's Tales of the Beanworld . [10]

Issue 15 saw Rick Veitch and Steve Bissette provide guest art, and also saw the debut of the backup story Swords of Texas, which tied into the main Scout storyline and was drawn by Ben Dunn. Issue #16 was converted to 3D by Ray Zone, using stereoscopy technology. [11] Truman also recorded a theme tune for the series with his side project band The Dixie Pistols, and a flexi disc containing the track "Blues Crusade" was bundled with Scout #19. [10]

Swords of Texas and New America

In 1987 Truman and colleague Chuck Dixon set up 4Winds Productions, a joint studio and packaging operation. Scout continued to be distributed through Eclipse, and to fresh the title and advance the narrative Truman decided to end the title after 24 issues and take a four-month sabbatical. [12] During this period he oversaw a pair of linked 4-issue limited series set in the Scout universe; Swords of Texas was written by Dixon with art by Dunn, and concerned the adventures of the titular smugglers, previously introduced in a backup strip. [13] New America was written by John Ostrander and Kim Yale with art by Gary Kwapisz; the series covered a 10-year period through the eyes of supporting character Rosa Winter. [14] A short limited edition comic depicting Santana's wedding was included with the Dixie Pistols' album Marauder. [13]

Scout: War Shaman

These titles were followed by Truman's return in Scout: War Shaman, a six-weekly ongoing picking up the main character's story over a decade after the events of Scout #24, with the lead now a widowed father of two. [15] [13] To promote the new series, retailers were encouraged to create a display for the series in order to win original Truman artwork. [16] The first issue reached #98 on Diamond Comic Distributors' chart in January 1988, a solid performance for an Eclipse title. [17] Truman also produced the Scout Handbook, a collection of profiles, maps and other material, [13] while Eclipse collected Scout #1-7 in the trade paperback Scout - The Four Monsters. [18] While War Shaman #2 was delayed due to colourist Sam Parsons falling ill, War Shaman became monthly from #3. [19] Scout: War Shaman #8-9 featured the character Beau La Duke (a fictionalised version of Eclipse sales manager Beau Smith), who then appeared in a backup strip in #14-16. As planned by Truman, the series ended after 16 issues, ending with Rosa killing Scout. [20] Truman stated that Santana would not be resurrected, with the series instead slated to continue with the wider supporting cast he had built up. [2]

Marauder and Blue Leader

A third book called Scout: Marauder was planned to succeed War Shaman, while Eclipse also produced a second trade called Scout: Mount Fire, compiling #8-14 of the first series. [21] Truman planned a two-year break from Scout while he worked on other projects; [3] however, Eclipse folded in 1994 before any new material could be published. As Truman retained ownership of Scout he was eventually able to seek out other publishers for Marauder and the planned fourth and final storyline, Blue Leader. Between 2006 and 2008 Dynamite Entertainment produced trade paperbacks, printing the first two-thirds of the first Scout series. [22] Truman subsequently raised funds to continue the story himself via Kickstarter. [23] As of 2024 work on Scout: Marauder as a full-length graphic novel is ongoing.

Plot

At the end of the 20th century, a history of ecological excesses has led other nations to levy vast sanctions against the USA for stealing world resources. Emanuel Santana is born in an Apache reservation in New Mexico's White Mountains before being taken away as a 'Schoolboy' - a term for teenage recruits effectively conscripted for the National Guard. Finding the values imparted to be contrary to those of his people, in 1999 Santana escapes after two years and uses the military knowledge gained from the programme to combat the Great Monsters of the Apache after receiving a vision. The four Great Monsters have taken on new forms in pastoral America - Owl Giant Man is a misogynistic pornographer; the Buffalo Monster is now Chippy Waltz, comedian turned Secretary of Agriculture; Antelope Monster runs a vast, controlling media empire; and Eagle Monster is an oil baron based on an airship. Meanwhile Santana is being hunted by two former Schoolboy colleagues, Rossana Winter and Raymond Vaughn. He is aided by Missy, a 17-year old previously employed by the Owl Giant Man, and Gahn, his Apache spirit guide.

Reception

Author Michael A. Sheyahshe noted in Native Americans in Comic Books – A Critical Study, that "Scout is presented in a respectful and genuine manner with tribally specific cultural ties". [24] Another aspect of Scout to draw attention was the inclusion of a non-sensationalist lesbian relationship between Rosa Winter and US President Laura Carver, still a rare phenomenon in mainstream comics at the time. In 1988, Truman would also state that another supporting character - Avner Glansman - was gay but it had yet to become relevant to the plot. [25] Reviewing the first issue for Amazing Heroes , R.A. Jones praised most of the book - aside from the characterisation of Gahn, comparing the character to a "Jewish uncle" and feeling he undercut the tone of the rest of the book. [26] Scout was shortlisted for 'Best New Title' at the 1986 Kirby Awards, losing out to fellow Eclipse series Miracleman . [27] Truman's art for the title also gained a nomination for the same year's Comics Buyer's Guide Awards.

Collected editions

Eclipse Comics

TitleISBNRelease dateIssues
Scout - Four Monsters 9780913035337 23 February 1988Scout #1-7
Scout - Mount Fire 9780913035153 1989Scout #8-14

Dynamite Entertainment

TitleISBNRelease dateIssues
Scout - Volume 1 1-933305-95-9 November 2006Scout #1-7
Scout - Volume 2 1-933305-60-6 August 2008Scout #8-16

Film adaptation

In October 2016, Christopher MacBride was set to adapt and direct for the big screen for Studio 8. Jon Silk and Hell or High Water’s Braden Aftergood were to produce the film and Truman serving as a consultant. [28]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Rocketeer (character)</span> American comic book character

The Rocketeer is a comic book superhero, created by writer/artist Dave Stevens. The character first appeared in 1982 and is an homage to the Saturday matinee serial heroes from the 1930s through the 1950s.

<i>Zot!</i> Comic book by Scott McCloud

Zot! is a comic book created by Scott McCloud in 1984 and published by Eclipse Comics until 1990 as a lighthearted alternative to the darker and more violent comics that dominated the industry during that period. There were a total of 36 issues, with the first ten in color and the remainder in black and white.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Airboy</span> Boy aviation comic character

Airboy is a fictional Golden Age aviator hero of an American comic book series initially published by Hillman Periodicals during the World War II, before ending his initial run in 1953. The hero was the costumed identity of crack pilot Davy Nelson II, and created by writers Charles Biro and Dick Wood with artist Al Camy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eclipse Comics</span> American comic book publisher

Eclipse Comics was an American comic book publisher, one of several independent publishers during the 1980s and early 1990s. In 1978, it published the first graphic novel intended for the newly created comic book specialty store market. It was one of the first to offer royalties and creator ownership of rights.

<i>Adolescent Radioactive Black Belt Hamsters</i> American comic book series

Adolescent Radioactive Black Belt Hamsters is a creator-owned American funny-animal parody comic book series created by Don Chin. It was one of a number of parodies of Mirage Studios' hit Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series, itself a parody of popular eighties comics such as Frank Miller's Daredevil and Ronin; others included Naive Inter-Dimensional Commando Koalas and Pre-Teen Dirty-Gene Kung-Fu Kangaroos.

<i>Aztec Ace</i> Comic book title published by Eclipse Comics.

Aztec Ace is an American creator-owned science fiction comic book formerly published by Eclipse Comics. Created by writer Doug Moench, it was published for 15 issues from 1984 to 1985. Amazing Heroes would describe the series as "a strange cross between Dr. Who and the Illuminati trilogy".

<i>Alien Encounters</i> (comics)

Alien Encounters is an American science fiction anthology comic book published by FantaCo Enterprises and then Eclipse Comics. The comic debuted with FantaCo in 1981, and in 1985 was taken over by Eclipse.

<i>The DNAgents</i> Comic book title published by Eclipse Comics.

The DNAgents is a comic-book series created by writer Mark Evanier and artist Will Meugniot and published by Eclipse Comics from 1983. The series centers on a team of superheroes created through genetic engineering by the Matrix Corporation to act as superhuman enforcers for the head of the company.

<i>The Masked Man</i> Comic book title published by Eclipse Comics.

The Masked Man is a fictional comic book crime-fighter created by B.C. Boyer and published by Eclipse Comics. His first appearance was in Eclipse #7, dated November 1982. The Masked Man is the alter ego of private eye Dick Carstairs, who takes on the identity of the Masked Man so that his friend Barney McAllister, a reporter, could grab headlines using tales of his crime-fighting adventures.

<i>Total Eclipse</i> (comics) American comic series

Total Eclipse is an American comic book limited series in five prestige format parts published by Eclipse Comics in 1988 to 1989. A cross-company crossover commemorating the company's tenth anniversary, Total Eclipse was intended to bring all of the company's characters together, no matter how obscure or bizarre. These included Airboy and the Air Fighters, Strike! and Sgt. Strike, Prowlers Leo Kragg and Tim Kida, Aztec Ace, The Liberty Project, Miracleman, The New Wave and Beanish.

<i>Twisted Tales</i> Horror comic anthology

Twisted Tales was a horror comics anthology published by Pacific Comics and, later, Eclipse Comics, in the early 1980s. The title was edited by Bruce Jones and April Campbell.

<i>The New Wave</i> (comics) American comic book series

The New Wave was a superhero team comic book published between 1986 and 1987 by Eclipse Comics.

<i>Crossfire</i> (Eclipse Comics)

Crossfire is an American comic book series created by writer Mark Evanier and artist Dan Spiegle originally for Eclipse Comics. It was a spin-off from DNAgents, which was also written by Evanier. The series ran for 26 issues from May 1984 to October 1988.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Powerman (comics)</span> Comics character

Powerman is a British comic book series that was initially distributed in Nigeria in the mid-1970s. Powerman was written by Don Avenall and Norman Worker, and illustrated by Dave Gibbons and Brian Bolland. Rendered in a simple style reminiscent of the Golden Age Captain Marvel, the series starred a superhero named Powerman. When the comics were re-published in the United Kingdom the character's name became Powerbolt.

<i>Doc Stearn...Mr. Monster</i> Comics character

Doc Stearn...Mr. Monster is a comic book featuring a superhero created by Michael T. Gilbert, most recently published by Dark Horse Comics.

<i>Strike!</i> (comic book) American comic book series

Strike! is an American creator-owned superhero comic book series created by writer Chuck Dixon and artist Tom Lyle, published by Eclipse Comics between 1987 and 1988. It concerns about a teenage boy who finds the power harness of Sgt. Strike, a hero who fought in World War II for the United States before disappearing.

<i>Night Music</i> (comic) American comic book series

Night Music is an American comic book anthology created by artist P. Craig Russell, published by Eclipse Comics. It consists of comic adaptations of operas, novels, classical music and poems, and followed an irregular publishing model that changed formats according to the needs of the material.

<i>Prowler</i> (Eclipse Comics) American comic book series

The Prowler is a creator-owned American comic book series created by Timothy Truman and John K. Snyder III. It was published by Eclipse Comics between 1987 and 1988, and chronicled the adventures of 1930s vigilante Leo Kragg, a.k.a. The Prowler, as he trained teenager Scott Kida to take up his legacy.

References

  1. "The Dragon's Cache: Tim Truman: Scout Marauder Update". March 2, 2022.
  2. 1 2 Darwin McPherson (June 1990). "Give 'Em Hell - an interview with (Timothy) Truman". Amazing Heroes . No. 180. Fantagraphics Books.
  3. 1 2 Kevin Dooley (June 1, 1988). "A Blast of 4Winds". Amazing Heroes . No. 142. Fantagraphics Books.
  4. C. J. Henderson (October 15, 1985). "Presenting: Tim Truman's Scout". Amazing Heroes . No. 81. Fantagraphics Books.
  5. "Newsflashes". Amazing Heroes . No. 82. Fantagraphics Books. October 15, 1985.
  6. "Newsflashes". Amazing Heroes . No. 90. Fantagraphics Books. March 1, 1986.
  7. "Newsline". Amazing Heroes . No. 97. Fantagraphics Books. June 15, 1986.
  8. John Lustig (July 15, 1986). "New Eclipse Universe". Amazing Heroes . No. 99. Fantagraphics Books.
  9. Ed Sample (July 15, 1988). "Total Eclipse". Amazing Heroes . No. 145/Preview Special 7. Fantagraphics Books.
  10. 1 2 "Newsline". Amazing Heroes . No. 110. Fantagraphics Books. February 1, 1987.
  11. "Newsline". Amazing Heroes . No. 106. Fantagraphics Books. November 1, 1986.
  12. Ed Sample (January 15, 1988). "New America". Amazing Heroes . No. 133/Preview Special 6. Fantagraphics Books.
  13. 1 2 3 4 Ed Sample (August 1, 1987). "A New Wind Blows Over America". Amazing Heroes . No. 122. Fantagraphics Books.
  14. "Newsline". Amazing Heroes . No. 127. Fantagraphics Books. October 15, 1987.
  15. Ed Sample (January 15, 1988). "Scout: War Shaman". Amazing Heroes . No. 133/Preview Special 6. Fantagraphics Books.
  16. "Newsline". Amazing Heroes . No. 146. Fantagraphics Books. August 1, 1988.
  17. "Newsline". Amazing Heroes . No. 137. Fantagraphics Books. March 15, 1988.
  18. "Top of the News (advertisement)". Amazing Heroes . No. 138. Fantagraphics Books. April 1, 1988.
  19. Ed Sample (July 15, 1988). "Scout: War Shaman". Amazing Heroes . No. 145/Preview Special 7. Fantagraphics Books.
  20. Ed Sample (January 15, 1989). "Scout: War Shaman". Amazing Heroes . No. 157/Preview Special. Fantagraphics Books.
  21. Ed Sample (August 1, 1989). "Scout: War Shaman". Amazing Heroes . No. 170/Preview Special 9. Fantagraphics Books.
  22. Markstein, Don. "Scout". Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  23. "Scout: Marauder Catalog". www.timothytruman.com.
  24. Sheyahshe, Michael (2008). Native Americans in Comic Books – A Critical Study. McFarland. ISBN   978-0-7864-3565-4.
  25. Andy Mangels (June 15, 1988). "Out of the Closet and into the Comics - Part I". Amazing Heroes . No. 143. Fantagraphics Books.
  26. R.A. Jones (October 15, 1985). "Comics in Review". Amazing Heroes . No. 81. Fantagraphics Books.
  27. "Newsline". Amazing Heroes . No. 96. Fantagraphics Books. June 1, 1986.
  28. Busch, Anita (October 24, 2016). "Studio 8 Gets Into Comic Book Action With 'Scout' For Filmmaker Chris MacBride". Deadline. Retrieved July 13, 2017.