For Catcher’s issue, even though it ties into the bigger story, Aaron keeps it fairly contained. He gives the broken bookends, with half the issue set two hours before the rest and cuts back and forth. Catcher’s been part of Scalped since the first issue, but here Aaron implies he’s really the passive center of it all.
More, Catcher’a aware he’s the center. There’s no meta-fiction–Aaron doesn’t suggest Catcher knows he’s in a comic, just his place in the universe.
There are a couple quiet surprises, which just go to deepen the textures Aaron has already given the comic. He still hasn’t fully revealed the ground situation. The delay’s unexpectedly delightful.
The issue’s also a bit of a downer, as Aaron (and Guera) do a lot of foreshadowing. They even find an economical and obvious way to do it.
It’s a great issue, maybe the most standalone one.
CREDITS
Casino Boogie, Part Four of Six: A Thunder Being Nation I Am; writer, Jason Aaron; artist, R.M. Guera; colorist, Giulia Brusco; letterer, Phil Balsman; editors, Casey Seijas and Will Dennis; publisher, Vertigo.