#IReadsYou Review: THE SCUMBAG #3

THE SCUMBAG No. 3
IMAGE COMICS/Giant Generator

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Rick Remender
ART: Eric Powell
COLORS: Moreno Dinisio
LETTERS: Rus Wooton
DESIGN: Erika Schnatz
EDITOR: Will Dennis
COVER: Eric Powell
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Dave Guertin; Joelle Jones with Moreno Dinisio
28pp, Colors, 3.99 U.S.(December 2020)

Rated “M/ Mature”

“Snowblower Indemnity” Part 3

The Scumbag is a new comic book series from writer Rick Remender.  Described as a “comedy espionage series” by publisher Image Comics, The Scumbag's tagline reads, “The fate of the world rests in the hands of the worst person on it!”  The series features a rotating crew of illustrators.  Thus, artist Eric Powell; colorist Moreno Dinisio; and letterer Rus Wooton complete the current creative team.

The Scumbag introduces Ernie Ray Clementine.  He is a rundown, raggedy, filthy man.  He is a profane, illiterate, drug-addicted biker and ne'er-do-well with a fifth-grade education.  However, he meets Sister Mary and “Central Authority” and inadvertently absorbs the power-imbuing serum called “the Formula Maxima.”  Now, Ernie is the only thing standing between humanity and total Armageddon... because he has suddenly become the world's most powerful super-spy.

The Scumbag #3 opens on the roof the Sipkin Building.  There, “The Prosoma,” leader of reactionary cabal, Scorpionus, speechifies about his “Gold Bomb.”  When it detonates, this “alchemy bomb” will turn everyone in and around the Sipkin into solid gold – a bid to create enough gold to crash the world economy.  While super-agent, Sister Mary, fights Scorpionus' big white asshole, “The Ultra-Nationalist,” our hero, Ernie Ray, of course, struggles with golden temptation.

THE LOWDOWN:  I didn't have a lot to say about The Scumbag #1.  I had a little more to say about The Scumbag #2.  What I have to say about The Scumbag #3 is that the series has hit its stride; this third issue is the funniest issue, yet.

Eric Powell, creator, writer, and artist of The Goon comic books, is the artist for The Scumbag #3, but it makes no never mind – as the saying goes.  Don't get me wrong; Eric Powell is good at what he does.  Still, he does not distinguish himself from the series' previous two artists:  Lewis Larosa (#1) and Andrew Robinson (#2).  These artists have done good work, with Robinson and Powell managing to draw in a graphical style similar to Larosa's.

The star here is Rick Remender.  As I said before, I have enjoyed what few Rick Remender comic books I have read, and I have not read much.  However, his mix of political commentary and witty asides and his dialogue peppered with acerbic observations about our current social and cultural climate are … well, golden.  Plus, his super-spy/secret agent set pieces are as good as anything readers will find in one of the Kingsman movies.

Yeah, I could say that Remender is “killing it,” but I want to wait on that.  I will say that if the fourth issue is as good as or better than The Scumbag #3, then, no comic book readers looking for really “good comics” will be able to skip The Scumbag.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Rick Remender, of mature comedy, and of reprobate-type anti-hero lead characters will want The Scumbag.

8 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


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