The Scumbag #11

The Scumbag #11

Image Comics 2020

Written by Rick Remender

Illustrated by Roland Boschi

Coloured by Moreno Dinisio

Lettered by Rus Wooton

“GOLDENBROWNEYE,” Part One

Ernie has double-crossed every spy organisation on Earth. Now, a method to extract the Formula Maxima has been discovered—at the cost of Ernie’s life. Who will kill Agent Scumbag and claim his powers?

Now this isn’t for the faint of heart or those who offend easily because it really is as far from politically correct as you can possibly get and that’s what the huge appeal is. We live in a world where so many cry foul that it’s nice to see that this fictional world and this caricature of a stereotype can just make me laugh as hysterically as it does. I love that Ernie is a piece of dirt and he’s only out for himself and he’ll sell out any side he feels like doing in order to gain something that he desires in that moment. The epitome of selfishness sure but he’s an opportunist as well and as loathe as many of you are to admit it you’d do something similar to those around you if you wanted something that badly. It is a part of our human nature to look out for number one and we’ve seen this over the course of history all the way to present and most recently in how many countries have leaders that care only about their own power and nothing else.

I am a fan of the way that this is being told. The story & plot development that we see through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information are presented exceptionally well. The character development that we see through the dialogue, the character interaction as well as how we see them act and react to the situations and circumstances which they encounter does a magnificent job in fleshing out these personalities. The pacing is excellent and as it takes us through the pages revealing more of the story the more incredulous and fun this becomes.

I am very much enjoying how we see this being structured as well as how we see the layers within the story continue to emerge, grow, evolve and strengthen. I am also liking the way that we see how the layers within the story open up new avenues to be explored. That gold trick and how we see the ending here for instance. What these do is add some great depth, dimension and complexity to the story. How we see everything working together to create the story’s ebb & flow as well as how it moves the story forward are impeccably handled.

The interiors here are extraordinary. The linework is clean, crisp and strong and how we see the varying weights and techniques being utilised to create this level & quality of detail within the work is exemplary. How we see the backgrounds used to enhance and expand the moments as well as how they work within the composition of the panels to bring out the depth perception, sense of scale and the overall sense of size and scope to the story is marvellous to see. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a remarkably talented eye for storytelling. The various hues and tones within the colours being utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work shows a sensational eye for how colour works. I have to say the creativity and imagination we see is impressive and that thong Ernie is wearing had me in stitches.

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The raucous and randy and rambunctious Ernie has no shame and it’s part of the reason why he makes such a great central character. He has his set of morals and they are pretty nonexistent to be hornets but he lives by his own code and I have to say while there’s no chance for redemption of this man the circumstances he finds himself in are those that set the stage for someone like him to be all he can be. There is some great writing with some stellar irreverent characterisation and some incredibly solid interiors here making this a hoot.