The Podge Cast

Scalped: Indian Country written by Jason Aaron, Art by R.M. Guera, Colors by Lee Loughridge, Letters by Phil Balsman

Jason Aaron is one of comics’ rising stars. He’s infusing new life into old properties at Marvel and, along with co-creator Guera, is doing one of Vertigo’s latest flagship titles with Scalped. The book looks at various characters living on or involved with the Prairie Rose Indian Reservation, focusing heavily on recently returned prodigal son Dashiell “Dash” Bad Horse. After fifteen years away he returns and gets hired on by local crime boss, tribal chief and chief of police Lincoln Red Crow. Red Crow used to be a major part of the activist movement, alongside Dash’s mother Gina Bad Horse. But now he’s a corrupt and violent bastard determined to get his new casino up and running at any cost.

Adding to the mix are other activists former and current (like crazy white boy Diesel), FBI agent Nitz looking to pin a 20 year old murder of two FBI agents on Red Crow, Red Crow’s self-destructive daughter and other crooks, cops and citizens on the Rez. Not that its always possible to tell those last three apart…

Aaron and Guera are telling a hyper-violent cops/noir/gangster/tribal life/spiritual journey mash-up of a story. And with its diverse cast and interlocking story arcs its no wonder its often looked at as the succesor to the recently ended 100 Bullets.

Game: El Grande
Publisher: Rio Grande Games
Price: $40-$55 (USD)
Type: Board, Region Control, Settlement, Strategy, Victory Points
Players: Tom Carrier, Mark Corsey, Jason Quintal, Joe Selby
Snacks: Goldfish, M&Ms (plain and peanut), TJ’s Hemp Tortilla Chips
Theme Music: “Zantlop 786″ by Gasserpe from Podsafe Music Network

* An introduction of A Boarding Party

* El Grande Overview

* The Rules (Pre-Actual Play)

* An Example of Play (Actual Play)

* Our Thoughts (Post-Actual Play)

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* Matt and Joe are joined by Shawn Merwin (Global Director of Living Forgotten Realms) and Michael Mockus (Regional Administrator of the Moonshae Isles).

* Living Forgotten Realms and it’s global regional design

* Adventures, how they can be acquired and played

* Story and the regional adventure style

* 4th edition’s impact on the RPGA

* Why should someone play an RPGA adventure?

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Dr. Strange: The Oath written by Brian K. Vaughn, art by Marcos Martin, inks & colors by Alvaro Lopez & Javier Rodriguez, letters by Willie Schubert

And welcome to the last good Dr. Strange story. One that opens with Strange being dragged into the clinic of Dr. Linda “Night Nurse” Carter. Strange has been shot and so Wong takes him to the only doctor in the city who specializes in vigilante trauma. From there we learn that Wong has a malignant brain tumor, Dr. Strange located a magical potion that can cure it and the person who shot him was a costumed burglur named Brigand who stole the potion on behalf of a mysterious enemy of the Sorcerer Supreme. And then we get demons, robots and Hitler’s Gun…

Vaughn tells what is probably one of the best Dr. Strange stories in years, an impressive talent given the difficulties most writer’s have in presenting the character (*glares at Bendis*). And Martin has a classical comic book style of art that meshes well. Though honestly, the book is almost worth picking up just for the first two pages and the conversation between rookie hero Arana and Iron Fist in Night Nurse’s waiting room…

* A Plethora of Introductions

* DP Challenges Adam to Latin Subtext

* Company of Heroes, Win a copy!

* Dr. Horrible, Jeff’s Awesomeness, Lost, JJ Abrams, George R.R. Martin, Adam as Dark Tower Expert, Ideology of Madness, and Luke shakes his butt

* Fundamentals of the Game: Logistics

* Maintaining Your Game: Campaign Pro Tips

* The Campaign Pyramid

* Paint-by-Numbers Campaign Construction

* More, More, Less

* Campaign Fade

* Birth of the Third World

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