They say you can’t judge a book by its cover and for Scar #1 that is entirely true. The cover is absolutely epic, but the comic is a bland retread of Scar’s gripes from the film. The creators might have been better off doing a prequel with Scar’s early adventures. Instead we land right in the beginning of the film following Simba’s birth.
Scar spends the issue dealing with his indignity at having lost his place in the royal line. This might have been more interesting if we had not dealt with the exact same conflict for an entire film. The art is bland in the first half of the issue but does show creativity as we enter a dreamscape and with Rafiki’s battle. Indeed, the one bright spot of the issue is seeing Scar interact with Rafiki. This is an interesting pairing and it would be fascinating to add more depth to the past of all these characters.
The issue starts out with a restatement of the circle of life with a wildebeest named Thema teaching her young about nature’s gifts as allowing the birds upon their backs helps keep the bugs away. Scar lurks in waiting and attacks the young. Thema calls in a stampede to stop him and Scar is easily beaten. He is knocked off a cliff and enters a dreamscape where Mufasa demands he accept Simba as his ruler.
He awakens to Vulture scavengers Kabeer and Krass plotting to use Mufasa exactly as the Hyenas eventually will. Rafiki swats them away and takes Scar to his tree. They speak about Simba. The conversation is predictable but interesting in that Rafiki clearly considers Scar a friend here. They split knowing that they will be enemies in battle someday as the vultures return to lead Scar to the Bone Eaters.
This is an issue that simply does not live up to its potential. It does not add any depth to the character of Scar and feels isolated and dull. The introduction of the Bone Eaters only leads us further away from any meaningful character interaction with the main cast. We would be better off with a prequel series with a more sympathetic Scar and a more consistent edge to the art style.
Writing: 2.5 of 5 Stars
Art: 3.6 of 5 stars
Colors: 3.0 of 5 stars
Overall:
3.0 of 5 stars
Writer: Chuck Brown
Art: Trevor Fraley
Colors: Chiara Di Francia
Publisher: Dynamite Comics