| Scout | |
|---|---|
 The cover toScout #23, with art byTimothy Truman | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Eclipse Comics |
| Schedule | Bimonthly Monthly |
| Format | Ongoing series |
| Publication date | September 1985 – December 1989 |
| No. of issues | Scout: 24 Swords of Texas: 4 New America: 4 Scout Handbook: 1 Scout: Marauder: 24 |
| Main character | Emanuel Santana |
| Creative team | |
| Created by | Timothy Truman |
| Written by | Timothy Truman |
| Artist(s) | Timothy Truman Thomas Yeates Flint Henry |
| Penciller | Rick Veitch |
| Inker | Stephen R. Bissette |
| Letterer | Timothy Harkins |
| Colorist(s) | Sam Parsons Steve Oliff |
| Editor | Cat Yronwoode |
Scout is an Americandystopiancomic bookseries created and written byTimothy Truman, and first published byEclipse Comics in 1985. The story stars aNative AmericanApache named Emanuel Santana. The setting of the series is a future United States which has become aThird World country.
In 2018 Truman launched a successful Kickstarter campaign, Scout Marauder, to expand on the storyline of his beloved character Scout. The promotion was a success, raising over $44,000.00 from supporters. The campaign was projected to be completed in February 2019. As of July 2024, the project is still in production. The Scout Marauder graphic novel is available on his website as a pre-order.[1]
Timothy Truman first met Eclipse publisherDean Mullaney and editor-in-chiefCat Yronwode through mutual acquaintanceTom Yeates. At the time Truman's association withFirst Comics was winding down as he was beginning to tire of late payments,[2] and after a positive experience publishing the one-shotKiller Tales by Tim Truman (compiled from material created forPacific Comics) he was impressed by their standards of creator ownership and struck a deal with them to publish new creationScout.[3]
A student of Native American history, Truman based Santana's origin on 1890s reeducation camps, particularly Camp Falwell inCarlisle, Pennsylvania, and also drew inspiration fromForrest Carter'sCry, Geronimo!, a fictionalized biography ofGeronimo, and Apache mythical beliefs. He cited the influence of European artists includingPaolo Serpieri,Hugo Pratt,Juan Zanotto andJordi Bernet on his style forScout's visuals. Truman's love of music also shaped the story; the characters Rosana 'Rosa' Winter and Raymond Vaughn were named for two of Truman's favouritebluesguitarists -Johnny Winter andStevie Ray Vaughan, while issue titles referenced some of his favourite songs, including "Evil" byHowlin' Wolf, "Little Red Rooster" and "I Ain't Superstitious" byWillie Dixon and "Machine Gun" byJimi Hendrix. Truman intentionally made it ambiguous as to whether Santana was truly communicating with Apache spirits or just under the influence of drugs administered by his former employers.[4]
Twenty-four issues of the first series were published, initially withJohn K. Snyder III'sFashion in Action as a back-up strip. The series started off as abimonthly title before becoming a monthly from the fourth issue onwards.[5] The series was initially planned as a six-issue limited series but positive response saw it instead become an ongoing. Truman would then loosely plot the series in lengthy arcs of around 12 issues a time. He largely wrote and drew the series himself; howeverScout #7 saw Yeates fill in on art duties.[6] In place of a backup feature,Scout #10 featured a gallery of pinups of characters from the series by the 'XQBs' (ex-Kubies, a nickname for Truman's fellowJoe Kubert School of Illustration alumni). From #11 the backup became Truman's ownMonday, the Eliminator with art by Flint Henry; the story was set in theScout universe.[7] When Eclipse attempted to create a shared universe for some of its titles, Truman and Eclipse decided Scout's alternate future setting made it unsuitable;[8] the characters were also absent from cross-property seriesTotal Eclipse for the same reason.[9] However,Scout #17 did feature a brief unlikely crossover withLarry Marder'sTales of the Beanworld.[10]
Issue 15 sawRick Veitch andSteve Bissette provide guest art, and also saw the debut of the backup storySwords of Texas, which tied into the main Scout storyline and was drawn byBen Dunn. Issue #16 was converted to 3D byRay Zone, usingstereoscopy technology.[11] Truman also recorded a theme tune for the series with his side project band The Dixie Pistols, and aflexi disc containing the track "Blues Crusade" was bundled withScout #19.[10]
In 1987 Truman and colleagueChuck Dixon set up 4Winds Productions, a joint studio and packaging operation.Scout continued to be distributed through Eclipse, and to fresh the title and advance the narrative Truman decided to end the title after 24 issues and take a four-month sabbatical.[12] During this period he oversaw a pair of linked 4-issue limited series set in the Scout universe;Swords of Texas was written by Dixon with art by Dunn, and concerned the adventures of the titular smugglers, previously introduced in a backup strip.[13]New America was written byJohn Ostrander andKim Yale with art by Gary Kwapisz; the series covered a 10-year period through the eyes of supporting character Rosa Winter.[14] A short limited edition comic depicting Santana's wedding was included with the Dixie Pistols' albumMarauder.[13]
These titles were followed by Truman's return inScout: War Shaman, a six-weekly ongoing picking up the main character's story over a decade after the events ofScout #24, with the lead now a widowed father of two.[15][13] To promote the new series, retailers were encouraged to create a display for the series in order to win original Truman artwork.[16] The first issue reached #98 onDiamond Comic Distributors' chart in January 1988, a solid performance for an Eclipse title.[17] Truman also produced theScout Handbook, a collection of profiles, maps and other material,[13] while Eclipse collectedScout #1-7 in the trade paperbackScout - The Four Monsters.[18] WhileWar Shaman #2 was delayed due to colourist Sam Parsons falling ill, War Shaman became monthly from #3.[19]Scout: War Shaman #8-9 featured the character Beau La Duke (a fictionalised version of Eclipse sales managerBeau Smith), who then appeared in a backup strip in #14-16. As planned by Truman, the series ended after 16 issues, ending with Rosa killing Scout.[20] Truman stated that Santana would not be resurrected, with the series instead slated to continue with the wider supporting cast he had built up.[2]
A third book calledScout: Marauder was planned to succeedWar Shaman, while Eclipse also produced a second trade calledScout: Mount Fire, compiling #8-14 of the first series.[21] Truman planned a two-year break fromScout while he worked on other projects;[3] however, Eclipse folded in 1994 before any new material could be published. As Truman retained ownership ofScout he was eventually able to seek out other publishers forMarauder and the planned fourth and final storyline,Blue Leader. Between 2006 and 2008Dynamite Entertainment produced trade paperbacks, printing the first two-thirds of the firstScout series.[22] Truman subsequently raised funds to continue the story himself viaKickstarter.[23] As of 2024[update] work onScout: Marauder as a full-length graphic novel is ongoing.
At the end of the 20th century, a history of ecological excesses has led other nations to levy vast sanctions against the USA for stealing world resources. Emanuel Santana is born in an Apachereservation inNew Mexico's White Mountains before being taken away as a 'Schoolboy' - a term for teenage recruits effectively conscripted for theNational Guard. Finding the values imparted to be contrary to those of his people, in 1999 Santana escapes after two years and uses the military knowledge gained from the programme to combat the Great Monsters of the Apache after receiving a vision. The four Great Monsters have taken on new forms in pastoral America - Owl Giant Man is a misogynisticpornographer; the Buffalo Monster is now Chippy Waltz, comedian turnedSecretary of Agriculture; Antelope Monster runs a vast, controlling media empire; and Eagle Monster is an oil baron based on an airship. Meanwhile Santana is being hunted by two former Schoolboy colleagues, Rossana Winter and Raymond Vaughn. He is aided by Missy, a 17-year old previously employed by the Owl Giant Man, and Gahn, his Apachespirit guide.
Author Michael A. Sheyahshe noted inNative Americans in Comic Books – A Critical Study, that "Scout is presented in a respectful and genuine manner with tribally specific cultural ties".[24] Another aspect ofScout to draw attention was the inclusion of a non-sensationalistlesbian relationship between Rosa Winter and US President Laura Carver, still a rare phenomenon in mainstream comics at the time. In 1988, Truman would also state that another supporting character - Avner Glansman - was gay but it had yet to become relevant to the plot.[25]Reviewing the first issue forAmazing Heroes, R.A. Jones praised most of the book - aside from the characterisation of Gahn, comparing the character to a "Jewish uncle" and feeling he undercut the tone of the rest of the book.[26] Scout was shortlisted for 'Best New Title' at the 1986Kirby Awards, losing out to fellow Eclipse seriesMiracleman.[27] Truman's art for the title also gained a nomination for the same year'sComics Buyer's Guide Awards.
| Title | ISBN | Release date | Issues |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scout - Four Monsters | 9780913035337 | 23 February 1988 | Scout #1-7 |
| Scout - Mount Fire | 9780913035153 | 1989 | Scout #8-14 |
| Title | ISBN | Release date | Issues |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scout - Volume 1 | 1-933305-95-9 | November 2006 | Scout #1-7 |
| Scout - Volume 2 | 1-933305-60-6 | August 2008 | Scout #8-16 |
In October 2016, Christopher MacBride was set to adapt and direct aScout feature film for the big screen forStudio 8. Jon Silk andHell or High Water’s Braden Aftergood were to produce the film and Truman serving as a consultant.[28]
