Review: Scouts Honour #2

When the world ends for Kit and her Dad, the Ranger Scouts were on hand to almost save the day and from that point a hero steeped from the annals Kit’s imagination and gave her life a goal and purpose.  But the fall from such lofty ideas and ideals can be a pretty big one!

Kit has managed to reclaim a pre-war drone that holds any number of secrets.  Asking her Dad to look into it, Kit has other unforeseen problems to deal with; her best friend and competition Dez is about to cross a line, there is the Eagle Guard Trials to try to avoid and why is Lieutenant Marston so interested in the drone?

David Pepose, who cut his teeth on the excellent Spencer & Locke series as a homage of sorts to Calvin & Hobbes before delivering the excellent rom-crime book Going to the Chapel, moves into the post-apocalyptic future arena.  There are a couple of recognisable tropes in play, though I feel that the Mulan / Yentl elements may come as a bit of a surprise for many.  Pepose takes his time in weaving the the multiple threads leading to something of mixed conclusion.  The dialogue is terse in places, though the friendly competition between Kit and Dez has a certain charm that carries the veiled danger of a friendship that could be lost; a shame given that Kit has lost so much already.

The art is provided by Luca Casalanguida, whose work can look a little unfinished in places.  I didn’t mind that at all to be honest; it suits the “survive and rebuild” vibe that it prevalent in every one of Kit’s interactions.  Whilst there are clear indications of whom is whom and how to identify the characters; but with Kit there is a clever piece of androgyny that is applicable.  The colors are supplied by Matt Milla who gives the book a dirty, lived in look that, like some of the tropes, will appeal to fans of the desolate future type of story.  Finally, letterer Carlos M. Mangual delivers a scratchy font that whilst may seem to lack polish, actually fits right in with the vibe of the book, showing that letters can influence a feel of the book as well as the more obvious skills such as art and/or colors.

This book, for me, isn’t as immersive as either Spencer or Chapel.  This has nothing to do with Pepose and crew, who all deliver as required; it has more to do with my preferred story type.  Still, Pepose’s story deals with a variety of coming of age elements, be it the trials, the loss of a hero or the awakening of sexuality and gender identity.  It’s is an ambitious  table of of topics, but I am sure that Pepose, Casalanguida and company will deliver an engaging series.

Writing- 4 Stars
Art – 4 Stars
Colors – 4 Stars

Overall – 4 Stars

Written by; David Pepose
Art by; Luca Casalanguida
Colors by; Matt Milla
Letters by; Carlos M. Mangual
Published by; AfterShock Comics