Scarlet is convinced the world is broken in Scarlet Book One.

Scarlet and her boyfriend, Gabriel, are hassled by bad cop Gary Dunes. When he feels up Scarlet, Gabriel punches him. When Gabriel is shot by Dunes and framed as a drug kingpin, Scarlet vows revenge. But revenge doesn’t satisfy Scarlet. She starts a revolution to overthrow the corrupt leaders of the world.

The use of a female first-person narrative is innovative. But breaking through the fourth wall to make the reader her co-conspirator is truly brilliant. Plus the artwork is gritty and gorgeous. There is nothing here to dislike. Though originally created and published eight years ago, the plot seems completely of the moment in the wave of the Trump and Kavanaugh protests.

Scarlet Book One collects the first five issues. With the recent collaboration between DC Comics and writer Bendis, new issues of Scarlet are being released. This book is a quick way to see Scarlet’s backstory. 4 stars!

Thanks to the publisher, Jinxworld, and NetGalley for an advance copy.

Scarlet is the brain-child of Brian Michael Bendis (New Avengers, Alias, Secret War, Guardians of the Galaxy) and Alex Maleev (Fables, Civil War, Daredevil, Mighty Avengers). It was originally published on its own, but DC is republishing it now after having gotten Brian Michael Bendis to start working for them – they also got him to pick up the series where he had left it off.
I’m actually really happy that DC is reprinting this volume, though I know not everyone may agree with me there. I’ve been reading the single issues of Scarlet as they come out, but I honestly had no idea that there was an entire volume out there with the backstory for me (my bad for not researching it, I know).
Scarlet Book 1 explains so many questions that I had while reading the single issues that have been coming out. So if you’re like me, and you desperately want to see how they got from point a to point b (though it’s really more of a point z, isn’t it?) then this is the graphic novel you should read next.
The back of the cover describes Scarlet as a ‘woman pushed to the edge by all that is wrong with the world’ but I actually sort of feel like that’s an understatement. I mean, it is accurate, but it doesn’t really seem to do justice to Scarlet’s pain or her mission. Perhaps that’s just me.
Scarlet went from having a decent and happy life to having all that taken away in just a moment. That’s actually not too different from a lot of origin stories for superheros, so no real shock there. Still, it seemed like what Scarlet went through was so much more human. There was no warning; no perfect responses that somehow saved the day. It just was.
That is, until Scarlet decided to do something about it. That’s really what this story is about. Scarlet, and many of the people around her, have been pushed too far, and they’re finally taking a stand against it.
This was a heavy book, to say the least. I could feel Scarlet’s loss and pain, and it made me really root for her, even when she took actions that would otherwise seem extreme. The actions of those she was opposing was not honorable, and it seemed like they were constantly upping the ante. The sad thing though? It hasn’t yet passed the point where it’s become too much for reality: it’s still believable.
I believe that one person could start a revolution. We’ve seen it happen. Likewise we’ve seen police brutality and corruption. We’ve seen the horrible and violent responses to otherwise peaceful protests. It’s happened. Maybe that’s why it hurt to see those pages?
What I really loved, more than anything else though, was the artwork. The artwork is absolutely striking. I loved how panels were reused, and the redish hue, almost like watercolors, used across so many of the pages. It made the art seem grungy…but not with dirt. I don’t think it takes a genius to put those two pieces together.
I’m so glad I read this volume. I haven’t yet seen how things get to the point shown in the latest Scarlet issues, but now I at least have a better idea of what’s going on. I also better understand the references to her boyfriend now, which was certainly the biggest take away from this.

There's a lot to love here-- the art is fantastic, the characters feel very real and their decisions, though not ones I personally would make, are relate-able and make for a very fun read. It also feels very timely, even seven years after it was first published as a collection.

Scarlet Book One is a dark and original vigilante story kindred to the Punisher or Mr. Robot, When Scarlet's best friend/boyfriend is killed by a corrupt police officer, Scarlet wakes in the hospital recovering from her own head injury, wanting revenge. For a kid, Scarlet seems to find it easy to wage war on the corruption running rabid in the local PD. Murder and revolution have come to call and war erupts between the police and young population. The art is gritty and dark, no beautiful pictures here but it is exactly what you expect for the story. The graphic express the mood and tell the story creating the perfect atmosphere to read Bendis's tale for a story you cannot turn away from. Dark and twisted, the story is addicting and shocking for a page turning, action packed read. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from Netgalley.

Interestingly enough, this book came out years ago, but I just picked up an ARC of it from Netgalley. I am not sure how that works, but I am sure glad it worked out. I am sure this is hype for the reboot that Bendis is doing with DC in his Jinxworld line. Listen, believe the hype. Yes, there are some implausible things like Scarlet not getting arrested as soon as she wakes up in the hospital, but all origin stories bend belief.
I say pick this up, plow through it in one sitting like I did, and then go get the new issue 1 of Scarlet.
I have it waiting for me.

A gritty graphic novel filled with great characters and well colored art. I loved this one and will definitely recommend it to patrons and friends.

I'm a huge fan of Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev's work on Daredevil, so I was glad to see them paired up for something new in the Jinxworld side of things. I really like the premise, as it reminds me in a good way of Ed Brubaker's Kill or Be Killed series, in that both take on everyday young protagonists who find themselves turned into vigilantes fighting a corrupt world. I think the thing I like most about Scarlet is the self-referential comment that the reason Scarlet is able to get away with things so far is not that she's a super-hero with super-hero abilities, but rather that the corruption of the police force is stymieing the investigation of the one good cop who wants to find out who's responsible, excluding and obstructing her, and leaving her as the fall guy when everything goes sideways. Just like in Brubaker's series, though, there are a few good cops who want to see justice served. I'm looking forward to seeing where Bendis and Maleev take us next.