The Scumbag, Vol. 3: Goldenbrowneye

The Scumbag

by Rick Remender, Roland Boschi (Artist), Moreno Dinisio (Artist)

The world is caught in an all-out war between Scorpionus and Moonflower as the two enact their plans to force their versions of utopia on us all! Our only hope for liberation is a perverted, drug-addled metalhead and his flying Trans Am—Agent Scumbag!

Quit being a jerk and come for one final spin with RICK REMENDER (SEVEN TO ETERNITY, DEADLY CLASS), ROLAND BOSCHI (Winter Soldier, Ghost Rider), and Ernie Ray Clementine, as he sets everything right in the world for everyone! Or the exact opposite! Why would we tell you how the story ends in this blurb?!

Collects THE SCUMBAG #11-14

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels

123 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 31, 2022

About the author

Rick Remender is an American comic book writer and artist who resides in Los Angeles, California. He is the writer/co-creator of many independent comic books like Black Science, Deadly Class, LOW, Fear Agent and Seven to Eternity. Previously, he wrote The Punisher, Uncanny X-Force, Captain America and Uncanny Avengers for Marvel Comics.

Reviews

[Justin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know about how I feel about the last issue collected here, so I'm not going to give it a 4. Obviously, there's no way anyone should start with this volume. Really dug the Roland Bochsi art on these issues.

[Yoshiro · Rating 5 out of 5]

POPKulturowy Kociołek:

https://popkulturowykociolek.pl/szumo...

Trzecia i ostatnia odsłona serii opiera się na podobnych schematach co wcześniejsze tomy. Rick Remender ponownie decyduje się tu na dalsze przesunięcie granicy scenariuszowego szaleństwa. Oznacza to nic innego jak dużą dawkę treści kierowanej do dorosłego czytelnika (nawet jeśli album nie ma oficjalnie oznaczania 18 +). Na całe szczęście dzięki niezłej mieszance humoru, mocnej akcji i odrobiny głębszej treści (w postaci nieoczywistych komentarzy społecznych) przedstawione tu szaleństwo i brutalność są zarówno angażujące, jak i pod pewnymi względami zachwycające.

Rememder w Szumowina tom 3 cały czas udanie manewruje pomiędzy różnymi stronami historii. Przedstawia on zarówno racje walczących na rzecz staromodnego świata (nawet jeśli robią to w sposób mało akceptowalny), jak i tych opowiadających się za innym obrazem rzeczywistości. Obie strony przedstawione są w sposób mocno niejednoznaczny i nie zawsze można uznać je za te „złe”. Gdzieś pośrodku tego jest oczywiście główny bohater serii, który ma na wszystko „wywalone”, kompletnie nic go nie obchodzi, nie opowiada się on za żadną ze stron, chce tylko ponownie dobrze się „zabawić”. Bohaterowie wypadają więc bardzo dobrze, przykuwając uwagę czytelnika.

Jedyne, do czego można się tu przyczepić to pospieszne tempo akcji. Wydarzenia przedstawiane są tu błyskawicznie, kilkukrotnie nie pozwalając odbiorcy na większą eksplorację poruszonych tematów. Malutką szczyptą dziegciu są również niektóre zwroty fabularne (jest ich jednak naprawdę mało), które mogą wydawać się mało logiczne, ale taki już urok tej serii.....

[Rick Ray · Rating 2 out of 5]

Remender's Scumbag series doubles down on the not so subtle political commentary. Admittedly, I found this volume funnier than the last, but otherwise the story is just as uninteresting. We find our Agent Scumbag sent back to the 1950s because the villains somehow succeeded in enacting their goal of "making America great again" as they saw fit. The initial set up is pretty funny, and Remender's script lands some nice gags. The premise does wear thin quickly though and then we get some diatribes about how political extremism isn't good. It's not exactly an enlightened centrist take either - Remender makes sure to make fun of centrists too - but it's so heavy handed I couldn't help but roll my eyes at several moments. The series ends with a fairly obvious twist that seems to be an attempt to salvage the blunt commentary, but by that point I was pretty over this.

While this volume is a bit better storywise compared to previous volumes, I miss the rotating artists shtick the series had earlier. Roland Boschi's artwork is nice, but the massive talent this series cycled through was kind of one of the main charms to the series.

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Goldenbrowneye is barely better than its predecessor, which isn't saying much. An early twist sees our hero stuck in an alt-50s America, where Remender can go nuts with gags about how secretly awful the 50s were. It's amusing, but when we return to the plot, we return to the bland "both sides of the spectrum are bad!" argument that Remender hit on repeatedly in the previous volume. "Why can't we all just get along?" Ernie asks. What a compelling hero.

The consistent art in this volume is an improvement, at least. And I did appreciate that the whole series was revealed to be a hallucination in the mind of an overdosed Ernie. Fitting!

[Scott Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this volume more than I thought I would. This was a great finish to the series. I really like how it focuses on how American politics and culture have become so engulfed in extremism and tribalism. People would rather just easily adopt a group's ideals 100% to be accepted in the tribe instead of being vulnerable and questioning things.
Ernie doesn't prescribe to either side. He just wants to party. Be more like Ernie.

[Luke John · Rating 5 out of 5]

This final volume spirals further into crazy, pulp sci-fi, political satire. Nothing is left on the table here, one last spin for Agent Scumbag as the world descends into insanity. The satire of polarised US politics may date this book at some point (we can hope), but for now this was one hell of a ride. Recommend.

[Marcos Muñoz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tras algún trastabilleo en el segundo volumen, Remender logra cerrar la saga de Ernie Ray Clementine diciendo lo que pretende, culminando los mensajes que ha estado fraguando y repartiendo para todos. Lo que no quita que se permita un número entero de puro slapstick. Ernie Ray lo admite todo.

[Chris Lohn · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up.
This was my least favorite of the series. A lot of the more subtle messages were very in your face in this one.
On the plus side, it did have an actual ending, although I did not care for it.

[Ian Carpenter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid end to a timely, old man ribbing of the times. The art's fantastic and Remender figures out a way to showcase Earnie's heart's attack on the polarizing polemics of the close-minded. No matter what side they're on.

[Eric Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fitting end.

[Santiago Fedorowicz · Rating 3 out of 5]

6

[Charles Eldridge · Rating 3 out of 5]

At least I can say this is unique. The full tale is all three volumes. I powered through them late one night when I couldn’t sleep. It’s a heavy dose of 1970s exploitation films with some modern societal themes thrown in to root it in today’s discourse. Definitely NOT for kids in subject matter or art.

Speaking of art, I found it interesting that the first two volumes - comprising of 10 issues - have ten different artists. Interesting idea, but I’m not sure how effective it was in execution. The last five issues have the same artist and it helps focus the story. It sure is something. I might suggest “Normandy Gold” for a more refined take on the 1970s genres, but I’m sure this’ll have an appeal to an audience.

[Mariano · Rating 2 out of 5]

I usually love Remender but this was pure nonsense and boring. A super long centrist political "all extremes are bad" speech. If you are into that, go for it. If you are looking for a story, not your best bet.

[Bogdan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great drawings, great coloring, great dialogues bit unfortunately, I thought of this ending since volume 2 however it was nice while it lasted. Cheers 🥂

[Stephen Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this ending!

[Patrick Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

It had to end this way. We all know Ernie is right, but it is too hard a road to take. Rick and Roland finished the saga the only way they could, with beauty, joy, and despair.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cry into the void to find middle ground in a world where there are too many extremes in ideals. Sad ending though.