Publisher:  Avatar Press

   Warren Ellis is one of those very special comic book writers.  He’s a guy who makes one proud to stand up and say, “Hell Yes!  I read comic books!”  His skill transcends the medium.  I’ve always like the way Ellis deals with very human horror…the way he nurtures and grows it, like bacteria in a Petrie dish.  “Scars” is just such a book.  You think you’ve seen the most horrific part in the opening few pages but then Ellis gets to work, probing and plumbing for something darker and even more sinister.

   Detective John Can and his partner are called in to investigate the site of a grisly murder.  Someone has dropped off three boxes at a local charity office.  But inside is no product of good will.  The boxes contain the remains of a young girl, just eleven years old.  The medical examiner determines that nothing was taken from the body…no macabre souvenir.  This killer seemed to have taken what he wanted, and he liked it.  It’s up to Cain to break the news to the parents, promising them he will catch the man.  This is personal to Cain.  His own pregnant wife was gunned down and killed in a drive-by shooting and it’s haunted him ever since. 

   All signs point to the girl’s teacher but John has no hard evidence and he’s making things worse by punching out the cop who originally investigated the girl’s disappearance and then by stalking the suspect.  He even comes to blows with his own, by-the-book partner over the case.  So what do you do?  What recourse can you take when you know a killer is on the loose, and is working day after day with children.  Who will be next?  That single acid drop of fear is what drives Cain to take matters into his own hands.

   “Scars” was powerful because it did hit on real life horror.  This could be a story right out of the daily headlines.  While it deed seem to be influenced by films such as “Seven” and others, Ellis successfully made it his own and was complemented by the solid art of Jacen Burrows.  At the end of each chapter in the book, Ellis provides valuable commentary and insight into what went into the making of the story.  Ellis continues to prove why he is one of the best in the genre!

 - TIm Janson

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