Django Unchained
Adapted by Hudlin from the first draft of Tarantino’s screenplay of the same name, Django Unchained is the rare case of a comic following a feature film. In case you’re not already familiar with the iconic director’s latest revenge fantasy, Django Unchained follows a slave named Django in the years leading up to the Civil War as he is freed by a German bounty hunter, Dr. King Shultz, who needs Django to identify his former owners, who are wanted dead or alive. In exchange for Django’s help, Schultz agrees to help him find his indentured wife and take on the warped plantation owner who owns her. Fans of Tarantino’s wordy banter will be pleased to find it intact and tucked among the panels. Though it echoes the film, Hudlin’s careful adaptation wrestles free thanks to the gritty, western-themed art, particularly from Guera. At its best, this collection provides an insightful look into Tarantino’s scripting process. Fans of Guera’s Scalped will be drawn to Django’s exciting, revenge-filled brutality. --Ben Spanner