It’s a talking gun, okay? And it has a lot to say in Scout Comics’ Sam And His Talking Gun #1.

Comic veteran artist Lee Ferguson (King: Flash Gordon, Supergirl, etc) teams up with his son, writer Drew Ferguson, and gets things vengeful. Our lead character Sam has been in an asylum, but is now out and about, with a gun. He’s drawing a bead, he’s checking it twice. And so on. His gun is keeping score, out loud and clear. Talking.

It’s a strange story, for those of us expecting a straight linear course. Drew Ferguson words it tersely, almost silently for many pages, with Sam pivoting and firing at will. Lee’s drawings are reminiscent of Dick Giordano in inking style, with plenty of expression in the panel shapes and colour effects. The lettering by DC Hopkins adds a great professional touch.

I wasn’t knocked out by the story, it seemed heavy on gunfight/gun chatter and light on plot. Things improved at the halfway point of the book when Drew slows the action down long enough to give us some back story. It’s A to B, so far. The talking gun gimmick aside, this comic, despite its irregular pulse, might make a good read in the long run…

Scout Comics, Sam And His Talking Gun #1, $3.99 for 26 pages of content

By Alan Spinney

After a career of graphic design, art direction and copywriting, I still have a passion for words and pictures. I love it when a comic book comes together; the story is tight, and the drawings lead me forward. Art with words... the toughest storytelling technique to get right. Was this comic book worth your money? Let's see!!