Trent: The Dead Man

I don't read as many comics as I did when I was a kid, but I do like to keep track of what's going on in the industry. Part of my routine, in an effort to stay up to date with independent publishers as well, is to scan Comixology's new releases every Wednesday afternoon.

I came across a pleasant surprise last week. It's not every (Wednes)day that you stumble into a mountie comic book.

Sergeant Philip Trent is a 'Mountie', a member of the Canadian Northwest Mounted Police. At the end of the 19th century, it's up to him and his fellow officers to crisscross the vast open spaces of Canada to maintain law and order. Sent after a small-time killer, he finds himself saving the beautiful Agnes from a pack of hungry wolves. The young woman has come from the city to find her missing half-brother. Against his better judgment, Trent agrees to help her...

There are three volumes available as I write this. I believe the books are French in origin but translated into English. Here's a sample page.

The book doesn't seem to be featured particularly prominently on the Europe Comics website as I had to use the search function to find it. Not sure if I'll go digital or print with this one, but it'll find it's way into my small collection at some point, that much is certain.

The River's End

This blog hasn't grown the way I wanted or expected it to for a variety of reasons.

For one, I'm not entirely sure how I want to display the information I gather between the post, link and page options.

For that matter, I'm not even sure about the kind of information I want to include at all. Part of me wants to keep it historically factual. Imagine literally walking across more than half the country today, never mind doing it in the late 1800s. The fortitude required for such a trek fascinates me. Some of the fiction I come across actually can't compete with that.

I particularly enjoy reading about the Mounties at my cottage so with summer finally creeping on, I believe I'll be able to sort my plans out. I began the season by taking in some James Oliver Curwood.

I wasn't entirely certain when I made my purchase but I discovered that I'd already read the first of two stories in the volume at right. The name Steele is so commonly used that it is sometimes difficult to differentiate between stories.

The Philip Steele story included in this novel is available digitally on Amazon. The second story (not involving Steele) might be as well, come to think of it, but I never took the time to check. Regardless, I preferred a print option.

In trying to gather more information about Curwood and his Mountie stories in particular, I frequently saw his work slotted in the "romance" category. That isn't a reach. Both Steele and River's End prominently include an out-of-reach love interest. Thinking on it now, I don't recall a single female character in either tales that isn't completely lovely and irresistible.

But I perceive both tales as psychological dramas, personally. Curwood spends a great deal of time and words describing his protagonists' emotional state. Arguably too much so, in fact.

I much preferred River's End. Based on Wikipedia info, it would have been published in 1919, whereas Steele appeared in 1911. Perhaps Curwood was simply more seasoned as a writer at that point. It is said to be Curwood's most successful book.

Steele felt like four stories tied together loosely to tell one. River's End was better structured and paced, in my opinion and had a more interesting premise, even if the main character was not actually a member of the NWMP.

Spoiler-free synopsis; a man being hunted for murder for many months takes over the life of the Mountie chasing him (with consent) after the latter passes. He essentially pretends to be him in all aspects of life.

Of course, such a scheme is not without its surprises and twists to navigate through. Because of the number of shocks and cliffhangers, I think this would make a great film. Mind you, there are comments about an Asian character that might have to be softened a bit for today's viewing audience.

Leonaur Press has produced four volumes of The Mounted Police Novels, available from Amazon. Think of these as more psychological thriller than the action-based Mountie stories that you might be more accustomed to and you might find yourself enjoying them for the change of pace.