Scud: The Disposable Assassin

Scud The Disposable Assassin

It's Cool to be a Robot
Publication information
Publisher Fireman Press
Image Comics
Schedule Monthly
Genre
    Publication date 1994-1998, 2008
    Number of issues 24
    Creative team
    Creator(s) Rob Schrab

    Scud: The Disposable Assassin (published from 1994 to 1998, and 2008) is a humorous, hyperkinetic science fiction comic by Rob Schrab about a world in which one can buy robot assassins out of vending machines, the most popular of which are intelligent robots that kill a specified target and then self-destruct.

    The protagonist of the series is Scud, an average Heart Breaker Series 1373 model assassin. On his first mission, he is sent to kill Jeff, a rampaging female mutant with mousetraps for hands, an electrical plug for a head, and a squid for a belt.

    Plot

    In this future, it is possible to obtain robot assassins out of vending machines at the cost of 3 Franks. After terminating their target, the robot self-destructs for easy clean-up. During his first mission, the Scud we follow sees his self-destruct warning in a mirror during an 18-page fight scene. Scuds being programmed for self-preservation for the sake of winning fights, Scud wounds Jeff, shooting off her arms and legs, then places her on life support at a nearby hospital ensuring their mutual survival.[1]

    Scud: TDA's main plot follows Scud's career as a freelance mercenary and assassin, working to pay off Jeff's medical bills.

    Issue #20

    With issue #20, the series went on indefinite hiatus with a cliffhanger. Schrab was growing dissatisfied with the direction the story was taking, and stepped back from the book rather than allowing things to worsen.[2] At the same time his career in Hollywood began to pick up, so he shifted focus further away from the book. Since then Scud's publisher, Fireman Press, was dissolved after a falling out between Rob Schrab and a business partner over rights.[3]

    Four-issue series finale

    On January 3, 2007, Schrab announced on his blog his plans to finish Scud in four parts, Issues 21-24, at which point he would release an omnibus of all 24 issues.[4] Podcasts posted to Schrab's site gave his state of mind during the process, opportunities he is passing up to finish the book, and a view of the process he uses to create a comic page.[5] Regarding the decision to conclude the series with 4 issues, Rob Schrab told fans that "he just couldn't make this another issue. I want Scud to go out with a bang."

    The final installment of Scud was released as a four-part mini-series published by Image Comics, with covers by guest artists.

    An oversized, one-volume edition of Scud entitled "Scud The Disposable Assassin: The Whole Shebang!" was released August 6, 2008. In addition to issues 1-24, it contains "Drywall: Unzipped" and Black Octopus: Sexy Genius.

    Rob Schrab has stated that he currently has no plans for further issues of Scud Spin-offs Scud: Tales from the Vending Machine, and The Drywall & Oswald Show.

    In a closing interview conducted by Doug TenNapel at the end of Issue #24, Rob stated that he would like to see La Cosa Nostroid concluded, but that it would be up to Dan Harmon who helmed the series.

    Characters

    Main characters

    Supporting characters

    Spinoffs

    Several comic book series were published by Fireman Press, all of which take place inside the Scud universe. These include:

    Collections

    Scud: The Disposable Assassin has been collected in trade paperback form. These include:

    Other media

    Merchandise

    Scud: The Disposable Assassin inspired two video games, Scud: The Disposable Assassin (1997) for Sega Saturn and Scud: Industrial Evolution (1997) for PC. Both received mixed reviews.

    A 6" Scud action figure was announced in 2006 as a part of Shocker Toys' Indie Spotlight line.[6][7] The addition of the figure to the toy line was cited by Schrab as one of his motivations for wanting to finish issue #21 in his first video blog.[8] The figure (with a variant Sol robot) was eventually released in 2009.[9]

    Film

    Scud was optioned as a possible movie from Oliver Stone's production company, but the option has long since lapsed.

    Pop Culture References

    In the annual Homestar Runner animated Halloween special for 2008, the characters Pom-Pom and The Cheat dressed up as Scud and Drywall, respectively.

    A copy of Scud: The Disposable Assassin #1 appears in the "Advanced Dungeons & Dragons" episode of the American television comedy series Community.[10]

    Scud himself was seen in the background of the courtroom scene in G.I. Jeff, an episode of Community that was based on G.I. Joe that was directed by Schrab.

    In an episode of Cracked's After Hours series Michael Swaim is dressed as Scud.

    References

    1. Rob Schrab (1996). Scud: The Disposable Assassin #1. Fireman Press.
    2. Zack Smith. "Catching up with Rob Schrab". Retrieved 2007-02-06.
    3. Rob Schrab. "Scud: What Happened?". Retrieved 2007-02-06.
    4. Rob Schrab. "SCUD THE DISPOSABLE ASSASSIN #21". Retrieved 2007-02-06.
    5. Rob Schrab. "Rob Schrab's Blog". Retrieved 2007-02-06.
    6. "Scud to be 6 inch Figure from Shocker Toys". Retrieved 2007-02-06.
    7. Shocker Toys. "Shocker Toys Refocuses Indy Spotlight Series 1". Retrieved 2007-02-06.
    8. "Scud Vblog 1". Retrieved 2007-02-06.
    9. "OAFE - Indie Spotlight 1: Scud the Disposable Assassin review". Retrieved 2009-11-18.
    10. "Did Community just make D&D "Cool"?". Retrieved 2011-02-09.

    External links