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10 reviews for:
Elephantmen Volume 1: Wounded Animals
Richard Starkings, José Ladrönn, Joe Casey, Joe Kelly, Moritat
3.79 AVERAGE
10 reviews for:
Elephantmen Volume 1: Wounded Animals
Richard Starkings, José Ladrönn, Joe Casey, Joe Kelly, Moritat
3.79 AVERAGE
This is good. It has fun, wonder AND heart and draws on varying styles of storytelling to depict a future world where huge, genetically-modified human/animal hybrids live among regular humes after their initial purpose is done.
I want to give it a four-star rating but there are a couple of reasons why I'm saving more stars for a later volume.
The artwork is striking but a couple of the issues' have some wobbly line work, which is somewhat odd given the excellent design and sumptuous colouring. On the whole, however, it's very good, a lot of it fantastic - I guess that makes the lesser parts stick out more.
I like the variation of storytelling styles used but on the whole this volume comes across a bit patchy. On the plus side, this patchiness gives the unexpected and eye-popping Captain Stoneheart and the Truth Fairy about 2/3rds of the way through, a fully realised pirate yarn/fairy tale using Elephantmen character styles and beautiful artwork. A delicious helping of comic goodness right there.
The fact that this is the first volume is probably the reason why it's patchy. I expect later chunks to be more cohesive and I'm looking forward getting on that bus shortly.
I want to give it a four-star rating but there are a couple of reasons why I'm saving more stars for a later volume.
The artwork is striking but a couple of the issues' have some wobbly line work, which is somewhat odd given the excellent design and sumptuous colouring. On the whole, however, it's very good, a lot of it fantastic - I guess that makes the lesser parts stick out more.
I like the variation of storytelling styles used but on the whole this volume comes across a bit patchy. On the plus side, this patchiness gives the unexpected and eye-popping Captain Stoneheart and the Truth Fairy about 2/3rds of the way through, a fully realised pirate yarn/fairy tale using Elephantmen character styles and beautiful artwork. A delicious helping of comic goodness right there.
The fact that this is the first volume is probably the reason why it's patchy. I expect later chunks to be more cohesive and I'm looking forward getting on that bus shortly.
I picked this up after hearing good things on a few blogs I read and I have to say I wasn't disappointed. Billed as 'pulp science fiction' it's set in the world of Hip Flask and Mystery City dealing with the Elephant Men. Dark and surprisingly touching the first volume is light on story but does serve as an introduction to the world. I particularly liked the final story of Captain Stoneheart and the Truth Fairy.
All that aside the artwork is stunning and beautifully rendered. The world is alive and detailed and vast and the characters (particularly Ebony) are vividly expressive. I'm very keen to pick the next volume up following this.
All that aside the artwork is stunning and beautifully rendered. The world is alive and detailed and vast and the characters (particularly Ebony) are vividly expressive. I'm very keen to pick the next volume up following this.
This really just goes to show that some people (and I'm not naming names) are a sucker for advertising and packaging. This is a reprint of a book I've already read and indeed own. The thing is they've standardised it and reprinted it in the same format as the other two collections (following this one) and that just cries out to my OCD tendencies and love of order. So was it worth buying again?
Well, the ongoing format of their collections as I've previously said are gorgeous. Heavy paper, thick, nicely designed - it's a wonderful book to hold and look at. Extras compared to the original version? Well, they include Elephantmen #0 which from what I can determine is actually Hip Flask #1 (Unnatural Selections). That alone saves you the 20 odd bucks that costs in HC on amazon and provides further depth to the EM backstory. The other real joy is the extra 'English and Media Studies' selections Starkings has included from the back pages where he offers a history of the fantastic artists and comic creators who shaped him, working in the British system in the 60s and 70s. It's nicely done, interesting and gives an idea of the comic lineage that has led here.
The whole thing screams of independent comic making at its finest and they clearly love their work. I don't blame them. I read this the first time in February 2010 and have included my original review (slightly edited given some of the changes) below. I've also bumped up the score to 4 stars given the design improvements and the extras.
-------------------
I picked this up after hearing good things on a few blogs I read and I have to say I wasn't disappointed. Billed as 'pulp science fiction' it's set in the world of Hip Flask and Mystery City dealing with the Elephant Men. Dark and surprisingly touching the first volume serves as an introduction to the world, setting up some ongoing plot lines. I particularly liked the final story of Captain Stoneheart and the Truth Fairy.
All that aside the artwork is stunning and beautifully rendered. The world is alive and detailed and vast and the characters (particularly Ebony) are vividly expressive. I'm very keen to pick the next volume up following this.
Well, the ongoing format of their collections as I've previously said are gorgeous. Heavy paper, thick, nicely designed - it's a wonderful book to hold and look at. Extras compared to the original version? Well, they include Elephantmen #0 which from what I can determine is actually Hip Flask #1 (Unnatural Selections). That alone saves you the 20 odd bucks that costs in HC on amazon and provides further depth to the EM backstory. The other real joy is the extra 'English and Media Studies' selections Starkings has included from the back pages where he offers a history of the fantastic artists and comic creators who shaped him, working in the British system in the 60s and 70s. It's nicely done, interesting and gives an idea of the comic lineage that has led here.
The whole thing screams of independent comic making at its finest and they clearly love their work. I don't blame them. I read this the first time in February 2010 and have included my original review (slightly edited given some of the changes) below. I've also bumped up the score to 4 stars given the design improvements and the extras.
-------------------
I picked this up after hearing good things on a few blogs I read and I have to say I wasn't disappointed. Billed as 'pulp science fiction' it's set in the world of Hip Flask and Mystery City dealing with the Elephant Men. Dark and surprisingly touching the first volume serves as an introduction to the world, setting up some ongoing plot lines. I particularly liked the final story of Captain Stoneheart and the Truth Fairy.
All that aside the artwork is stunning and beautifully rendered. The world is alive and detailed and vast and the characters (particularly Ebony) are vividly expressive. I'm very keen to pick the next volume up following this.
adventurous
dark
Beautiful stuff. I love the various snapshots the reader gets of the city, and the art is lush beyond belief.
Finally got to read this and, admittedly, I'm intrigued. The art was hit or miss, but progressively got better and the writing was interesting. Will definitely have to follow up eventually.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse
Minor: Child abuse, Incest
What it's about: Ebeneezer, aka Ebony, is an Elephantman, a term that refers to all the half-animal hybrids, but also he is an elephant-man. In the future, an amoral scientist creates half-animal, half-human hybrids and enslaves them as machines of war. When these forces are defeated, they are liberated; but not everyone believes they are reformed. Ebony and his compatriot Hip (a hippo-hybrid) now work for the Information Agency, policing their brethren and dealing with other crimes. But the world is an unstable place, and they will have to tread carefully and fight hard to keep their freedom.
What I thought: This is an interesting idea. I was a bit annoyed at the blatant sexism and misogyny scattered throughout the book - the skimpy outfits and pneumatic women distract from the story, and are not as fully realized as the main characters. But I liked it enough to go back for another volume.
Why I rated it like I did: There was some interesting storytelling going on, but it got a bit bogged down in places. Could have carried on at full speed to explore this strange new world; instead, it had a few detours that took away from the narrative momentum.
What I thought: This is an interesting idea. I was a bit annoyed at the blatant sexism and misogyny scattered throughout the book - the skimpy outfits and pneumatic women distract from the story, and are not as fully realized as the main characters. But I liked it enough to go back for another volume.
Why I rated it like I did: There was some interesting storytelling going on, but it got a bit bogged down in places. Could have carried on at full speed to explore this strange new world; instead, it had a few detours that took away from the narrative momentum.
It's a couple hundred years in the future and a scientist has made human/animal hybrids. Originally engineered for the art of war, we're now seeing the aftermath and where each of their lives has taken them.
This one comes off as an anthology of sorts, showcasing an array of characters with a unifying theme here and there.
Clever stories and absolutely gorgeous art from many talented creators make this one worth a look.
This one comes off as an anthology of sorts, showcasing an array of characters with a unifying theme here and there.
Clever stories and absolutely gorgeous art from many talented creators make this one worth a look.
Elephantmen, at least this first volume, is an assorted collection of ideas and short narratives that slowly begin to weave together into a functional narrative about biology, empathy, morality, and how humanity can be forced onto other organisms and, in many respects, surpassed by their original creators. A story about a Moreauesque scientist who breeds human-animal hybrids, this volume introduces several characters that will be recurring figures in the longer series. Elephantmen is cyber-punk, it is a dystopia, it is fantasy, it is science fiction, it is comedy, it is romance; Elephantmen contains multitudes.
Reading this book I was struck constantly by the artwork which seemed to bleed light and energy and color in a way few comics have the daring to do. And while the visual spectacles of this book are wondrous, the stories in this collection are brimming with character and humanity that are sure to leave the reader, like me, eager and ready to hop into the next volume. Elephantmen is a wonder.
Reading this book I was struck constantly by the artwork which seemed to bleed light and energy and color in a way few comics have the daring to do. And while the visual spectacles of this book are wondrous, the stories in this collection are brimming with character and humanity that are sure to leave the reader, like me, eager and ready to hop into the next volume. Elephantmen is a wonder.