Customer Reviews

Elephantmen Volume 1: Wounded Animals

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

If you are looking for something that offers more than the usual comic book fare then you owe it to yourself to read Elephantmen. The description tells you the premise but there are so many layers to each story written by Mr. Starkings that you are left anxiously waiting for the next issue. The art by Moritat is nothing short of brilliant and the colors he uses compliment not only the fantastic art work but the storyline as well. (Moritat pencils and colors the book) This is one of the best monthly comic book titles being published but woefully under read so give it a chance, you'll be glad you did.

This book was a great read. The writer of this book has alot of emotions when writing this book. In the beginning ebony meets a young girl named savanna. Its kinda a heart felt moment between the two and ebony keeps having flashbacks about the war and how it has effected him. Aside from the writing, the book has tons of great artistry throught-out this book. Whenever i open this book i immediately think of blade runner in how the futuristic settings are and the overall characters. The characters have such an alluring mysterious aura about them that makes me want to get my hands on the second volume. This was actaully my first comic book ive picked up in a long time and it will diffently not be the last one also.

Recommened for any who likes blade runner and any other sci-fi genres

I love Elephantmen; the art, the story, and this is a great collection. HOwever it gets 3/5 stars because the binding easily breaks apart. Seems to be due to poor or very old glue holding the book to the cover. Otherwise a very compelling read with bold and dynamic visuals.

'Wounded Animals' is a change of pace from most comic collections; it's definitely not of the "written for the trade" species. Instead of a linear narrative, the audience is introduced to the characters through a series of sequentially illustrated short stories that do share some common plot threads, but are largely capable of standing on their own. Starkings, Moritat, and the other contributors do a great job presenting tales that run the gamut of emotions from humor to horror to hope and back again. This is a fantastic compilation and an intriguing look at a dystopian future and humanity's reaction to the Other. I recommend it highly to any comic-book and SF fans looking for something a little different.

I have collected the comics but the hardcover runs them end to end and makes you regret putting it down to go to bed. Great book and great stories with lots of depth and realistic art!

My attention to the "Hip Flask" universe had originally been brought by the "Concrete Jungle" volume, more specifically its beautiful cover. This universe created by Starkings (and with the help of the fantastical art by Ladron) is rich with characters that you cannot help but emphasize with.
Basically, what the "Hip Flask" universe is the following: Scientifically bred animals native to Africa (The titular hippo, zebras, lions, et.,) are spliced with human DNA to become super-weapons in the future of a Blade Runner-esque earth replete with evil corporations, environmental problems, and huge cities, and I shall put the word NOIR in capitals to emphasize its influences. Most of the stories take place after the "Elephant-men" as they are called have been freed, and how they have integrated with human-society.
Beautiful art coupled with future-noir and rich characterizations make the "Hip Flask" universe a must-read. However, this review is about "Wounded Animals". Do I really need to say more? Well, in case I do this is the story of the revolt of the "Elephant Men", and it is bloody and graphic. Do not let that ward you the reader off, though. Grab this book and you will be back on Amazon shorty after buying all the others in this collection.

This book's cover may look hokey or you may think that it is somehow cartoonish because of the cover. You're wrong. This is a very interesting collection of comics with great art and great story. The "origin" issue in this collection is raw, but it has a great Heavy Metal type feel. The run down of the premise is that some mad scientist (not the cliche) genetically engineers animals native to Africa brainwashes them then sets these animals loose upon the world. The writers toy with some heavy concepts like, racism, redemption, the nature of sin, exploitation, and inter-species lovin'. This book is highly imaginative and drawn in a very pleasing style for the most part.

I am NOT a comic-goer. As in matter of fact, I have never bought a comic book. Ever. I've purchased novels. I seldom purchase manga, anime, and movies. But never comics. I always felt intimidated or like it didn't matter-- because a lot of the good comics get turned into movies or animated shows. Honestly, I never felt like I was missing anything. Now that I think about it, I believe vaguely remember the name Hip Flask... I didn't remember how or where, but when I walked by Richard Starking's desk at the Stumptown Comic Convention in Portland, Oregon this weekend, a certain spark hit the deep recess of my memories. "Hip... Flask? That sounds... familiar." Frankly, that spark didn't matter, because the cover art for each volume is beautiful... if not, intimidating, sad, and hopeful all at once. I'm not the kind of person to buy stuff on the spot, much less am I the kind of person who reads dystopian themed work (because a hopeless future is NOT a kind of future any of us REALLY want), but I was stunned. So I thought, "Well, I'm standing here looking intently, but not touching anything... This is kind of rude. Might as well." Honestly, I didn't know why I had found myself there. I wanted to run. I don't know. I guess I was scared as to what I was going to submit my eyes to. Am I expecting too much? Yeah, that usually happens. Am I bad person for reading this? Oh, puleeze. I picked up the first volume and read the first five pages.

I ran out of the convention and came back in with enough money to buy all three volumes at once. Yes. I was sold instantly. This was AFTER I had gone through the entire convention, so my tingly writer/reader senses were saying as they always do when I go to a convention, "You suck if you come a place where people sell their work PERSONALLY and leave with NOTHING". Yes... I was also running out of time (places to go, things to do) and was fairly tired (long day yesterday, long day today, long day tomorrow). So it was an on-the-spot gamble. However, I felt Richard Starking's generosity as he happily obliged to sign each volume. Wowwie, thank you very much, kind sir! I'm sorry if I'm not supposed to sit down and rest my legs while an author is signing something. I engrossed myself in Elephantmen's world as soon as I could sit on a lofty chair. Not on the light rail, though. I felt the same guilty and yet pleasurable thoughts as a child would shaking the Christmas presents to find out what sounds it makes before opening it. Me, buying comic books? Excuse me, how OLD are you? Then, I realized that this is NOT for everyone... Maybe.

Elephantmen is a spin-off series based off of the Hip Flask universe starring Hip Flask (the hippo man himself), Ebenezer "Ebony" Hide (his co-worker and my favorite so far), Obadiah Horn (the villain... don't want to spoil anything), and their friends, comrades, and lackies. In this dystopian future set in the 23rd century, a mad scientist named Kazushi Nikken created an army of super human-animal hybrid soldiers whom the people on Earth feared as the Elephantmen. They were brainwashed, trained, and pushed to their limits for the sole sake of serving only Nikken and his bloody war efforts. When the war comes to an end, the Elephantmen are taken, rehabilitated, and put into society to do anything and everything we do. Of course, when you're a Elephantman, a giant anthropomorphic creature where you can only look down upon the people who look down on you, nothing ever really goes out right.

This is what I do with books and movies: I go through it once for the sake of watching it. Then I take a break for a day or two, then watch it again to study it. I did the same with Elephantmen. Let me say this now: My first impressions was not very good. However, as I continued to think about it... As I continued to study it, the more I became fascinated by what Richard Starking and his editors and artists had created.

But I have to remember the intentional bias the comic has, otherwise I would get mad (well, more like upset). For many great reasons. Hah... I'm a bit embarrassed to admit it, but that Saturday night, I did not sleep despite having to work at eight in the morning. I went to bed, I sat there for seven hours (napped for one hour) thinking... Wishful thinking. The writer inside of me is cackling, "You must take this... and this! Muahahaha!" The reader inside me is thinking, "Oooo, I believe I am beginning to understand." I stayed up thinking and trying to relate to the characters. How the plot was written and how it is unfolded. What may happen, trying to understand what's actually happening, getting angry at the comic but at the same time feeling sorry for it as a whole (these writers and artists turned paper into an abomination we call life-- take this as a compliment please), etc.

I found it rather annoying at first, then found it rather convenient how each section (issue) of the story are loosely tied together. This leaves more room for actual events we care about and removes the much not-wanted filler such as a particular character having to spend a page walking from point A to point B with nothing really happening.

... I really shouldn't write anymore. None of it deserves to be spoiled by a person who takes two hours to draft, write, revise, and edit a review. This review is more about the adventure coming into contact with the volumes more than the actual volumes themselves... but I believe it all enhanced the experience. Elephantmen is definitely a keeper on my bookshelf. There are a total of eleven volumes (three out right now, the fourth is coming out soon) in the Elephantmen storyline and I will definitely be there to obtain all eleven. Did I mention I already purchased the art book? Sweeeeet.

I really liked this books look and feel, but the jumping story lines were just too confusing for me. And the pirate story at the end just didn't click with me.

Great looking book which lacks on the story side.

elepantmen promise so much and dont deliver.
some issues are just filler to make more money, the pirate story at the end of the book is a disaster - it screams in your face "we have no new ideas but you are going to buy anything anyway!".
basically it is just episodes about how hard life in our society elaphantmen have. and the whole book ends up with a cliffhanger.
it is like blah-blah-blah...and a cliffhanger, now we hope you spend more money next time.
i dont know but i also feel the quality of pictures is going downhill with every issue.