Elephantmen #32 – Review

By: Richard Starkings (writer & letters) & Axel Medellin (art & colors)

The Story: In a semi-break from the on-going Elephantmen story, Starkings and Medellin pay homage to Conan!

The Review: I put down this issue of Elephantmen after reading it and one word summed it up: Professional. The story is the kind of homage (to Conan in this case) that you’d really only see in a creator-owned property as Ebony is cast into the Conan-esque role.  It features comely wenches, brawls in taverns, wicked sorcerers and a heaping helping of sharp sword & axe action with blood spurting everywhere.  It’s a really delightful change of pace for Elephantmen given that the series is very much dystopian Sci-Fi.  I wouldn’t want every issue of Elephantmen to be set in this world, but I do love it when creator-owned series take a month to do something special.  In a way, this issue reminds me of the Captain Stoneheart issue of Elephantmen back around issue #5 or so, not so much in terms of tone or subject matter, but just for the willingness to do something off-the-wall.  It’s the kind of brave and confident storytelling that I enjoy.