Elephantmen #34 – Review

War Toys II by: Richard Starkings (writer & letterer), Boo Cook (art), Gregory Wright, Cook & Axel Medellin (colors)

Panya back-up by: Monifa Aldridge (writer) & Axel Medellin (art & colors)

The Story: In the main story, we revisit the Elephantmen war in virus-ravaged Europe while in the back-up we learn more about the origin of Panya (Sahara’s body-double).

What’s Good: As I’ve noted in a few recent reviews, for the last few months, Richard Starkings has made a concerted effort to make Elephantmen “new reader friendly” by revisiting some of the classic themes of the series.  But, he keeps giving new wrinkles to established readers so that we don’t get bored along the way.  Cool!

So, I was reading the main story and thinking, “This is all retread material from the War Toys story.  Oh, and here is Yvette from War Toys: Yvette.  I’ve seen all this before.” I understood that we’re getting this story because it’s important that new readers know about this Elephantmen back-story and I was okay with that because the series probably needs a few new readers to keep going.  And….I was very happy looking at the great Boo Cook artwork (more on that below).  Then I turned the page and there is a person in a spacesuit (“Whoa! That’s new!”) and he/she gets into a rocket and jets to Earth (“Definitely haven’t seen this before!”).  I won’t spoil the ending, but Starkings has done it again: He managed to bring new readers up to speed while also giving the existing readers something to chew on.  I am very intrigued by this new revelation.

The Panya back-up story was also a gem because she is shaping up to be a very important player in the future stories of the Elephantmen and she’ll be more interesting with a developed background story.

From an appearance standpoint, I say it every month: Elephantmen is one of the best-looking comics on the stands.  Not only is the interior art GREAT, but the whole package just looks awesome.  Again this month, we get two stunning covers with wonderful design.  Compare this to your typical Big 2 comic where they pay some artist to produce “20 dramatic covers featuring Batman” and then they just slap them on the comics without a lot of care as to whether the cover fits the story.  Elephantmen is the opposite of that: it looks like it is produced by people who give a crap about the comic!

Weekly Comic Book Review’s Top Picks

Dean’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Wolverine #14 – Well, that was a sharp stick in the eye, huh?  This comic gets the award for giving me something I did not remotely see coming.  I actually thought this arc has just been “okay” as Wolverine has been fighting his way past a series of thugs to get to the Red Right Hand organization that sent him to hell.  These thugs just seemed like Jason Aaron needed some disposable cannon fodder for the comic and didn’t want to use generic ninjas, but we learn in this issue that something very different was going on.  I won’t spoil it.  Just go read it.  Runner-up: X-Men #16

Most Anticipated: Justice League #1 – Funny that I’m more interested to see this than Flashpoint #5, but I am more eager to see something “new”.  DC has a major opportunity with this new relaunch because a lot of people will be trying DC comics again.  Personally, I’ve never been able to get into any DC comics outside of the Bat-books, and I kinda suspect that within 4 months I’ll have dropped all these DC titles again, but Justice League will probably be on my list as long as Jim Lee is drawing it.

Other Picks: Flashpoint #5, Butcher Baker #6, Elephantmen #34, Haunt #17, Amazing Spider-Man #668, Incredible Hulks #635

Alex’s  Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: The Punisher #2 – We’re only two issues in, but I’m already pretty certain that Greg Rucka is writing one of the best Punisher comics of all time.  Really great stuff that lovers of crime comics and Rucka fans in general will get a real kick out of.

Most Anticipated: Justice League #1 – Could it really be anything else? While yes, the idea of a Johns/Lee Justice League with all the big names is incredibly awesome and a long time coming and while it’s also great to see DC perhaps finally able to put out a good Justice League comic, it’s not even really the comic itself that has me excited. Don’t get me wrong, I am excited to read it, but I’m really looking at this issue like the first step in to the newly relaunched DCU and the new 52, which has me more excited about comics than I have been in years. So yeah, bring it on.

Other Picks: Amazing Spider-Man #668, Flashpoint #5, The Mighty Thor #5