Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews
Elephantmen #26
Image Comics
Starkings, Churchland, Cook, Medellin, Moritat & Szymanowicz
Elephantmen returns with an issue that jumps around setting up a new character and advancing the larger problem that seems to be going on with the androids and the reactivation of the Elephantmen. The issue may appear to jump around at random, but upon closer look there is a method to the madness. The issue makes great use of the large number of artists working on the book for the second issue in a row. This won't go down as the greatest Elephantmen issue of all-time but it is a very good read nonetheless.
The opening of the issue enumerates the overall purpose and methods of the androids, called SIMM robots. What we learn in this issue is that Vanity wasn't just manipulated by the SIMM she kissed a few issues ago. We come to learn that physical contact with the SIMM can have larger consequences. It would seem that this story hasn't revealed all that Vanity has exposed herself to from her contact with the SIMM. This little wrinkle thrown into the works is probably going to have a ripple effect for a long time.
Next we get the origin story of Hip and Ebony's partner, Janis Blackthorne. The story has roots in the war, much like the character Yvette from the War Toys arc. The origin is a good one and tells a similar tale of love lost and overall loneliness that we saw in War Toys. The puzzling aspect of the origin is that it doesn't quite tie into present events. Despite the fact that she is on the cover we really don't get to know the character in the post-war world.
The third part of the comic is a small story about Horn's wife, Sahara. It's a good story that shows that she is not all she appears to be. Sahara, like many of the other characters, has the ability to manipulate and lie to impose her will on others. The story is another lead-in to a larger story to come. I liked the rounding out of the character in this story. She seemed too squeaky clean prior to this.
The issue wraps up with a two pager that has Miki sign off on the cover up of her interaction with the SIMM trashing her cab shop and sending her friend into the hospital. It's a nice little epilogue to that particular story from a couple of issues ago.
The artwork is mostly divided evenly by story. It seems that each artist is placed with their strength. For example, Churchland has come to own the character of Miki and that's her assignment in this book. I can see why some readers would be turned off by the army of artists. However, I would argue that this series has typically included various pin-ups in the back on many occasions. It would seem that the reader has been conditioned all along to see other artist's renditions of these characters. The fact that they divide up the story detracts nothing for me and I actually like the approach for this particular book.
Elephantmen is consistently one of the best reads out there every single issue. This issue takes a bit of a deep breath as it appears to be ready to explode very soon. I liked the new character introduced but want more of her. I also liked the expansion of Sahara and the complication thrown in there about what the SIMMs are capable of doing. Elephantmen continues to push the boundaries of the strange mixture of war, humanity and science fiction. I definitely recommend this comic book.
4 out of 5 Geek Goggles
