Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews
Elephantmen #34
Image Comics
Starkings, Cook, Wright & Roshell (back up by Aldridge, Medellin, Roshell & Starkings)
The latest issue of Elephantmen brings about something I've waited for a couple of years running: the return of Yvette. The star of the War Toys arc from a few years ago returns for a second round of War Toys in an absolute must-read book. The beauty of the issue is that the war branches out into yet another continent as we begin to get a larger picture of what occurred during the war that shaped the lives of all of the characters in this outstanding series. This is definitely the book to pick up this week if you want to read an entertaining comic book with a terrific story and outstanding artwork.
The bulk of this comic book is the return of Yvette. However, Starkings wraps the beginning and ending around an old Chinese story that plays perfectly with the cliffhanger ending. Clearly, Yvette is the strongest character that Starkings has developed during the war timeline and this issue puts on display everything that makes this character so appealing.
Starkings pens this issue to not only act as the start of an arc, but also as a standalone issue. I would think that anyone could pick this issue up and immediately understand the whole concept of this series. Yvette is more than just a badass with a massive grudge against the likes of the Elephantmen. She is also a leader and someone that others admire and aspire to be like. She brings hope to the human world and she is obviously driven. None of this has changed since her introduction but Starkings revisits these characteristics and adds new layers of complexity to this character.
The ending of the issue plays into what genre this series is based in: science fiction. Every once in a while an issue comes along where Starkings reminds us that there is a level of horror that comes from creative possibilities when dealing with science fiction and this issue is one of them. The comic book is cover to cover terrific.
As an added bonus there is a backup about one of the newer characters to come along that is penned by a guest writer. Monifa Aldridge takes a shot at developing the character that she so resembles, Panya. She brings this character to the forefront very well and Axel Medellin helps to bring her to life as only he can with these femme fatales.
The artwork throughout is perfect. Cook brings all of the awful images of war to the panels with unparalleled care. The comic is dark and dreary, but has a certain vibrancy to it that the series demands. Starkings delivers an emotional story and Cook answers with stunning art. It's a match that couldn't be better.
I'm not sure I can recommend a series more than Elephantmen. Now that the book is back on schedule I find myself getting more impatient waiting on the next issue. However, when you throw an issue out there with Yvette and War Toys I can't help but curse Starkings for not bringing this character back sooner. War, science fiction, horror and strong character work, to me, makes for a must read comic book and that's what this one is.
5 out of 5 Geek Goggles
