Books: Elephantmen

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Elephantmen
Vol 1: Wounded Animals
Written by Richard Starkings and Joe Kelly
Art by Moritat, Ladrönn and Chris Bachalo
2010



Available now from Islington Libraries
You can reserve this item for free here:
http://www.library.islington.gov.uk/TalisPrism/

Elephantmen
Vol 2: Fatal Diseases
Written by Richard Starkings
Art by Moritat, Ian Churchill, Axel Medellin, Rob Steen, Boo Cook and Ladrönn
2010



Available now from Islington Libraries
You can reserve this item for free here:
http://www.library.islington.gov.uk/TalisPrism/

Elephantmen
Vol 3: Dangerous Liaisons
Written by Richard Starkings
Art by Moritat, Chris Burnham, Marian Churchland, Andre Szymanowicz, Rob Steen and Boo Cook
2010


Available now from Islington Libraries
You can reserve this item for free here:
http://www.library.islington.gov.uk/TalisPrism/

Elephantmen
Vol 4: Questionable Things
Written by Richard Starkings
Art by Axel Medellin, Moritat, Ian Churchill, Marian Churchland, Andre Szymanowicz and Chris Burnham
2011


Available now from Islington Libraries
You can reserve this item for free here:
http://www.library.islington.gov.uk/TalisPrism/

Described by it's creator Richard Starkings as "Pulp Science Fiction" Elephantmen is set in the 23rd Century where an evil corporation (MAPPO!) has created transgenic animals to join the war between Africa and China. ("Transgenic animals" you ask? Animals that act and talk and think like humans). Will loads of actions, fights, futuristic cityscapes, crazed scientists, babes with large breasts and all the rest. With a large over-riding story that falls into place ever so-slowly - you will need to be patient and give it some time: but you'll probably be dazzled by all the high-concept fireworks that you won't even notice.

My favourite bit was the Joe Kelly pirate story at the end of Vol 1 - which managed to be both sappy and tough at the same time: the rest of it left me a little cold - but I reckon it's a book that will very much appeal to those a little more gung-ho than me.

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Links: Den of Geek Review of Vol 2, Things From Another World Richard Starkings Interview.

Further reading: Orc Stain, Judge Dredd: The Cursed Earth Saga, Blacksad: Somewhere between the Shadows, The Goon, Grandville, Tom Strong.

All comments welcome.

Books: The Sandman: Death: The Time of Your Life

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The Sandman: Death: The Time of Your Life
Written by Neil Gaiman
Art by Chris Bachalo and Mark Buckingham
1996




Available now from Islington Libraries
You can reserve this item for free here:
http://www.library.islington.gov.uk/TalisPrism/

The prettiest, friendliest version of Death you could ever hope to meet returns in her second solo book. Starring Foxglove - a musician dealing with lots of issues - first introduced in The Sandman: A Game of You (and who also enjoyed a brief cameo in the High Cost of Living) this is a comic that nimbly touches on all sorts of big time issues like: love, fame, sex, responsibility and - of course - life and death. With consistently bold and clear-cut art full of lovely curvy lines and knows just when to pull back and zoom in ("there's nobody special") this is a rewarding and tender read that page by page will convince you just why Neil Gaiman is one of the world's favourite storytellers. Nobody is creepy on the inside.

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Further reading: The Sandman, The Sandman: Death: The High Cost of Living, Lost at Sea, The Unwritten.

Profiles: Neil Gaiman.

All comments welcome.

Books: The Sandman: Death: The High Cost of Living

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The Sandman: Death: The High Cost of Living
Written by Neil Gaiman
Art by Chris Bachalo and Mark Buckingham
1993




Available now from Islington Libraries
You can reserve this item for free here:
http://www.library.islington.gov.uk/TalisPrism/

Deities from beyond time and space meet up with everyday messed people and go out to get hot dogs: in this joyous comic that expertly mingles the mythic and ordinary - (the field that Neil Gaiman has pretty much made his own). Starring sullen New York teen Sexton Furnival (whose zany name I'm guessing was inspired by growing up with the surname "Gaiman") who decided that everything is rubbish and life isn't worth living - until a random encounter brings him into orbit with a strange woman who says she's the personification of Death and - thus - he spends a day and a night learning to lighten up. With a lightness of touch that's positively gleeful ("is this guy bothering you?"), a strong sense of good comics (the use of the cigarette to mark the passing of time is pretty nifty) and great characters (Death being the best): it's just like hanging out with a really great friend and feels over much too soon. This is the point where I should mention that it's a spin-off from epic Sandman series (especially A Game of You) - but you don't need to have read that to appreciate this (and in some sense - this would be a good, nice, easy place to start). With an introduction by Tori Amos (which probably says more than I can say) and an bonus hard-to-find public service announcement AIDS-awareness 8-page comic Death Talks about Life strip (art by Dave McKean - also starring John Constantine and a banana). If you're looking for your heart - this may be the best place to start, or to put it another way: Peachy keen!

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Further reading: The Sandman, The Sandman: Death: The Time of Your Life, The Sandman: The Dream Hunters, I Kill Giants, Shortcomings, The Unwritten.

Profiles: Neil Gaiman.

All comments welcome.