Publisher: Image Comics
Writer: Richard Starkings
Artists: Axel Medellin, Boo Cook
Colourist: Axel Medellin
Release date: OUT NOW!!
Price: $3.99

 

Elephantmen #65 begins with a quote from analytical psychologist Carl Jung concerning human nature and evil. It’s an appropriate quote given the mess in which the genetically engineered Elephantmen find themselves.

Elephantmen #65 launches the new story arc “All Coming Evil” and it’s action all the way as Elephantmen zebra Trench, hippo Hip Flask, elephant Ebony and human Farrell are besieged by a horde of armed lizard men sent by the powers-that-be to exterminate them.

The Jungian theme is brought forward. “The weak are always happy when they are protected by the strong. But when the strong only look out for themselves, then the complaints start rolling in…,” says Trench. And the Elephantmen are not immune to racism’s divisiveness. “Freakin’ mammals,” says one of the lizards. If the intelligent animals are no better than mankind, where lies hope? Jung’s thesis of individualism is also explored when Elephantmen’s chief reminds them all they are free agents untainted by controlling nanobots and Imperiumites.

But Elephantmen #65 is not a dry metaphysical lecture. Richard Starkings always leaves room for humour. “Isn’t there a flak jacket for y’know…teeth?” says Farrell. Axel Medellin artwork and sure hand on the tiller in the colouring department are nothing short of terrific. As a bonus this issue includes a “postergraph”, or a poster, as we puny humans like to call it, beautifully rendered by cover artist Boo Cook.

Entertaining and fun and with a subtle philosophical edge, Elephantmen #65 ends on a cliff-hanger just as things were starting to get really tense, inviting readers to tune in tomorrow, same Elephantmen time, same Elephantmen channel. Don’t miss it!

Reviewer: Joe Lovece
Reviews Editor: Steve Hooker