ELEPHANTMEN WAR TOYS Vol 1: No Surrender
Collects Elephantmen War Toys #1-3
Writer: Richard Starkings
Art: Moritat
From Image Comics
Review by Stewart Loud
War Toys is a prequel to the on-going Elephantmen series set in the year 2239 during the war between China and Africa as they fight over what's left of Europe after it was devastated by a disease that reduced its population to mere thousands. If there's one thing I enjoy reading about, it's post-apocalyptic future war and chances are you'll enjoy this one too.
I always thought one of the most interesting parts of the Elephantmen series was the flashbacks about the war that the main characters fought in before they were rehabilitated by the UN and introduced into normal society, and this book won't disappoint anybody else with that opinion.
You'll see scenes from flashbacks printed within the main series, in the broader context, a book devoted entirely to the war in which the Central African Alliance employed the use of the Elephantmen to fight the Chinese for control of Europe.
The Elephantmen at this point really are remorseless killers with their mandate to mercilessly wipe out all remaining human life in Europe as well as the Chinese forces vying for control of the territory. Although you do see some of them, who some people will recognise as characters from the main series, begin to question the moral implications of the orders they've been given as well as some who seem to revel in the violence and enjoy the extermination of their enemies.
The story follows female French soldier, Yvette as she is gradually hardened by the horrors she witnesses and embarks on a campaign of guerrilla warfare against the Elephantmen, leaving the mutilated bodies of her victims signed with her name in an attempt to at least strike fear into an enemy she knows the European and Chinese forces have no chance of defeating, becoming a symbol of defiance for the beleaguered European forces.
This is a well written and thought out book. The black and white artwork is a nice touch too and adds to the hopeless atmosphere of the story right up to the powerful ending. It would have been nice to see some more detailed scenes of the actual battles between the humans and Elephantmen but maybe that’ll come in War Toys vol 2.
Whether you've read any of the other Elephantmen comics or not, it doesn't really matter, it’s a good book for anyone who enjoys a war story with a bit of emotion behind it but people looking for big action may be disappointed.
SCORE 7/10
Click this link for my massive review of ELEPHANTMEN Volumes 1-3 (Collecting #1-23)
Click this link to check out my facebook group page and take a look at the photo albums for hundreds of cosplay photos from all the UK conventions I attend. Any comments or feedback are welcome on there and I'm always happy to talk about comics.
Click the Punisher's Cosplay and Comics title above this review to get to the blog ho,e page and more reviews. Full index on the right hand side.
No comments:
Post a Comment