Mister Mammoth

Mister Mammoth #1-2

by Matt Kindt (Writer), Jean-Denis Pendanx (Illustrator)

Mister Mammoth is the world's greatest detective and the kind of person you don't forget. Being a seven-foot-tall pacifist who's covered head to toe with an impressive collection of horrific scars makes quite the impression.

But he might be losing his edge. He can't seem to solve his latest case and he's distracted with a strange obsession with a soap opera actress who doesn't even know he exists. His new case holds clues that might finally unlock the secret of his traumatic childhood. The question is: is he solving a crime -- or planning one?

MISTER MAMMOTH is the first-ever original graphic novel from Matt Kindt's all-new imprint, Flux House, which features crime, science fiction, and humor stories, all told in startling and untraditional ways. For MISTER MAMMOTH , Kindt -- the bestselling creator of MIND MGMT and DEPT H. -- is joined by internationally acclaimed artist Jean-Denis Pendanx, who's making his U.S. debut.

Upcoming Flux House publications will take many forms. Matchboxes! Briefcases! Cards! Don't miss this first-ever Flux House graphic novel.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Mystery, Graphic Novels Comics, Crime, Fiction

112 pages, Hardcover

Published April 18, 2023

Reviews

[Alexander Peterhans · Rating 3 out of 5]

Starts out as one of the best things Kindt has written, and sort of slips on itself in the second half. At first it's all noir fun, with a ridiculously OP main character (which is funny in itself), and there's an interesting if maybe overwrought backstory to Mr Mammoth. The whole narrative folds in on itself, you can almost hear Kindt saying "ta-daaaa!" in the background, but while smart, it also makes the story strangely airless, the reader standing on the outside looking in on the book.

The art is indeed quite European in style, and it's good.

(Thanks to Dark Horse Books for providing me with a review copy through NetGalley)

[Matthew Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a solid Matt Kindt book. There was a story within a story hidden by another story and he does that so well. A quick, but enjoyable read. I enjoyed the art in this one, as well.

[Gerard · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good and almost got to great just didn’t quite pull it off

[A Fan of Comics · Rating 4 out of 5]

Feels like it is tied to Crimson Flower. Or maybe it is just it’s twin.

Mr Mammoth is the world’s best detective! He can solve anything, even his own past. At this point I can say I’m a pretty big fan of Matt Kindt. I have read a lot of his works and there are very few that I don’t enjoy. I liked this one. It’s a little short and moves fast to get all the details in. But I honestly can’t tell if it is tied to another story of his, Crimson Flower. They have a lot of similarities and I am wondering if the bad guy is what links them together. If not, then he had one idea and was able to get two books out from it. Cullen Bunn does that a lot. I know he has a universe that he is working on. Fear case and Bang! Have the “Philip K Verve” book in common so there has to be more, right? Can’t wait to see more from Flux House.

[টক দইয়ের চা · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story is not very intriguing. It had all the necessary elements- a strong protagonist, interesting side characters, a witty villain and an almost satisfactory backstory. However, these components don't come together seamlessly, resulting in the story feeling flat.

[goodreed · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gorgeous art and a story that becomes a bit too layered for its own good. Worth a read, but would benefit from a slower pace towards the end.

[Jakub Kvíz · Rating 3 out of 5]

A peculiar detective story from Matt Kindt in the style of a European graphic novel. I didn't really know what to make of it, but the final twist made the read worthwhile.

[Ryan Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting premise with lots of threads to track.

[chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I am fascinated by glass. It looks nothing like the elements that form it. Sand. Heat. And a careful guiding hand. It transforms something ugly. Unremarkable. Common... into something beautiful. Breakable. Brittle. Something that, once broken, becomes somehow less than the sum of its parts. It becomes dangerous. It keeps people away. It causes pain."

I think this should have been, like, twice as long, so that the mystery at the heart of it would have more time to unspool and draw the reader in. But I love the character of Mister Mammoth and I would read a multi-volume series about him. Maybe Matt Kindt should look into writing a novel...?

[Paul Spence · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story opens up an overview of New York City at night. In a lone apartment, there is a soap opera on the television. A voice is narrating the story for the readers. The description plays out as a woman is sent away by her husband. After being deemed “ill” by doctors, she plots her escape from a secluded area with one intention on her mind: Murder.

At this moment, the story shifts back to a bar where things appear to have become unglued. There is damage everywhere with most of the patrons outside recovering from their fight wounds. What or better yet, who could have caused this? Readers don’t wait long to see a group beating down a large individual who turned off a double overtime game for the soap (or “crime story”). When the police show up and the crowd disperses, one man is left in the aftermath: MISTER MAMMOTH!

After a flashback sequence, a man named William Carona is sitting in an office, praising the person behind a desk. Readers see a quick glimpse of the office in daylight before they see a recovering Mammoth entertaining Carona’s banter. Carona starts breaking down how Mammoth has solved impossible cases in near record time while Mammoth does his own evaluation of the potential client, more or less asking him to get to the point.

Carona (who is quite wealthy from his time in the pharmaceuticals business) states that he feels someone named “Mr. X” is trying to ruin him unless he pays a one-million-dollar ransom. Mammoth is handed a picture of the client walking in the street, which was taken less than a week ago. This comes off the heels of the threatening phone call. With this information at hand, Mammoth begins his investigation.

Readers tag along as they watch Mammoth go to work. With his imposing figure (standing over seven feet tall), Mammoth begins gathering information from various sources. Using his impeccable skills, Mammoth meets with Carona and starts tearing apart his case. Mammoth gets Carona to come clean about an affair with a woman named Vera, which Mammoth plans to go meet next. This move pleases Carona who appears to be amused like a fan to see how Mammoth works.

From this stage, Mammoth sets out to talk with Vera. The information he gets sends him on a new path: uncertainty. This is new ground for Mammoth as something is not adding up. With growing frustration, Mammoth furthers his search for clues, unlocking memories he would wish would be long forgotten.

How does the past tie into the present? What is the symbolism of the soap opera in relation to Mammoth? The case delves into further directions that will keep the audience locked in. The final act of this story will bring new points to light as with every great mystery tale. The payoff will hit hard and answer many looming threads in the beginning of the story. Its’ epilogue completes this chapter of Mammoth’s life with leaving readers wanting more. The novel is an impressive read that won’t be easy to put down.

Kindt weaves quite the exciting mystery behind a complex walking puzzle that is Mister Mammoth. There are many layers to him which makes for a fascinating lead character. In many detective stories, the sleuth carries a confidence unmatched. Early in this story, readers witness that Mammoth doesn’t buy into his own hype, just relying on his feelings of what he can and can’t solve.

The man behind the myth is thorough at what he does, but Kindt portrays him as a broken soul but deception may be reality. The soap opera portion may throw some readers off at first but before closing out the book, its importance gets clarified. The same can be said for the childhood flashbacks. Kindt paces all three plots without losing sight of the endgame: defining who is Mister Mammoth.

Pendanx makes a strong US debut with the art duties for this novel. The art captures the grittiness of Mammoth’s world and reflects the adversities he’s gone through. New York has an energy all its own and even the breaks where things venture off the case keep a unique feel to a larger picture being pulled into focus.

Solid work with the coloring to bring each scenario to a greater light. One of the strongest art elements is the mannerisms of both Mammoth and Carona. Readers can sense there’s a bigger game of chess being played out between the two as the investigation becomes exposed. The final moments of the close bring forth a great deal of emotions that have been building traveling alongside Mammoth’s journey. There’s an excellent final moment involving a painting that ends this story on a very strong note.

“It’s a mystery…I forget.” Kindt and Pendanx welcome readers into a dark and intricate dive into the lore behind the World’s Greatest Detective. Exceptional writing and exquisite art bring readers a perplexing question through these pages: Is deception reality?

[Rahul S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Musings #12:

Author - Matt Kindt (Writer) / Jean-Dennis Pendanx (illustrator)
Title - Mister Mammoth

"The perfect is the enemy of the good"

"Stories are always the best medicine"

Mr Mammoth is the greatest detective alive who is stuck for the first time unable to solve a case while parallely being obsessed with the actress of a Soap Opera who is unaware of his existence. Will this seven foot scarred man be able to solve this mysterious case which is invoking his traumatized childhood or will he for the first time, taste defeat at all fronts...

This is the debut graphic novel by Matt Kindt's imprint Flux House and while the whole ambiance is of a neo noir crime setting similar to all our favorite sleuths like Dick Tracy and Marv from Sin city the art work is what shines through with detailed precision and the expressions marked specially on Mr Mammoth.

The story starts off amazingly well with a rich Pharmacist coming to meet our titular detective with a case of him being blackmailed by a person which leads Mammoth to his past memories which at times connect with the plot and at times lead away making us question whether a crime is being solved or being planned?

Despite a great premise the end is where it sizzles out where I feel the novel lost its charm. Without adding any thing further on the plot I urge you to check this out for yourself which to me is a decent crime noir with amazing artwork might turn out to be a great find for others...

Happy reading folks..

[Scott Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've left so many negative reviews on here lately that I feared that I either didn't like books any more or had become the world's biggest grump.

So I was delighted to stumble across this! It's got the look and feel of a half-remembered dream. It's about the world's greatest detective except when it's about the star of a soap opera. It's about this detective's greatest case yet except when it's about the challenges of memory. It's set in Paris except when it's suddenly in New York or the Mediterranean. Maybe it's set in the modern day, or maybe 50 years ago? It's hard to say.

It's awash in lovely illustrations that drew me in while also leaving me unsure where I was at any time. It reminds me of Dark City in the way that it creates a setting that is full of familiar elements while being completely alien in its totality.

But now I'm getting haughty. It's good and I dug its vibes. There are perhaps a few too many parts that were obtuse for the sake of being obtuse, but who cares when it's this well done?

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mister Mammoth is the greatest living detective but no one knows it. This is a book in a new imprint written by Matt Kindt and illustrated in the French bande dessinée style, very European feel, by Jean-Denis Pendanx. Mr. Mammoth is not surprisingly mammoth, a pacifist, with scars to prove he won’t fight back. He looks a bit like the mc from Barry Windsor-Smith’s Monster, who is himself a reference to the Incredible Hulk. Maybe also The Beauty and the Beast.

The novel is focused on uncovering the childhood trauma o Mr. Mammoth, but he is also distracted in his pursuit of a pretty soap opera actress (thin and willowy, like Beauty and the Beast’s Belle)

PS--There’s a reference here through a character name Weezee to the sensationalist fifties photojournalist WeeGee. Just sayin' I noticed it, good for me.

[Rick Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun little mystery thriller starring a gentle giant known as Mister Mammoth, the world's greatest detective. Mammoth is hired by a soon-to-retire pharmaceutical executive to uncover the source some death threats he has been getting. The mystery isn't the most gripping, but there are some pretty cool little twists baked into this rather brief graphic novel.

The artwork by Jean-Denis Pendanx is very nice and in-line with a more bande dessinée aesthetic with heavy use of brushes and watercolors. It's interesting to see Kindt work with an artist who has a substantially different style to the one more commonly used on Kindt's other books. Pendanx and Kindt make a decent pairing, and if they were to continue telling more stories featuring Mister Mammoth I'd probably continue reading on.

[Chad · Rating 2 out of 5]

Starts off interesting about the world's greatest detective in this noirish story. The 2nd half devolves into this mess though of what feels like completely unrelated stuff from when Mister Mammoth was a child. The ending was supposed to feel clever feels in no way earned, mainly due to the writing that doesn't come together. I get what Kindt was trying to pull off. I just don't think this succeeded. This was published in France first. as a bandes dessinée.

[Juho Pohjalainen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The problem with writing clever characters is that they require the author to be clever as well. This story tries, and has a couple good ideas, but ultimately doesn't quite pull it off and falls apart before the end. But there's a twist that almost works, the art is good, and it doesn't overstay its welcome.

[Digi M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this one, the art is very cool, kind of looks like watercolor in some scenes.

Many things about this graphic novel reminded me of other things. The Pulp tale, reminded me of Chandlers A Long Goodbye, the character reminded me of the main character in Monsters by Barry Winsor Smith.

Its a short read and a fun one, not too deep.

[Mateo Sanboval · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really fun idea and beautiful art, especially the landscapes and intimate urban locales. Started out great. Finished up rushed. And there was a semi-super hero/villain angle that I just didn't enjoy. This would've been stronger for taking it's time through the second half. Perhaps three parts instead on two.

[Jeff Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mr. Mammoth is the story of a 7 foot tall, scarred pacifist who happens to also be the world’s greatest detective. He sets out to solve an unsolvable mystery but ends up solving himself.

The art is great. The story is . . . well, what I typically think of Kindt stories: a great concept with a half-baked execution.

[Beelzefuzz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the hard-boiled mood and the art was good. This is a revenge and origin story, but neither one has enough time spent on motivation to make it resonant. It lands a bit flat and only makes me want to move past this and see more of this character take on other people's problems.

[Keith Gorman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This new series is awesome. I enjoyed the Chandler-esque detective undertones. The writing was very good and engaging and the art work was on another level. Cant wait for this series to keep putting more issues out.

[Andrew Steele · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed it. I liked Mister Mammoth. I thought the plot moved a tad fast. It was a short book, but could have been a few pages longer.

The art was very pretty and suited the detective noir writing quite well.

[Niche · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/5
It started out okay, the protagonist is an amalgam of noir and classic detective tropes. The ending was a disappointment. It feels like it's trying to be deep or clever, more than it actually is.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

My fave type of Kindt mystery!

[Eric · Rating 2 out of 5]

Atmospheric but lifeless, a very quiet story with very little happening. I feel like I was supposed to get more out of it than I did.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this character. I hope they can do more stories with him.

[Diego Dotta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another amazing surprise from my Saturday morning at the library, especially because of the drawings. Sadly, I couldn’t find more books from the artist.

[Felipe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mammoth’s story is loaded with emotion. I felt heavy reading it. The resolution surprised me. It a beautiful narrative about destiny and what you make of it.

[Clint · Rating 2 out of 5]

An intriguing premise with nice art, but Kindt’s plotting and character writing here are both really underbaked and make little lasting impression.

[Jeffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting artwork. It fits the genre. Good noir story. I like the main character, Mister Mammoth. Really good book.