Hip Flask: Concrete Jungle

Hip Flask #2-3

by Richard Starkings, José Ladrönn (Artist)

2162: They are the survivors of genetic engineering experiments and indoctrination by Doctor Kazushi Nikken and MAPPO, a sinister organization which sought to create superhuman weapons of mass destruction. Now, freed and rehabilitated by the United Nations Intelligence Taskforce, the "Unhumans" now live amongst men. Legitimized by the Elephantmen Act, they are nevertheless denied the right to bear arms and must survive on their wits alone... Collecting Hip Flask: Elephantmen and Hip Flask: Mystery City into one handsome volume.

Genres: Comics, Science Fiction, Graphic Novels

96 pages, Hardcover

First published March 28, 2007

About the author

Richard Starkings is a British comics professional, known for writing the hit sci-fi series ELEPHANTMEN and specializing in lettering, thanks to his award-winning Comicraft lettering studio.

Reviews

[Marco · Rating 3 out of 5]

Five stars for the art and the book's format (oversized hardcover, thick, glossy paper); those alone are worth its rather hefty price, but the story is very much just a lead-in to something bigger and ending in a cliffhanger. Also, having read more than a bit of Elephantmen by now, I found it repetetive in places.

[Andy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I still can't figure out how the various Hip Flask collections fit in the Elephantmen chronology but I do love this oversize edition. Ladronn's brilliant artwork looks amazing, the story is engaging and works on many levels but the issue is the incompleteness of it all. It feels like we've entered halfway through and then it just ends without any form of conclusion. Hmmmm. Not that satisfying. Still, with the quality on offer there's still a lot to like.

Makes me realise it's been a while since I last read EM. Need to rectify that.

[Jamil · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half of this volume is better than the second half, less due to Joe Casey's presence on the script than to Ladronn's more detailed artwork on the first part. Still as sci-fi comics though, while obviously wearing it's Moebius & Blade Runner influences on its sleeves, this is one of the best. Blown up big, Ladronn is a superstar.

[Jacob · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extraordinary visual feast with an all right story, but not at all worth its price tag of $30. I wish all the books I love were over-sized like this! I'm starting the next volume and it appears to be, comparatively, double in page count size for the same price so this first volume should have definitely cost half as much.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cool time travel story. As usual, the characters are great – the women too, even if there's not much physical distinction between them – especially Hip Flask and Horn. Love the art; this is by Ladronn.

[Benjamin Uke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Paper thing political allegory, the art is impressive, but otherwise not remarkable.