May 23, 2013
ELEPHANTMEN, Richard Starkings' epic science fiction series
exploring the ramifications of genetic experimentation, war, and
racism, is reaching a milestone this July: its 50th issue.
ELEPHANTMEN debuted in 2006, published by Image Comics, a spin-off
of Starkings self-published (and now Image title) HIP FLASK.
Following a group of human/animal hybrid super-soldiers who are
struggling to integrate themselves into a society that is often
hostile to their very existence, the series has gone on be
collected into six hardcovers and trade paperbacks. It has featured
art by Ladrönn, Boo Cook, Chris Burnham, Shaky Kane, and Axel
Medellin, and the cover of ELEPHANTMEN #43 is among the work that
earned Brandon Graham a "Best Cover Artist" Eisner Award
nomination.
"Fifty issues! One more and ELEPHANTMEN is as old as I am!"
marveled creator and writer Starkings, who also owns the
well-respected comics lettering studio Comicraft. "When we launched
the series in 2006, I thought maybe I had six issues in me, yet
here we are, seven years later and six ELEPHANTMEN collections in
stores and another in preparation for release this summer!"
ELEPHANTMEN #50, "Blue Collar Blues," has a cover by renowned
comics artist Frank Quitely, and comes after the close of the
monumental "Sleeping Partners" story arc. It brings the story into
the intimate sphere of one Elephantman, following his everyday life
with its struggles and small triumphs. The issue is illustrated by
series regular Axel Medellin and Gabe Bautista and also includes a
re-presentation of ELEPHANTMEN #1, with art by Moritat, and a
gallery of covers by Brandon Graham, Camilla d'Errico, J. Scott
Campbell, Brian Bolland,, Chris Weston, Ladrönn, Ian Churchill, and
Ed McGuinness.
ELEPHANTMEN #50 will be in stores on July 17 and is available for
pre-order from the May issue of Previews (Diamond code MAY130418).
The revised and expanded ELEPHANTMEN VOLUME 1, which now includes
issue #0 with art by Ladrönn and an introduction by Jonathan Ross,
will be in stores on May 22. The newest collection, VOLUME 6:
EARTHLY DESIRES, due in stores in July 10, is also available for
preorder (MAY130420).