Reviewer: James Hatton
Story & Art by: Paul Chadwick
Lettered by: Bill Spicer
Editor: Diana Schutz
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Concrete is one of those books that I’ve found people either know about and enjoy – or have never heard of at all. Very few people I know have said, “I HATED IT!” The fact is, it’s hard to hate. I will admit that sometimes it’s a bit preachy, but the heart is there. The emotions that these characters hold for each other is sincere, and Concrete himself is everything we’ve ever feared being at one point in time or another. Alone, without the ability to enjoy the physical aspects of life.
Now, at first – you might go, “Eh, whatever” but then consider what that’s like forever. Existing side by side with a woman you love, but being unable to feel her skin or even kiss her.
Yeah, that’s a sucks donut.
(Note: For those unaware of a ‘sucks donut’ hit your hand with a hammer now. SUCKS DON’UT!)
STORY!
Concrete once was a man, but an unfortunate turn of events has turned him into a walking rock. It relates to aliens and things. It’s available in trade, and is a total worthy story. That’s not THIS story though. Concrete has gone around the world looking for adventure. He climbed Everest. He toured with a rock star. He swam the Atlantic, or at least tried. He’s settled into being himself, and in Concrete’s 20 year life, he is starting to think about what’s out there for him.
The two people who he has surrounded himself are now starting to show where their love and futures lie. Larry, who was not so much a womanizer, but a ladies man has found the woman that makes his heart aflutter. He’s getting married. Larry is his longtime friend and personal assistant.
Then there is Maureen Vonnegut, his personal doctor/scientist who has been working on Concrete’s physiology and makeup since his creation and love of his life. She is beautiful, smart, and everything he wants – but, as I mentioned earlier… everything he can’t touch.
So there he is, a superhero amongst man, and the power of this comic is just like it’s title. He is human, fraught with human frailty. That is this title’s power. Oh, and he has a dilemma. A corporate man wants Concrete to do some commercials, which given his nature isn’t hard to expect – this one, though is for a program of abstinance. This company is willing to give money towards kids to get their tubes tied and go to college instead of having kids.
After much questioning and deciding, hemming and hawing, Concrete chooses not to do it – but there is something else afoot, and the CEO wants Concrete – and he will do whatever he needs to get him.
That’s issue #1!
Now in #2, Concrete reveals his truest character flaw – he is depressed, probably clinically from time to time. With his amazing physiology he can’t digest or take medicines, so him, much like us – get funked sometimes. With minor exception of one brief scene about Larry and his finacee’ Astra, this entire issue is about Concrete and Maureen.
We see their entire relationship in one issue. The concerned friends. The scientist & patient. And then, in one slow stretch – we are given their emotional feeling for each other. Laid out on the table, and in response we recieve one of the sweetest, most sensually beautiful acts I’ve ever seen in a comic. Sound dirty.. it is. Sound hot… it is. Either way, you walk away from it with this overwhelming feeling of sorrow for both Maureen and Concrete.
Chadwick isn’t writing a book about superheroism or fantastic situations. He’s writing a story about a fantastic situation to talk to us about ourselves – which you just don’t find in standard DC/Marvel fair.
Art!
Paul Chadwick not only writes Concrete, but arts it as well. He has since the beginning which is why these characters look so consistant. Draw something for 20 years and you’ll be able to do it this well. Clean character design, strong lines, and even simple conversations don’t lose their sense of action because of creative page layouts.
If you look from his older work to today, the growth is there. As I mentioned further, defined shots, beautiful scenery. Where many of the biggest comics now are now photorealistic, Chadwick does it without an airbrush.
Overall!
Yeah, so once again, by now you can tell I like this book, right? I do. It does have it’s flaws, but they are mainly sociological. Sometimes the book feels a bit preachy about the topics that Chadwick chooses – and the ‘fun facts’ are almost a bit too socially concious for a comic. This book isn’t for someone who wants superhero fare though – it’s a book for someone who wants to read about people. If you’ve never checked it out, I say to give it a whirl. It’s not for everyone though.
