Concrete Volume 1: Depths
Possessed of the mind of a mild-mannered mensch in a gigantic, superstrong, rocklike body, Concrete was an early star of the independent comics movement, appearing intermittently since 1986. The character's outlandish origin--he was fashioned by aliens who were never again seen in the series--serves as an improbable but effective device for exploring human nature. Trapped in his granite shell, unable to feel sensual pleasures but graced with heightened senses, Concrete seeks new experiences that only he can attempt, such as a hike across the ocean's floor. Although he occasionally undertakes standard superhero exploits, such as rescuing miners trapped underground, he also engages in decidedly nontraditional jobs, like serving as bodyguard to a dotty, Prince-like rock star. Chadwick accentuates the stories' humanistic bent in his graceful, carefully wrought, black-and-white art. This collection begins a series that reprints Concrete's early appearances and previously uncollected stories by Chadwick, such as the autobiographical "Vagabond" in this volume; recalling a cross-country hitchhiking trip, it hints at how much the creator's character informs that of the creation.Gordon FlaggCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved