Reviews

Concrete, Volume 1: Depths by Paul Chadwick

novelerachavela's review

adventurous emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

sisteray's review

2.0

Ok, what am I missing? I guess the book has a certain zen-like embrace of the mundane. In concept this turns the whole the super hero stereotype on its head, but really for the most part there isn't much excitement here. I understand how the world needed an anti-Grendel at the time, but after the 25+ years since this has been released the market has been flooded with indie navel gazing. I'm not sure that this has that much going for it to rise above the rest other than getting there first. Frequently the art is lovely, and the stories do have a certain charm, but I guess I have to say that I'm just not the audience for these.

bennyd's review

2.0

A comic series which follows an oddly unheroic superhero, who uses his powers to travel the world and do fun things he always wished he could before he gained his powers. Part of the reason I didn't really like this TPB was its overly-idiomatic use of thought bubbles to show every character's inner feelings. It took the subtlety right out of the scenes. But beyond this seemingly trivial issue, the stories feel uninspired, contrived situations, used to make a point about some aspect of humanity. This tactic could be a refreshing take on the superhero genre, but fails due to its poor execution.

NOTE: I have read most of the second TPB and it gets better. From what I hear, the series continues to improve from there. So, don't be dismayed if you were really interested in this series; just don't expect to be wowed by the first dozen issues.

vulco1's review

3.0

This was good but slow.

If you liked the book Gladiator you’ll like this. It’s mostly about a guy with super powers trying to use them and live in society but all his attempts fail.

jmbz38's review

adventurous reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

madmaud77's review

adventurous dark funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

zachb's review

reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

cjordahl's review

3.0

The book has an appeal that I can't quite articulate. It wasn't as good as I hoped and expected, though. The art is quite good, but the the chapters' plots are simplistic, the story pacing is erratic, and the dialog is stilted. The series has a good reputation -- maybe it gets better over time (it did improve over the chapters in this book)? Or maybe it's one of those books that doesn't age well?

kgagne's review

4.0

This B&W graphic novel collects the first several issues of the early 1980s comic book "Concrete", about a political speechwriter whose brain is transplanted into an impenetrable body by aliens. Freed from military directives, Concrete sets out to explore the world and do the things he was always afraid or unable to do before. It's a refreshing change from the typical superhero approach and one that feels like it was written as a reflection of, not contemporary to, the Eighties.

When I first started the book, I felt like I'd come in on the middle of the story, and that the trade paperback must've omitted some origin story. As it turns out, all that is revealed by the end of the book.

I wouldn't mind reading more of these.

bkgunderson's review

5.0

I had first heard of Paul Chadwick in connection with the Legend imprint of Dark Horse Comics. Knowing that I liked the works of other creators on that short-lived imprint, I expected something worthy from Chadwick's Concrete. And I was not disappointed. This collection even throws in an autobiographical tale.

The art and story are both interesting and detailed. While Concrete might be a character who could sink into feeling down, alone and alienated, the common drive in the book is survival, no matter what life throws at you.