Hip Flask: Unnatural Selection 10th Anniversary Elephantmen Edition Hardcover – Box set, October 8, 2013

I liked the story and artwork of the book. Enjoyed it. It was a break away from superhero books.

The Elephantmen is one of those comics that have quality pouring from every inch of every page and Richard Starkings couldn't have chosen a better artist, Jose Ladronn's art is something to be viewed in a prestige format the bigger the better since, his art is so intricate and defined, this edition makes the book such a wonderful fit, Ladronn's art is a mix of Jack Kirby, Moebius, Katsuhiro Otomo and Geof Darrow it's all richly detailed, and the story of a megalomaniac madman creating the most durable and powerful soldiers that earth has ever suffered, it is a story of war and peace.Those of you who like;  Blade Runner (30th Anniversary Collector's Edition) [Blu-ray ] and  The Incal , Hip Flask is a great addition to the  Elephantmen Volume 1: Wounded Animals Revised Edition TP  world.

This is where you should start reading. Definitely not for those looking for a traditional comic.You know right away who are the villains and who are the victims.Keep an open mind; not for those easily offended as Starkings' creation transcends boundaries.An excellent story.

Short and sweet, but great. As a new fan of the Elephantmen, I knew I wanted to go back to the beginning of the story, and that's what you get here: an introduction to the Elephantmen and the insanity of their creator Doctor Nikken. The oversized hardcover is beautiful, and the artwork by Ladrönn is mindblowing.The one downside was the length, which I've seen addressed in other reviews. I'm not totally sure what this book compiles, whether it's one oversized issue, or a couple stories, but I think they could have done a little better with extra features besides the covers gallery, especially for a "10th Anniversary Edition". Either way, this book is a great addition to any Elephantmen/Hip Flask collection.

I don't read as many comics as I used to, and when I do I like them to be something different. Something a bit special. Something grown up. Something that need not be about humans with special powers. Something with artwork that is out of the ordinary, and with a story that, while accessible andentertaining, is relevant and thought provoking.Something like Unnatural Selection, in other words.Unnatural Selection is a remarkable piece of work.Its setting is a dark, dystopian future, with horrendous genetic experiments taking place on innocent human beings.This Orwellian society is brainwashing its twisted creations to follow only the party line.Yet out of this appalling situation appears a new kind of comic book hero - a talking hippopotamus.Well, 'Hip' doesn't actually say anything in this first issue, but he is destined to become a futuristic Sam Spade, who just happens to be a hippo.I first read this book in standard-sized comic book form, but the higher grade paper and larger format really does the artwork proud.It reminds me of the feeling I got when I saw H.R. Giger's work for the first time. In some frames you're not instantly sure what's going on, and it's only after studying the image for a minute or so that what it shows becomes clear.Horrifyingly clear, in the case of several images in Unnatural Selection. This is the sort of stuff that sticks in the mind long after you put the book down.A criticism? The story, since it's an origin, doesn't really satisfy - butleaving the reader wanting more is no bad thing.I'm keen to see where it all goes - but eager though I am I don't want the writers rushing out the next part of the story if it means compromising the quality...(Footnote - Elephantmen, the second part of the Hip Flask series, is now available in standard comic format - and they didn't rush: it's cover-dated a year to the month since the first one!)

Incredible visuals thought provoking story - grips like a vice from the first page - want to read more now!