5 out of 5

An expanded 1989 reprinting of Concrete #1 and #2 – the ongoing series that started after the character’s many Dark Horse Presents appearances – I’m not sure if these are page for page the same as what was reprinted in the digest collections, but regardless: experiencing these in full 8.5 x 11 form is pretty wonderful. Additionally, you get this insanely composed cover that represents the title’s concepts (and story concepts) ridiculously well, besides being a really eye-grabbing, full-bleed image that I’d love as a poster. Also… a considerate, informative foreword from Paul on his writing process and the motivation for expanding the stories, and some backmatter notes / sketches. Early Concrete is so special to me (so is later Concrete, but there was a kind of innocent magic in the days when Chadwick was feeling the character / world out), and these “extras” all inform that – it all adds to how thoughtful every word and stroke of pen / pencil in the stories comes across.

“A Stone Among Stones,” the first issue collected, has setup for Maureen, Concrete’s / Ron’s constant scientist companion, as well as Larry, his documentarian / aide, forming our trio of POV roles: detail-oriented, contemplative, and the more commonplace but necessary thoughts that fill out a day’s worth of musings. Plot-wise, Concrete is asked to save some caved-in miners, and from the get-go, Chadwick is setting up his navigation of reality and fantasy, winding in how the media and social politics must be considered with Concrete’s presence, and how having super power-adjacent abilities like strength and durability aren’t instant solves.

“The Trans-Atlantic Swim,” the second issue, is a stunning story of indulgence and resilience, with Concrete deciding on a publicity stunt of an ocean-long swim that is interrupted by a storm, and becomes an affecting deep-dive on humanity. The asides for humor throughout are masterful, and Chadwick also takes the opportunity to indulge artistically, doing a page-long spread of micro-panels of Concrete swimming – and that’s it. It’s a shot-by-shot of the guy paddling in the water.

I do recall on my TPB read of Stone feeling like the explanation for Ron’s escape from the cave-in as being a little confusing – visually, and how it’s described – and that carries forward here, and, as just described, some of the art on Swim is arguably indulgent. But if these are valid quibbles, I’d say the extras in this collection best them; but I’d also just say – these (possible) imperfections are part of the book’s charms. Win-win.