Concrete (comics)

Concrete is a comic book series created and written by Paul Chadwick and published by Dark Horse Comics. His first appearance is Dark Horse Presents #1 (July, 1986). The eponym central character is a normal man whose brain was transplant into a large, stone body by aliens, and who lives an extraordinary life on Earth following his escape.

The Concrete series is distinguished by its placing the characters in a plausible, realistic world. Apart from the aliens (which disappear in the origin issue and are never heard from again) and Concrete's own high-tech artificial body, there are no supernatural or science-fiction elements to any stories.

Concrete does not face super-villains, or fight criminals. Some elements of stories would even seem to be a deliberate twist on comic-book fans' expectations. For instance, Concrete loathes the dumb merchandise like t-shirts and dolls which feature his image. He goes on television to ask how his body can best be used, and ends up pulling a plow and helping to repair a family farm; good honest work, but hardly the exploits of a Superman or Fantastic Four character.

Later, Concrete climbs Mount Everest, becomes involved with a group of hardline environmental militants, and reluctantly agrees to become the spokesperson of a campaign to voluntarily reduce the earth's population. Noble endeavours all, and very unique in the world of comic heroes; all present moral dilemnas instead of an enemy to be punched.