Concrete Jungle Comix

Concrete Jungle began for me as a curious experimental comic strip about a concrete-obsessed boy and quickly evolved into a story about how a family deals with a member with an obsession.

Borne from one of co-creator Michael Bustin’s long-winded and often inspiring diatribe, leading him to describing Johnny’s obsession with concrete and its many uses. The idea seemed ridiculous as a comic despite coming from someone that was an obsessed owner of a concrete artisan company. But at the time, I was looking for something really unusual to pour my creative energy into, and this concept seemed as outrageous and untried as I had heard.

Developed from Michael’s brief descriptive paragraphs of potential story lines, together we collaborated various names and core character concepts. Everything else, for better or for worse, was my own. Mine were the huge chins, the single panel sequential art structure, the sometimes awkward gags meant to carry as much story and explanation as humor. Even the underlying social commentary that was sometimes weaved into the various plots were mine.

Whether it really is just an oddball concept or perhaps just as likely a part of the revolution that shows that sequential art can be used to elevate far more than powered heroes in tights. So, enjoy this sometimes sweet, wry and sometimes silly strip. You’re not likely to find another one quite like it.