CBR Live! Archive
365 Reasons to Love Comics #360
Hey, can I be shameless, too? No? Aww. Oh, well. Under the fold-- the sleeper hit of the year! (Archive!)
12/26/07
360. Atomic Robo
Okay, I have to admit, I didn't expect this book to sweep me off my feet like it did. The new Little Publisher That Could, Red 5 Comics, debuted its magnificent new title, Atomic Robo, by the team of writer Brian Clevinger, artist Scott Wegener, and colorist Ronda Pattison, and lo, it took the comics interweb by storm. It's truly one of the best new books of 2007.
The eponymous Robo is a Nikola-Tesla-built Robot who has lived through the years and gone on many an adventure. In the present day, he battles bizarre menaces with the help of his Action Science League! So far, we've seen Nazis, giant ants, and roving pyramids of doom. I can't wait to see what else lies ahead. Looks like steampunk cyborg action. I'm for it!
The comic's just got a great attitude, in that it revels in being both fun and funny, and isn't afraid to poke fun at the very genre it exists in. The dialogue is often hilarious, but what really sold me on the series is the excellent character bit in the second issue as Robo remembers a friend from long ago. Marvelously done.
Of course, there's plenty of "kick 'splode!" and the art delivers it excellently. Wegener's style is crisp and clean, perfectly suited to the madcap action adventure romp. Certainly, he will go onto big things-- heck, he's already drawing issues of Punisher War Journal! Awesome.
Atomic Robo certainly impressed me, and I hope we'll see another mini in the future. Its premise, humor, and style of adventuring lead me to see it as a spiritual successor to the Amazing Screw-On Head, and where I come from, that's a high compliment. Mad ideas, big action, lovely characters, and giant insects: Atomic Robo's got everything you need.
For more on the series, visit the websites of Red 5 and what appears to be the Team Robo site at Mechapolis.
And because it's still the holiday-- from them to me to you:
- Posted on December 26, 2007 @ 09:01 PM
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16 Comments
Ian Astheimer
December 26, 2007 at 9:16 pm
Hell to the yes!
It's great how Nikola Tesla has become the unsung hero of comics. First Five Fists of Science (unless that wasn't first); now Robo.
Tesla needs his own Reason!
Johnny Bacardi
December 26, 2007 at 9:21 pm
Wow, sounds interesting! So I went looking around online to see how many issues are out and where I could possibly buy them, and discovered that #1 is now going for $40 plus dollars!
Guess I'll have to pass...
Bill Reed
December 26, 2007 at 9:51 pm
I think my shop's still got them all for cover price, so it probably isn't too late.
Anthony Strand
December 27, 2007 at 1:22 am
I hadn't heard of this. Sounds awesome.
Also, makes for a nice parallel to the also-awesome-sounding-and-hard-to-find "Tales from the Bully Pulpit", which was about this far from the beginning of the year.
John R.
December 27, 2007 at 5:51 am
It is a completely fantastic comic. I'm a mainstream fan to the hilt, and it's the only thing I've ever bought and enjoyed reliably from such a small publisher.
Scott
December 27, 2007 at 5:58 am
Wow, thanks guys!
Fear not, we're already working on Robo Vol.2 and we are also whipping up an exclusive Robo story for FCBD 2008. (Red5 Comics is doing a great little anthology for the event, featuring all of their wonderful titles . . and us too!)
Also, if you're like me and think paying $40 for a B-list Indie book on Ebay is TEH SUXXOR then fear not -we're doing a trade. It will be out right around FCBD (April/May).
stealthwise
December 27, 2007 at 10:56 am
Right on Scott, hurray for Trades!
Danielb
December 27, 2007 at 12:24 pm
Alright Scott can't wait to get the trade.
Jason
December 27, 2007 at 2:29 pm
Curious...are we going to start flooding the lines with nominations now that there are only five spots left?
Topic: Wasn't Tesla a villain in Vertigo's Barnum?
fanboy d
December 28, 2007 at 2:23 pm
i LOVE this book - but i missed issue 2 because no stores i went to had it! i think diamond screwed up...
Red 5 Comics » Blog Archive » Happy Holidays… Atomic Robo-Style
December 29, 2007 at 1:04 am
[...] Oh, and thanks to CBR for including Atomic Robo as one of its 365 Reasons to Love Comics. [...]
Scott Wegener » Blog Archive » 365 Reasons To Love Comics
December 29, 2007 at 11:13 am
[...] Y’know what? Comics Should Be Good. [...]
Mayhem Ensues » Blog Archive » links for 2007-12-30
December 30, 2007 at 1:24 am
[...] Comics Should Be Good! » 365 Reasons to Love Comics #360 - Atomic Robo Anybody read this? It’s about a heroic robot created by Nikola Tesla. That idea has “cool” written up one side and down the other. (tags: comics comicbooks robots tesla atomicrobo) [...]
Comics Should Be Good! » 365 Reasons to Love Comics Archive
December 30, 2007 at 9:16 pm
[...] 360. Atomic Robo [...]
Johnny Bacardi
December 31, 2007 at 9:20 pm
Ah. Looks like I'll, in the parlance, "wait for the trade!" Thanks for the heads up...
Red 5 Comics » Blog Archive » More Red 5 Reviews
January 2, 2008 at 12:05 pm
[...] Comic Book Resources 365 Reasons to Love Comics #360 - Atomic Robo: Okay, I have to admit, I didn’t expect this book to sweep me off my feet like it did. The new Little Publisher That Could, Red 5 Comics, debuted its magnificent new title, Atomic Robo, by the team of writer Brian Clevinger, artist Scott Wegener, and colorist Ronda Pattison, and lo, it took the comics interweb by storm. It’s truly one of the best new books of 2007. [...]