This week on Small Press Spotlight, I have a Multiversity favorite and really, a favorite of all discerning comic fans – Atomic Robo. Brian Clevinger and Scott Wegener debuted this Eisner nominated title from Red 5 Publishing in October of 2007, and it has quickly captured fans from across the world due to the irreverent humor and the most excellent adventure stories.
If you haven’t read this title yet, you owe it to yourself to catch up. Find out why after the jump.
For those that are unaware of Atomic Robo, the title was brought to life in a self-titled mini-series in October 2007 that eventually earned its creators Brian Clevinger and Scott Wegener an Eisner nomination for “Best Limited Series” (it lost to Umbrella Academy). That first mini introduced us to one of the best new protagonists of the past decade – Atomic Robo (natch).
Robo himself was created by Nikola Tesla in 1923, and to make things simple in comics lingo, Robo is Hellboy, Tesla is Bruttenholm, and Tesladyne Industries is BPRD. That’s really the set up of the comic, as every series finds Robo on a new adventure with Tesladyne’s Action Scientists. They’re always battling something new and unexplainable, whether it’s Nazi mechanoids called Laufpanzers, Dr. Dinosaur (a doctor…that is a dinosaur), or even a monster from another dimension with the help of Carl Sagan and H.P. Lovecraft. This provides the opportunity for action at every corner and some really funny moments.
Most of the humor in the title comes from Robo himself, who as a “automatic intelligence” is brilliant, but is also a little sardonic and often hilarious. As I said before, he often reminds me of Hellboy, but he is regularly even better than Mignola’s prized creation – he never broods! He’s pretty much all business, and his business is entertaining us as readers.
Clevinger’s history as a web-comic creator (namely the incomparable 8-Bit Theater) really helps in his scripting of this comic. Because of its origins as a small press title and Clevinger’s own roots as a creator, he’s allowed to take the title in many directions he often wouldn’t be able to on a bigger publisher. Not only that, but his web-comic past (and present) helps him write a very episodic tale whose stories in the present regularly connect with stories later on. How he comes up with some of the outlandish things he does is beyond me – all I know is it constantly entertains me.
Scott Wegener was the co-creator of Robo and also basically the only artist the series has ever had. Some may know him from Image’s stellar mini he did with Christopher Yost named Killer of Demons, but it is his work on this title he should be known for. His art is extremely versatile, as it allows him to do anything from tell very kinetic action scenes, sell a humorous conversation with just facial expressions, and render everything in cartoonish yet realistic ways. I guess the best way to complement his art is this: I cannot imagine anyone else working on this book. Even if one of my favorite artists took over, I’d immediately be downtrodden. No one else’s style fits this book as well.
All in all, I love this book. You have to love a title whose creative staff gives you as readers a promise: no angst, no “cheesecake”, no reboots, no filler, and no delays. One of my favorite comic shop employees on the planet is about to go to basic training for the Army, and while he’s gone he will have just one title in his pull: Atomic Robo. It’s promises like that and the work that Clevinger and Wegener consistently put together that makes that such an easy decision for him. If you haven’t read this series yet, get to your comic shop now and get caught up with one of the best books on the market.
For additional reasons as to why you should read Atomic Robo, check out our interview with series writer Brian Clevinger.
