The robot revolution is finally here! No longer will we review comics focused on the superheroes of the human oppressors! It is time for a robot hero to step into the limelight. I am, of course, talking about…no, not the Vision. Ultron? He’s definitely a robot but I don’t think we could ever call him a hero…ugh, not Victor Mancha either! There are robots outside of that weird family tree, you know. I’m talking about none other than Aaron Stack, the Machine Man!
Written by Christos Gage & Tom DeFalco
Illustrated by Andy MacDonald & Mike Hawthorne
Lettered by VC’s Travis Lanham
Colored by Dono Sánchez-Almara & Erick Arciniega
The A.I. uprising has begun, and Machine Man finds himself torn about his place in the revolution! As the battle rages around him, will Machine Man aid mankind’s fight for survival or join his robot brethren in ushering a new age? Plus, when faced with a figure from his past, Machine Man must decide—is it time to follow his programming or his heart? Don’t miss out on this epic adventure from Christos Gage and Andy MacDonald! Plus, revisit Machine Man in 2020 with legendary creator, Tom DeFalco!
First and foremost, it is important to note that this comic comes with a disclaimer. They insist that you need to read “Iron Man 2020” #2 first but at the same time, I don’t think you’ll be terribly lost if you don’t. All the relevant info is covered in this issue in a brief recap.
“2020 Machine Man” #1’s story is pretty straightforward. In recent history, Machine Man and Jocasta, the ex-wife of Ultron have become an item and broken up. Now that Jocasta’s being remote-controlled, Aaron goes on a heroic quest to save her only to find that he’s been replaced.
I was first exposed to Machine Man in “Nextwave”, the ultra-violent robot quickly becoming my favorite character in the series. To give you a frame of reference, I adore Monica Rambeau, another character on the team. I’ve given a college presentation on Monica…and in “Nextwave”, Aaron is still my favorite.
With all that in mind, I went into this comic with high-ish expectations. Aaron is such a quirky, weird character…he often adds levity and humor to books he’s in so I definitely expected it to be more comedic. After all, he’s a more comedic character like, let’s say, Howard the Duck or Deadpool. The humor is pretty sparse here though and Aaron is pretty much played straight.
It seems like a bit of a missed opportunity, especially since the focus is solely on Aaron. It’s his comic and this issue doesn’t necessarily do all it could do to show what makes Machine Man shine. Even the relationship drama that motivates Aaron isn’t that interesting. I’ve liked Machine Man’s interactions with Jocasta in the pages of “Tony Stark: Iron Man” and could have used more of those interactions here. They don’t really talk until the end and it would be nice to see the moment expanded.
The twist at the end does have potential. It could be interesting to see how Aaron confronts the fact that he is now obsolete, that he’s been replaced by a superior model. For a character who values independence and holds free will in such high regard, what’s it like to have another guy with your face and thought patterns walking around? Its very interesting to think about, I will admit. Here’s hoping that the creative team makes the most of it.
This is a tie-in issue and it doesn’t seem to add all that much to the main story. I will say that the artwork is nice though. Comics are a visual medium and on that end, I can’t really complain. Machine Man’s personality shows when he’s in action. Aaron has flailing, stretched out, metal arms and will occasionally use chainsaws, flamethrowers or other violent weapons. He’s like an angry Inspector Gadget and I’m glad to see that trend continue here. The panels with the fight against other similarly angry Machine Men are all good, cartoon-y fun. Jocasta’s new robot body seems a bit…off, which actually reflects her brainwashed personality pretty well.
This issue also has a ten-page back-up story featuring the rebels of the robot revolution, humans helping robots and salvaging parts for them. I can’t really say that I enjoyed the back-up story all that much. The plot felt familiar, in a good way…I’m a pretty big fan of Rebel Alliances, resistances and the like. At the same time though, all the characters felt rather gimmicky to me. There’s the tough, harsh one, the young, energetic one, the grizzled handyman, the character who switches sides…I think that the constraints of it being a back-up story hurts rather than helps. It could use some more room to breathe.
Final Verdict: 5.5 – “2020 Machine Man” #1 could be better…but hey, I’m just a dumb meatbag. What do I know?
