Atomic Robo decides to move away from the crazy adventures of his past and settle down to be a different kind of hero, a teacher, but will this new life be able to last, or will be called into the fast-paced life of superhero scientist?
Written by Brian Clevinger
Illustrated by Scott Wegener
Colored by Shannon Murphy
Lettered by Jeff PowellAs Robo and his colleagues begin to settle into their new roles in life, some secrets and mysteries start to come into focus. The latest chapter in Robo’s life is wildly different from everything that has come before, but the past is always around the corner.
Robo and the team at the Tesladyne Institute are about to teach a new generation of Action Scientists the tools of the trade so the original crew can retire or strictly stick to a mentoring role. As the teens begin to explore their new school and home, Robo, Foley, and Bernard are working on separate projects at different degrees of success. They are all clearly torn about what to do next with their lives, balancing a quieter life of teaching with their own need for study, experimentation, and adventure. The format of Atomic Robo allows for wonderful time jumps and change in narrative with each arc releasing sporadically over the last twelve years showcasing various points in Robo’s life, it allows for Clevinger to change up his own style, to a point, and create fresh storytelling with each new arc. This is never an easy task for any writer, but he gets it right every time. With ‘Dawn of the New Era,’ he once again is kicking off another wonderful all-ages comic plot.
The premiere issue moves along at a nice, steady pace following up with the key players, new and old, all while setting in motion multiple plot threads for what is to come. Clevinger doesn’t believe in light, “five minutes and it’s over” narrative and he does the exact opposite of talking down to his younger audience. This book is and always has been a great mix of sci-fi adventure popping from the same vein as properties like “Flash Gordon” and Indiana Jones, but it also exists to discuss real science and scientists while blending it with fantasy. In this issue alone there are references to famed scientists like Ada Lovelace and Sir Isaac Newton (and more!), as well as concepts like the Hollow Earth theory, which is also a callback to a previous “Atomic Robo” arc. This story also begins to tackle some big topics like what it means to be alive, and even more specifically and intelligent being that can learn and grow intellectually and emotionally. Clevinger’s goal is to give comic book fans of all ages a funny and exciting read, and if it leads to them learning a bit more about subjects of all matters, then he has really done his job.
Scott Weneger’s illustrations continue to be a delight. His work is a blend of classic golden age sci-fi and modern cult favorites like Invader Zim. The mixture of camp storytelling, 1950s scii-fi and legitimate science are fully realized through his style. And after nearly twelve years on the book he perfected this world long ago. He is clearly having fun with this new chapter moving Robo into the middle-aged father figure he’s becoming and crafting the way his world looks now. He captures Clevinger’s attitude and meanings perfectly. Deadpan comedy lands every time, emotional exchanges pack a subtle punch and the hint of future adventures is clearly evident. Far less rigid, his looser style allows for Shannon Murphy’s complementary color work to give it life. Her work is ingenious.
A light, nearly pastel palette gives the series a calming tone that would have been hard to achieve in previous arcs. Seeing Robo punch Nazis in a light purple button down shirt and khakis and the sun sets in the distance just wouldn’t come together as nicely…or maybe it would Her work makes for a beautiful, bright, and welcoming style for the entire issue. Even when the plot moves towards more intellectually mature material, she lends the exact tones necessary.
As enjoyable as this issue was, I wouldn’t recommend this as a jumping on point for new readers if you only intend read the current arc. As this series does follow Robo’s life from creation through the many decades of his life, there is a lot of back material to get to, some of which is referenced here. It would be difficult to stick to only this story. It is an interesting and wildly different addition to the “Atomic Robo” lore, but handled in a way that long-time readers and newcomers can enjoy.
Final Verdict: 8.0, As always, this series continues to be a fun and thought-provoking read that sets up a decent amount of future story threads paired with wonderfully delightful art.
