Written by Brian Clevinger
Illustrated Scott WegenerJACK TAROT, Scourge of the Chicago Crime Syndicate, stalks the mean streets of New York City hunting down the truth behind a baffling series of high-tech robberies! Though if he knew that’d involve mentoring ATOMIC ROBO, he’d have stayed home. Hey, what’s Jack hiding behind that mask? And how does he shoot with it on anyway, I don’t see no eye-holes! Also starring Jack’s beautiful organic daughter! And a man with two skulls! And Tesla! And vampires! Again! But only a little. Every issue brings us one step closer to uncovering the secrets of THE DEADLY ART OF SCIENCE!
Clevinger and Wegener are back with more Robo action in the second issue of the fifth volume! Find out my thoughts after the cut.
The funny thing about Atomic Robo is is that reviewing it over almost any other comic is an absolute ridiculously hard thing to do. Here at MC we have dubbed this “The Walking Dead Corollary” but for all intents and purposes, it could just as easily be the “The Atomic Robo Corollary.” Simply put: it’s a comic that is so consistently good that to come up with new ways to talk about how good it is and why you should be out in stores buying every other copy you find is incredibly difficult.
But let me try my best at least once more, just for fun:
Atomic Robo is such a consistently good comic book that I think the only reasons not to buy it are if you simply dislike yourself a rather good deal. I honestly can’t see any other purpose why this comic doesn’t live in your collection because Clevinger and Wegener effectively blend the coolness of science with the tangy goodness of pulp heroics delivered with dry wit and a sly tongue in a way that adds up to one of the funniest comic books on the shelves that doubles itself in categories such as action, adventure, and science fiction.
This volume gives a look at the earlier Robo with the first definitive look at his relationship with Tesla. Every time we see Robo, he’s usually a snarky action hero traipsing around the globe and fighting a variety of villains in different eras, but this is the first time we’ve seen him as a “child” for all intents and purposes (if we don’t mention that one issue from volume 3). Robo works so effectively on a multi-level basis because it operates as a perfect jumping on point with every arc while also elaborating the general story of the hero, because here we have references to not only the (previously mentioned) third volume but also the more recent fourth in three incidents. It makes for a very well rounded series that pays off for old fans, and to some degrees this is like reading the “origin story” of how Robo truly became an action adventurer. To see that it’s him sneaking out at night to avoid the disapproving speech from everyone’s favorite science Nicola Tesla adds a playful and fun tone to an already beyond entertaining All Ages book.
Clevinger and Wegener have made a good team for four volumes worth of content now, so I won’t try and string you along here with a series of metaphors and allusions to try and effectively convince you to buy this issue. Instead, I’ll put it incredibly bluntly: Clevinger is the peanut butter to Wegener’s jelly. Wegener’s art so perfectly matches the pitch and humor of Clevinger’s scripts with every sly panel, every juxtaposed sequence, and every comical facial feature. Wegener actually seems to be channeling a bit of his inner Rob Guillory (Chew) with this issue, especially with the hearts around the head bit, and Clevinger follows up entertaining arc after entertaining arc with new ways to inject a very slick and tidy sense of humor that anyone with even the smallest funny bone could enjoy. I am loving the new characters (especially Jack Tarot and his frequent frustration with young Robo), and while this arc is a bit more slow paced than the last (given that the last was basically one and done issues, which is also the same as the previous one (although all of those issues eventually intertwined in the finale)), I’m interested to see where they’re bringing this story about.
If there is one comic you read starring a talking robot, be sure to make it Atomic Robo. You’re only hurting yourself if you don’t buy it.
Final Verdict: 9.2 – Buy
