Atomic Robo Vol 1 by Brian Clevinger

Atomic Robo and the Fightin’ Scientists of Tesladyne is perhaps one of the most brilliant comics I’ve read in a while. Love it little pieces: the humor, the mixing of genres, Robo’s solution to everything being blowing it up. It just works so well.

I love the care and detail put into designing Atomic Robo. He doesn’t look like other robots. I don’t think Cybermen, Data, or Cylons. I think Atomic Robo, the wacky fighting scientist who’s pretty indestructible.

This story is smart in how it frames Robo’s first battle against Dr. Helsingard and how he becomes Robo’s nemesis. Actually, I like that it was by accident. I like Helsingard being the obsessive one and swearing revenge on Robo, but Robo not really caring. He’s almost taking down Helsingard’s evil plans by accident.

The first issue is a little slow, but it really takes off from there and doesn’t stop. I didn’t want to put it down. In fact, I didn’t, reading it from cover to cover.

The part with Robo reflecting on his now-deceased WWII army buddy Charlie worked brilliantly in both establishing Robo’s age, but also his emotions. Especially since before that he either seemed to be enthusiastically blowing stuff up or annoyed at people trying to destroy him.

And it’s good to see that Robo’s fame hasn’t gone to his head.

Of course, there was mummies.

The story about Robo going to Mars was brilliant. I love Stephen Hawking hacking his psychological profile, and Robo not having enough magazines to last him the trip. Robo writing “Stephen Hawking is a bastard” on Mars in rocks, while being extremely happy about it was brilliant. It does remind me of the Tick villain writing on the moon.

I also enjoy how subtle the characterization of Robo’s team comes out in their crisis management. Granted Jenkins’ gets his short-story in the B-sides.

Of course, Robo killed Helsingard and blew the top of the pyramid. And like any good villain, Helsingard has back-ups. Of his brain. Mwahaha.

Atomic Robo is pure fun and enjoyment.