Major Spoilers
    Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Twitch Discord RSS
    Major Spoilers
    • Home
    • Reviews
      • Random Access Memory
      • Retro Review
      • So You Want to Read Comics
    • Podcasts
      • Critical Hit
        • Critical Hit House Rules
        • Critical Hit World Building
      • Dueling Review
      • Finally Friday
      • Geek History Lesson
      • The Legion Clubhouse
      • Major Spoilers Podcast
        • MSP TPB for 2019
        • On the Next Major Spoilers Podcast – 2013
        • On the Next Major Spoilers Podcast – 2012
        • On the Next Major Spoilers Podcast – 2011
      • Munchkin Land
      • Top Five
      • Wayne’s Comics
      • Zach on Film
    • Features
      • Casual 60
      • Comic Casting Couch
      • Comics Portal
      • Did You Hear?
      • Editorials
      • Features
      • Gamer’s Corner
      • Hero Histories
      • Let’s Get Nerdy
      • Major Spoilers Adventures
      • Random Access Memory
      • So You Want to Read Comics
    • Movies
      • Did You Hear
      • Movies
      • Television
    • Comic Previews
    • Patreon
      • Patreon
      • Store
    Major Spoilers
    Featured

    REVIEW: Atomic Robo Presents: Real Science Adventures #6

    Dave CondeBy Dave CondeSeptember 21, 20121 Comment5 Mins Read

    The problem with a great comic artist like Atomic Robo co-creator Scott Wegener is that as a mere human, he cannot keep up with the avalanche of stories that tumble like a tsunami from writer Brian Clevinger’s pen. Rather than clone Wegener again (allegedly), the solution was to enlist other artist and create a spin-off comic to feature the shorter stories about Robo and his universe. But with increased production, can the same level of quality be maintained with so many cooks in the kitchen? Let’s find out, shall we?

    ATOMIC ROBO PRESENTS: REAL SCIENCE ADVENTURES #6
    Writer: Brian Clevinger
    Artist: Various
    Letterer: Jeff Powell
    Colors: Matt Speroni
    Editor: Lee Black
    Publisher: Red 5 Comics
    Cover Price: $2.75

    Previously in Atomic Robo Presents: Real Science Adventures: Atomic Robo is a robot created by Nikola Tesla. Robo fought in WWII, then founded an organization to do science, battle monsters and save the world as often as possible. Having “grown up” in the Depression, fought in WWII and continuing to operate today, Robo is a lot like Captain America in personality, but with a large side of wise-cracking Spider-Man.

    HE WAS TURNED TO STEEL, IN THE GREAT MAGNETIC FIELD

    This issue is the sixth in a series of anthologies about Atomic Robo and his world. I’ll hit each story separately:

    To Kill a Sparrow (drawn by Ryan Cody) is the sixth (of six) part of a story serialized in the previous issues and provides the climax to the tale and wraps things up well. Sparrow is now fully established as an action-hero bad ass. There’s just enough here that you don’t strictly need to read the previous issues to enjoy it. No Robo, though.

    Philadelphia Experiment (drawn by Erica Henderson) is less of a story and more of an answer to the question: “if the urban myth about the Philadelphia Experiment were true, what would the government have done about it?” Cool idea but still no Robo. Hellboy will sometimes do short stories like this, more about an idea or feeling than plot or characterization. It can be a nice change-up in an anthology series like this, but I would have liked a little more: a plot twist, a character quirk, a Robo tie-in, or something.

    Daedalus Project (drawn by Zack Finfrock) is getting more Robo-like, but no Robo. A group is sent to investigate a mad-sciencey base and mayhem ensues. The team is a generic bunch of grouchy white guys in suits (OK, one is a woman, but that only makes the skirt-suit even more ridiculous as action hero wear). It’s what you get when you try to combine Men in Black with BPRD in four pages. None of the characters stand out and even the robots/clones/explosions are bland compared with the high standards of the Robo-verse.

    Leaping Metal Dragon (drawn by John Broglia) is another serialized story, this time with Bruce Lee, that has been about Robo seeking out Lee to help him cope as a robot in a human world. The insight into Robo’s pseudo-humanity in the midst of Kung Fu action perfectly captured what I love about Atomic Robo. The part of the story that we see in this issue is like the coda to the real story—like the part at the end of Star Trek where Kirk restates the moral and McCoy makes a joke at Spock’s expense. It is a cute little tag for the end of the story, but the problem is that I had to wait a month after the important part of the story to read it. Great for the trade but loses its power in the print schedule of a monthly.

    Finally, A Bad Case of the Crabs (drawn by Zack Finfrock) is a quick little story that doesn’t do much but does it extremely well. It’s Robo and his fantastic world of adventure interacting and contrasting with normal people…in the context of a robot punching gigantic crabs. This ends the issue strong, giving me exactly what I want from an Atomic Robo comic.

    SHARE AND ENJOY

    The stories are drawn by four different artist, so the art is all over the place. Not bad, but not the consistent vision of co-creator Scott Wegner who draws the main title. That said, you should be able to find something you like. Ryan Cody uses a lot of blacks and dark colors to capture the darkness and tension of a Nazi interrogation while Erica Henderson goes with black and white to capture a historical, newsreel feel and keep the focus on the dialog. Zack Finfrock’s slightly cartoony style isn’t a perfect fit when he’s depicting serious tension, but is perfect for Robot-on-Crab punching. Finally, John Broglia nails the comic’s look of the 1970’s so well I wouldn’t be surprised to discover that he traveled here to the future in time-traveling bell bottoms. (Ask your parents.)

    THE BOTTOM LINE: DOMO ARIGATO, MR. ROBOTO

    Even when not at its best, the world cannot get enough Atomic Robo. I give Atomic Robo Real Science Adventures #6 four stars—if you have never read Atomic Robo before, make it three and a half stars (and hang your head in shame). It’s good on its own and great as the sixth of six issues.

    Rating: ★★★★☆

    DID YOU READ THIS ISSUE? RATE IT!
    Reader Rating

    [ratings]

    Atomic Robo Brian Clevinger Erica Henderson John Broglia Red 5 Comics Review Ryan Cody Zack Finfrock
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Previous ArticleREVIEW: Dark Shadows #7
    Next Article REVIEW: Justice League #0
    Dave Conde

    Dave Conde went to Grad school for Accounting and was voted “Most Likely to Quit Accounting and Become a Professional Skateboarder”. This is not demonstrably false. He reads a bit of everything but values the writing above the art. The only books he’ll buy regardless of the story are by Frank Cho, because…well damn. (Once he masters drawing more than one female face, Frank’s going to be unstoppable.) He’s Dave. Solamente Dave. And he can’t be locked up in a cage like some kind of Manimal. He’s outta heeeeeeere.

    Related Posts

    Geek History Lesson #454 – John Wick 2 & 3

    Read More

    Munchkin Land #674: Unmatched: Teen Spirit

    Read More

    So You Want to Read Comics: Haircut Edition

    Read More

    1 Comment

    1. Steven Bauer on September 21, 2012 7:21 pm

      I’d buy this issue just for that pic of Atomic Tracy. :)

      Reply

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Support this site by making a purchase through our Amazon affiliate links

    Reviews
    10.0
    March 21, 2023

    Nocterra #12 Review

    9.0
    March 21, 2023

    Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures #3 Review

    8.0
    March 20, 2023

    Bishop: War College #2 Review

    9.0
    March 19, 2023

    Immoral X-Men #2 Review

    5.7
    March 19, 2023

    Retro Review: Sensation Comics #6 (June 1942)

    Patreon Support
    Major Spoilers Store
    Recent Comments
    • Karl G Siewert on Multiversity: Harley Screws Up The DCU #1 Review
    • R. Eric Smith on Retro Review: So Beautiful And So Dangerous #1 (1979)
    • Daniel Langsdale on The X-Cellent #1 Review
    • kmd on [Preview] Mr. Beaver #2
    • R Mohr on PREVIEW: Dejah Thoris #1
    Subscribe to the Major Spoilers E-Mail List
    Sponsor

    ComiXology Home Page

    Follow Us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • Twitch
    ComiXology Home Page">
    Major Spoilers Patreon
    • About
      • Major Spoilers Terms of Use
      • Major Spoilers Frequently Asked Questions
      • Major Spoilers Privacy Policy Statement
      • Major Spoilers Podcast Gear
    • Contact
    • Cookie Policy (EU)
    Major Spoilers is copyright 2006-2022 by Major Spoilers Entertainment, LLC

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.