Vandroid by Tommy Lee Edwards

by Tommy Lee Edwards

The year is 1984. Washed-up mechanic Chuck Carducci is contacted by an old roommate from his MIT days to team up on a new project using cutting-edge artificial intelligence. With salvaged electronics from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab, high-performance van parts, and a plutonium-ion battery dubiously procured by a mysterious financial backer, Chuck builds a robot so human, yet so powerful, it can only be called VANDROID! Collects the high-octane adventures of Vandroid #1–#5!“If you’re a fan of the 80s, B-movies, or over the top action stories, this is one for you.”— Comic Book Therapy

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels

Paperback

First published December 2, 2014

About the author

Tommy Lee Edwards is an American illustrator. Edwards' varied portfolio includes works created in the realm of comics, video games, books, advertising, film, and animation.
(source: Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Chris Karr · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a story unto itself, it's a 3-star endeavor. As an homage to the 1980s' Cannon and similar studios, this is a 5-star masterpiece. Splitting the difference at 4 solid stars.

[Eamonn Murphy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Since comic books became respectable, more or less, there are many films based on that medium in our modern era: ‘From Hell’, ‘V For Vendetta’ and all the super-hero stuff that’s taken over the cinema. ‘Vandroid’ is something different, a comic based on a film that was never made. A studio fire and other disasters kept the ‘cursed’ production from completion. It would probably have been a straight to video B movie but such things are not at all bad. ‘Vandroid’ is of that breed, even if he is named after the van he drives. Muscle men and androids with really big guns fire millions of rounds of ammunition at each other while large explosions tear the scenery to pieces. It’s all good fun.

Vandroid is a human form robot built by Chuck Carducci, a genius down on his luck who is offered the job by an old friend with mob connections. It’s equipped with the very latest in artificial intelligence and powered by a plutonium-iron battery. It has Chuck’s own personality, after being dead early in the story. It looks out for Chuck’s friends. It’s a super-strong robot Chuck with all his flaws and virtues. Things get interesting when Vandroid decides to take down the organisation that funded his creation.

The story by Tommy Lee Edwards and Noah Smith rolls along at the pace of a good action movie. Dan McDaid’s art is stylised rather than accurately illustrative which is fine. My favourite artist is the very stylised Jack Kirby. Actually, the figures resemble Frank Miller’s drawing on Batman while the layouts are reminiscent of Carmine Infantino’s sixties DC work with many narrow, horizontal panels. It was brightly coloured and pleasant to look at while telling the story in a clear, coherent fashion. All in all, this is a solid piece of light entertainment that kind of makes you wish they had finished the film.

It’s a rollicking roller coaster of madness and mayhem, and wait until you see the Vanettes. Phwoar!

Eamonn Murphy
This review first appeared at https://www.sfcrowsnest.info/

[Gregory · Rating 5 out of 5]

This graphic novel was originally set to become a feature film back in the late 1980's following the success of The original Terminator film in 1984. That wasn't meant to be because the original film was destroyed in a fire. The original script and other items was the things that had survived the fire.
In this story, Social Media and Cell phones don't exist yet due to its time period.
I had read this graphic novel thinking that it would copy the original Cameron film and was very impressed how original the story is. The protagonist is becoming more human thanks to his creation and from facing off evildoers who want to use him as a weapon. The artwork looks somewhat cartoonish, but doesn't take away from the story.
Love AI's? This is the book for you. Vandroid is a must read for sci-fi fans and for people who are fans of The Terminator.