Ferro City Volume 1

by Jason Armstrong

Private Investigator Cyrus Smithe's life has just taken a turn for the worse - his partner, Harry Weston, is dead. The cops are out to pin it on him, and the only solid proof he has to clear himself is a tiny gadget that could grant ten million sentient robots their freedom: the Medusa Key. Robot detectives, gorilla thugs, French gangsters and Russian mobsters heat things up as Cy Smithe and Kate Weston track her father's killer through a sea of double and triple crosses to find the elusive piece of technology that's the key to the mystery.

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

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Reviews

[Ryan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Armstrong's art, although it would be easier to follow if it was done in at least four colors instead of just black and white. The story has a bit too many moving parts, which makes it hard to follow.

[Jeff Powers · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jason Armstrong seems a competent writer with a decent knowledge of the pulp crime novel and its tropes. But this series really seemed lacking. It doesn't have the style or humor of Goon. In fact, Armstrong's chaotic inking style rather detracts from the book. Many images are tough to read clearly. The writing lacks the complexity of Miller's Sin City noir series. I really wanted to like this book more. Hoping for a parodic take on Blade Runner and other SF noir. Sadly, despite its ambitions, it never quite gets there.

[Megan Anderson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unnecessarily complicated. The story wasn't very engaging, though the concept was interesting, and the art made the action hard to follow. Also, I sort of feel like I've seen this before somewhere else...

[Erik Anderson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I tried so hard to be into this story but it never grabbed my attention. I think it was a mix between not connecting with any of the characters and the tongue-in-cheek tone. It wasn't an awful premise but any robot Sci-Fi has dealt with similar tropes. Just didn't feel this one.

[Sterling · Rating 3 out of 5]

it's detective noir with robots, not much else to say about it.