Magnus, Robot Fighter Archives Volume 2

Magnus, Robot Fighter 4000 A.D. #2

by Russ Manning, Robert Schaefer, Eric Friewald

Dark Horse delivers another fantastic collection of rare classics from a comics legend! Russ Manning, famous for his spectacular work on the Tarzan newspaper strips of the late sixties, brought fans his "Tarzan of the future" in Magnus, Robot Fighter. While his work on the original comic series lasted only twenty-one issues, Manning's creation has survived generations, influencing countless science-fiction artists and writers to this day. Fans of Alex Raymond, Mac Raboy, or Wally Wood should not miss this beautifully bound hardcover, the second Magnus archival collection and the latest addition to Dark Horse's line of science-fiction classics.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Science Fiction, Classics, Comic Book, Adventure

200 pages, Paperback

First published July 20, 2005

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Louie the Mustache Matos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Volume 2 of the Magnus Robot Fighter Archive by Russ Manning is better in some ways than the first volume, and not-as-good in others. Those painted covers are gorgeous. I was extremely appreciative of the current trend by Dark Horse Comics in purchasing and reprinting classic work by now defunct companies like EC, Tower, and Gold Key. If not for these reprints, the originals would be too cost prohibitive and rare. This collection curates issues #8-14 published in 1964 through 1966. Manning had other publishing responsibilities at the time so it took him longer between issues. In fact, although his first issues were almost exclusively worked on alone, some of these issues were collaborative. Steve Rude writes the foreword where he gushes about Manning as an influence. The artistic style of the book is excessively clean, line-work with realistic faces. There's a playfulness in the relationship between Leeja and Magnus that adds depth to the characters that previously appeared cardboard. The Outsiders are introduced as continuing characters and the reader is treated to villains already familiar. Overall the art is better here whereas the stories seemed to become a little redundant. I was not impressed with the plotting. I actually believe that there should have been some Chris Claremont angst thrown in to the stories to make for better characterization. Still, some classic stuff, sequential art, worthy of the title.

[Dan Schwent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Magnus, Robot Fighter 4000 A.D., Vol. 2 collects Magnus #8-14, published by Gold Key in the 1960s.

I liked Magnus volume one but wasn't super impressed by it. Either I was in a better mood for it or Manning kicked it up a notch because I thought the art in this volume was fantastic. The stories were better as well. When every story features Magnus karate chopping robots, it would be easy for the book to fall into a rut but the killer robots are a feature, not the entire story.

Manning's art reminds me of Wally Wood in this volume quite a bit and his influence on Steve Rude is even more apparent than in the previous volume. Steve Rude provides the foreword in this volume, incidentally.

Some Magnus concept art ends the collection. I wonder who said "You know, Magnus looks cool in pants but I really want him wearing a tunic that people will be calling a miniskirt in a few years."

Four stars. I hope the third volume is as good as this one.

[Dirck Lint · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, the giddy joy of nostalgia! I read these in second-run Gold Key releases initially, but that was still a long time past. It's not a perfect entertainment-- it has, for example, the early '60s notions of what "diversity" means-- but it's such a coherently-built world I still find things in it my adult self can admire.

[D. Meador · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spent a lot of afternoons at the Lake of the Ozarks reading these while waiting for a fish to bite or for a chance to water ski; they were great then when first published and great now. So glad someone published them in one place since, like everyone else, I didn't have the foresight to keep them.
Recommend for all!

[Michael Laflamme]

A lot of fun. After my parents' divorce, my comics were lost in the shuffle. Ever since then, it has been my joy to re-configure that collection. Only boomers would buy these almanacs. No doubt, but they really do not make them like this anymore.

[Fraser Sherman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Writer/artist Russ Manning improves on the first volume: a slightly bigger recurring cast, some stronger plots. The same basic premise of Magnus battling killer robots and the villains who control them though. Fun, and beautifully drawn.

[K De · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertainment by Russ Manning about a future that has robots that can go astray by their mad human creators. Very much fun to read when you realize the patriarchal limitations of the 1960's mindset.

[Michael P. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Uniformity great art; uneven stories.

[Travis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reads like one of those great old Hanna-barbara super cartoons from the 60's.
In the far further, robots are everywhere and humans are constantly in danger of losing control of the world and human civilization.

Magnus watches over us and deals with numerous rogue robots by punching their heads off when they get out of line.

Great art, fun sci-fi ideas and I finally have found the issue where Magnus teams up a band of highly intelligent animals that got me hooked on Magnus waaay back when I was like 12.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Der Zauber von früher stellt sich nicht mehr so recht ein, nur Nostalgie. Die Storys schwächeln und sind stereotyp wie leider auch Russ Mannings Artwork, derentwegen ich den Band gekauft habe.
Kaum ist der Quantensprung zu glauben, den Manning wenig später mit den Tarzan-Zeitungsstrips vollziehen wird und wo er uns als großartiger Erzähler und Zeichner begegnen wird.
Die Dark Horse Archives-Ausgabe verdient allerdings jedes Lob hinsichtlich Einband, Papier, Druck und Verarbeitung.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the plots have grown a bit stale, the art and basic concepts remain solid. Some disillusioned scientist is trying to destroy the world and he makes one big mistake. He attempts right in front of where Magnus happens to be standing. Magnus wins the day with his ideals, strong arms, and intelligence. No one is as incredible as Magnus. He can punch through steel with his bare hands. The end.

[Mark Dickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved them then, love them now.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very nostalgic 50's feel. When I was a kid reading these comics I thought the robots were the most awesome art around. Still alot of fun to read.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Terrific art, clunky pulp sci-fi scripts.

[Forrest · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse, along comes volume 2. Why am I such a sucker?