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Cyborg (2016)
Cyborg, Vol. 3: Singularity
The villainous Anomaly, a human/machine hybrid created by Cyborg’s father, has activated a device that threatens all reality! But before Cyborg can save the world, he’ll have to save himself and his friends from a bizarre alternate reality.
In the streets of a Detroit overrun by mechanical men, only a parallel version of Beast Boy is immune to the mecha-human virus that turns everyone else into a monstrous hybrid. And even Anomaly, who’s seemingly responsible for all the chaos, doesn’t know where they are or how to escape!
A familiar figure offers the key to reclaiming the ravaged divergent reality from chaos and returning Cyborg and his compatriots home, but to succeed, they’ll have to defeat not only the deadly threat of the Metal Men, but also the parallel world’s Cyborg, who has an agenda all his own!
Cyborg Vol. 3: Singularity collects issues #14-20 of the thrilling series by animation writer John Semper Jr. (Spider-Man: The Animated Series) and artists Will Conrad (Nightwing), Allan Jefferson (Arrow) and others!
In the streets of a Detroit overrun by mechanical men, only a parallel version of Beast Boy is immune to the mecha-human virus that turns everyone else into a monstrous hybrid. And even Anomaly, who’s seemingly responsible for all the chaos, doesn’t know where they are or how to escape!
A familiar figure offers the key to reclaiming the ravaged divergent reality from chaos and returning Cyborg and his compatriots home, but to succeed, they’ll have to defeat not only the deadly threat of the Metal Men, but also the parallel world’s Cyborg, who has an agenda all his own!
Cyborg Vol. 3: Singularity collects issues #14-20 of the thrilling series by animation writer John Semper Jr. (Spider-Man: The Animated Series) and artists Will Conrad (Nightwing), Allan Jefferson (Arrow) and others!
167 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 15, 2018
About the author
John Semper Jr.
27 books4 followersEmmy-nominated, Harvard University graduate John Semper Jr. has been developing, writing and producing television and film for over forty years, with a special emphasis on children’s television and animation.
His extensive and extremely varied writing and story-editing (head writer) credits include multiple episodes of such classic and well-known animated shows as Scooby-Doo, Smurfs, The Jetsons (Hanna-Barbera Productions); My Little Pony, The Moondreamers (Marvel Productions); Duck Tales (Disney); Alvin and the Chipmunks (NBC Productions); and many others. He produced, story-edited, and wrote the Fraggle Rock animated series for Jim Henson Productions and he co-created the original, live-action Dog City, also for Jim Henson.
Mr. Semper is probably best known for his work as both producer and head writer on Spider-Man: The Animated Series, the hit action-adventure animated series for Fox Television, based upon Marvel’s pre-eminent super-hero character. He subsequently received an Emmy nomination for his work at Warner Brothers Television Animation as story-editor for the successful series, Static Shock.
He has also branched into writing comic books, handling a 19-issue story arc for Cyborg as part of the "Rebirth" of all of the DC Comics super-hero line-up.
Mr. Semper’s feature film writing credits include the live-action comedy Class Act, released by Warner Brothers. Afficionados of Japanese animation director Hayao Miyazaki have appreciated Mr. Semper’s English language scripts for the Disney-released feature films, Laputa: Castle in the Sky and Kiki’s Delivery Service.
Mr. Semper’s pre-school children’s television show credits include the puppet series Puzzle Place for PBS, for which he was also a co-creator, and the long-running, popular Jay Jay the Jet Plane on PBS, for which he served as writer, executive story-editor, and producer. Several of his stories featuring the Jay Jay characters have been adapted into children's books.
In the interactive computer software field, Mr. Semper has written for Disney (“The Hercules Interactive Storybook”), Knowledge Adventure (“The X-Men Cartoon Maker” and “The Spider-man Cartoon Maker”), Broderbund and LucasArts Entertainment. Mr. Semper also worked personally with George Lucas developing projects for the George Lucas Educational Foundation.
Mr. Semper indulged his love of Sherlock Holmes mysteries by writing and illustrating The Singular Affair of the Missing Ball, the first adventure in a new, full color picture-book series featuring the “world-famous” canine detective, Sherlock Whippet; his companion and biographer, Dr. Dogson; and, of course, the nefarious villain, Professor Murray R. Catty, notorious cat burglar of London. This humorous parody of Victorian “penny-dreadful” dime novels is a treat for readers of all ages who enjoy both Sherlock Holmes and absurd humor. Details are available at the Sherlock Whippet website where a selection of illustrations are on view.
Early in his career, he had the pleasure of directing animation icon Walter Lantz in a live-action and animated clip compilation short film that Mr. Semper wrote for Universal Studios/Walter Lantz Productions. The film, entitled, Walter, Woody and the World of Animation, played for one year in a special exhibit devoted to Mr. Lantz on the Universal Studios Tour. It was then released by Universal for sale on videocassette and a copy of the film was donated by Mr. Lantz to the Smithsonian Institution.
Mr. Semper also was a host and producer of the Experience Talks radio show on KPFK-FM Los Angeles and other Pacifica Network stations from 2012 through 2019. He interviewed guests such as actors George Takei, Kathy Garver, and George Chakiris; author Charles Phoenix; musician Jerry Lawson; and many more creative people.
His extensive and extremely varied writing and story-editing (head writer) credits include multiple episodes of such classic and well-known animated shows as Scooby-Doo, Smurfs, The Jetsons (Hanna-Barbera Productions); My Little Pony, The Moondreamers (Marvel Productions); Duck Tales (Disney); Alvin and the Chipmunks (NBC Productions); and many others. He produced, story-edited, and wrote the Fraggle Rock animated series for Jim Henson Productions and he co-created the original, live-action Dog City, also for Jim Henson.
Mr. Semper is probably best known for his work as both producer and head writer on Spider-Man: The Animated Series, the hit action-adventure animated series for Fox Television, based upon Marvel’s pre-eminent super-hero character. He subsequently received an Emmy nomination for his work at Warner Brothers Television Animation as story-editor for the successful series, Static Shock.
He has also branched into writing comic books, handling a 19-issue story arc for Cyborg as part of the "Rebirth" of all of the DC Comics super-hero line-up.
Mr. Semper’s feature film writing credits include the live-action comedy Class Act, released by Warner Brothers. Afficionados of Japanese animation director Hayao Miyazaki have appreciated Mr. Semper’s English language scripts for the Disney-released feature films, Laputa: Castle in the Sky and Kiki’s Delivery Service.
Mr. Semper’s pre-school children’s television show credits include the puppet series Puzzle Place for PBS, for which he was also a co-creator, and the long-running, popular Jay Jay the Jet Plane on PBS, for which he served as writer, executive story-editor, and producer. Several of his stories featuring the Jay Jay characters have been adapted into children's books.
In the interactive computer software field, Mr. Semper has written for Disney (“The Hercules Interactive Storybook”), Knowledge Adventure (“The X-Men Cartoon Maker” and “The Spider-man Cartoon Maker”), Broderbund and LucasArts Entertainment. Mr. Semper also worked personally with George Lucas developing projects for the George Lucas Educational Foundation.
Mr. Semper indulged his love of Sherlock Holmes mysteries by writing and illustrating The Singular Affair of the Missing Ball, the first adventure in a new, full color picture-book series featuring the “world-famous” canine detective, Sherlock Whippet; his companion and biographer, Dr. Dogson; and, of course, the nefarious villain, Professor Murray R. Catty, notorious cat burglar of London. This humorous parody of Victorian “penny-dreadful” dime novels is a treat for readers of all ages who enjoy both Sherlock Holmes and absurd humor. Details are available at the Sherlock Whippet website where a selection of illustrations are on view.
Early in his career, he had the pleasure of directing animation icon Walter Lantz in a live-action and animated clip compilation short film that Mr. Semper wrote for Universal Studios/Walter Lantz Productions. The film, entitled, Walter, Woody and the World of Animation, played for one year in a special exhibit devoted to Mr. Lantz on the Universal Studios Tour. It was then released by Universal for sale on videocassette and a copy of the film was donated by Mr. Lantz to the Smithsonian Institution.
Mr. Semper also was a host and producer of the Experience Talks radio show on KPFK-FM Los Angeles and other Pacifica Network stations from 2012 through 2019. He interviewed guests such as actors George Takei, Kathy Garver, and George Chakiris; author Charles Phoenix; musician Jerry Lawson; and many more creative people.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
December 6, 2018
Semper completes his run on Cyborg by sending Cyborg to an alternate reality where Anomaly has won. Then Cyborg heads to Africa where he finds a monkey's paw (or rhino's horn) in this case. This type of story doesn't really fit Cyborg at all, being full of wishes and magic. Then I saw the book was cancelled and the last 3 issues aren't included in this trade. And they were written by Cyborg's creator, Marv Wolfman. Grrr! I would have liked to read those. It's alright though. Honestly the book wasn't very good and needed to end.
September 29, 2018
More like a 2.5 but meh it was ok.
September 29, 2018
Green Lantern-itis strikes, as Cyborg must save - in one battle - not just a person or a city or a planet or a galaxy, but BILLIONS of sentient planetary consciences.
That lonely breeze is the sound of me not caring.
Since that isn't enough to fill the volume, we get a two issue Black Panther ripoff to round out the final installment in this mercifully cancelled series.
That lonely breeze is the sound of me not caring.
Since that isn't enough to fill the volume, we get a two issue Black Panther ripoff to round out the final installment in this mercifully cancelled series.
July 24, 2026
Cyborg is a character I have mixed feelings about, and that was after I began paying attention to them more as a DC mainline Hero. They have so much potential, utility, and raw power, but they also have specific narrative weaknesses that most writers wouldn't touch with a 40-foot pole. To write a Cyborg story is to acknowledge humanity as a theme, science as an attention grabber, and problem-solving as the goal. Intelligence, experience, and emotional sympathy; all necessary tools for writing for a robot man who matches and partners with Superman.
Picture this, you are driving down a straight road. It's not exciting, but you're at least still going the right way. Then you turn left. You weren't supposed to turn left, you dumb f*&k. Now, while having a panic attack, you swerve in every direction possible, but you make no attempt to continue to the original destination. You're past that now, metaphorically. All that matters is that you get somewhere, even if everyone agrees this is going nowhere.
Why yes, I do genuinely believe that they attempted to skip to a different narrative mid-story and had to swap back. Yes, not a second of this is executed well, and by the time evil Cyborg appears, everyone- production and audience- has collectively given up. YES, Cyborg is being stupid, and has to be bailed out frequently by these brand new Original Characters do not steal.
Also, I'm going to laugh really hard if Variant and Black Narcissus were rejected by the Editors board. Time and place, sh*theels. Your OCs are not special.
That's why this volume really sucks.
Picture this, you are driving down a straight road. It's not exciting, but you're at least still going the right way. Then you turn left. You weren't supposed to turn left, you dumb f*&k. Now, while having a panic attack, you swerve in every direction possible, but you make no attempt to continue to the original destination. You're past that now, metaphorically. All that matters is that you get somewhere, even if everyone agrees this is going nowhere.
That is the most accurate description of the Singularity Volume. A dumbass's attempt to justify and reorganize their meandering mess of a story. Cyborg's dragged-out fight against a supervillain who is actually the pawn for a parallel universe metal zombie rebellion leader's plan to use Cyborg to save their digital world, and then the main villain kills himself.
Why yes, I do genuinely believe that they attempted to skip to a different narrative mid-story and had to swap back. Yes, not a second of this is executed well, and by the time evil Cyborg appears, everyone- production and audience- has collectively given up. YES, Cyborg is being stupid, and has to be bailed out frequently by these brand new Original Characters do not steal.
Also, I'm going to laugh really hard if Variant and Black Narcissus were rejected by the Editors board. Time and place, sh*theels. Your OCs are not special.
I suppose this is all to say that Cyborg doesn't just deserve better. Cyborg... IS better. From concept to design and display, Cyborg's story speaks for itself. A machine man of complex design and alien appearance, an indomitable taskmaster, but a fundamentally broken human held together by cold steel. This isn't a character any halfwit can write for, and even if they did, they would have something funny to say or do. Volume 3 just isn't funny or satisfying. It's a slow burn, and then it all goes nowhere.
Also, really bad wishing story after the arc. Even if it was separate from the entire volume, -10 points for copying and pasting someone else's work. It doesn't fit; it doesn't work. Zero Stars.
July 20, 2018
The last Volume in this run of Cyborg is alright.... not great, but alright.
Exiting the wormhole that Anomaly sent them through at the end of the last Volume, Cyborg and Variant find themselves in a crazy war torn land. Getting taken by the Resistance, a group opposing the Mecha-Human War, they meet the leader of the resistance, who is Victor's mom, long thought dead. She needs Cyborg to get the cure from the leader of the "Red" faction, who happens to be that universe's Cyborg. The "Red" are opposed by the "Blue", who is led by that universe's Anomaly. War, fighting, drama, war, fighting.... on and on... but it turns out that they are not in a alternate universe, but only a virtual world, created by Anomaly. Once war is ended, Variant chooses to stay to help that Cyborg build a better world. (Will we see her again?)
As a secondary story, Cyborg gets involved in a tribal war he really has no business being a part of. The writers use this to show some "growing up in maturity" for the character.
Overall, this Volume and the whole title run have been OK. I really enjoy Cyborg as part of the Justice League and will be glad to see him involved more with them.
Recommend, with reservations.
Exiting the wormhole that Anomaly sent them through at the end of the last Volume, Cyborg and Variant find themselves in a crazy war torn land. Getting taken by the Resistance, a group opposing the Mecha-Human War, they meet the leader of the resistance, who is Victor's mom, long thought dead. She needs Cyborg to get the cure from the leader of the "Red" faction, who happens to be that universe's Cyborg. The "Red" are opposed by the "Blue", who is led by that universe's Anomaly. War, fighting, drama, war, fighting.... on and on... but it turns out that they are not in a alternate universe, but only a virtual world, created by Anomaly. Once war is ended, Variant chooses to stay to help that Cyborg build a better world. (Will we see her again?)
As a secondary story, Cyborg gets involved in a tribal war he really has no business being a part of. The writers use this to show some "growing up in maturity" for the character.
Overall, this Volume and the whole title run have been OK. I really enjoy Cyborg as part of the Justice League and will be glad to see him involved more with them.
Recommend, with reservations.
January 25, 2023
This series just kept getting worse and worse. We get the resolution of the previous volume's cliffhanger, sort of, before the series turns into a Matrix rip-off, and then manages to go even further off the rails after closing out the Singularity storyline in a wet burp of a conclusion. The last two collected issues are completely different, with a Monkey's Paw pastiche in Africa that is so completely out of character (it undercuts pretty much every major point of closure Singularity had just provided) and so bad that it's almost unreadable. Frankly, the issues shouldn't have been collected here, instead put in the next volume (although that was never released since the series was cancelled). I'm not sure anyone is better off with having the opportunity to read them, though. Its attempt at political topics (child armies and child labor in an unnamed African country) are embarrassingly shallow and Cyborg's every decision is somewhere between out of character and idiotic. The character deserves so much better than this, and I can understand why they cancelled it shortly after.
September 9, 2021
The sci fy cyber stuff works well for Cyborg, of course,but the dialouge is meh and the action is not that action-y. The last few issues were a departure from the normal Cyborg fare and were about the same as the rest, though I do feel like Batwing's first three volumes handled the subject of african children being forced to fight wars better than this did.
March 17, 2022
Scintillating and Superb Cyborg installment!!
This graphic novel delivers action and wonder in a single volume!! The artwork is fabulous and full of colour. It had to happen that Cyborg would feature in a digital universe or Digiverse!! The story was well scripted with a final one -off story which was exciting as well. An awesome volume!!
This graphic novel delivers action and wonder in a single volume!! The artwork is fabulous and full of colour. It had to happen that Cyborg would feature in a digital universe or Digiverse!! The story was well scripted with a final one -off story which was exciting as well. An awesome volume!!
November 21, 2022
The problem i have with most DC stuff is they have such great concepts that usually fail at telling a compelling story. Also calling the magic space cubes mother boxes is such a dumb term. Was not happy with the ending to this three volume arch. The tacked on extra story with child murder in some third world country was also very bad.
May 8, 2019
Cyborg deserves an ongoing! I'm not sure these were the best people to do it, but I'm not mad at their trying. It was however very disconcerting to read Vic not know Gar at all. Miss their friendship in NEW TEEN TITANS.
August 5, 2025
Wraps up the Cyborg rebirth run and it was just so mid overall. Having the same story arc over three volumes and so many issues with filler is just not the way to tell this story. Along with tons of text and character discussion with little to get excited about.
June 11, 2018
The description and cover shown here as of 6/11/18 are actually for Volume 2. Description of this volume can be seen here: https://www.previewsworld.com/Catalog...
June 18, 2018
Overall I liked the story.
But I didn't like that the concluding chapter basically being a voice over flashback...felt a bit rushed, not active in nature.
But I didn't like that the concluding chapter basically being a voice over flashback...felt a bit rushed, not active in nature.
October 16, 2018
Not great.
July 1, 2021
Good grief, I love Will Conrad as an artist.
The story itself is fine, an alternate gotta save the universe situation. But a nice wrap up overall.
The story itself is fine, an alternate gotta save the universe situation. But a nice wrap up overall.
May 31, 2020
I thought this was a lot of fun. I enjoyed the Beast Boy team-up in the digital word and thought the Africa arc had some good character development for Vic.
We discussed this whole run on a special episode of Comic Book Coffee Break: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWxE3...
We discussed this whole run on a special episode of Comic Book Coffee Break: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWxE3...
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews