The Silver Metal Lover

by Trina Robbins (Adapter), Tanith Lee

Jane has it all. Clothes, money, and a beautiful home high above the city. But her safe little world is shattered the minute she meets Silver. Brilliant, witty, a gifted musician, kind, understanding, and gorgeous, Silver is the perfect man--except that he is a robot.

Adapted and illustrated by Trina Robbins in cooperation with Tanith Lee.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Fiction

57 pages, Paperback

Published October 1, 1985

About the author

Trina Robbins is an American comics artist and writer. She was an early and influential participant in the underground comix movement, and one of the few female artists in underground comix when she started. Her first comics were printed in the East Village Other. She later joined the staff of a feminist underground newspaper It Ain't Me, Babe, with whom she produced the first all-woman comic book titled It Ain't Me Babe. She became increasingly involved in creating outlets for and promoting female comics artists, through projects such as the comics anthology Wimmen's Comix. She was also the penciller on Wonder Woman for a time in the '80s.

Trina has worked on an adaptation of Sax Rohmer's Dope for Eclipse Comics and GoGirl with artist Anne Timmons for Image Comics.

Trina designed Vampirella's costume for Forrest Ackerman and Jim Warren.

In addition to her comics work, Robbins is an author of non-fiction books, including several with an emphasis on the history of women in cartooning.

She is the first of the three "Ladies of the Canyon" in Joni Mitchell's classic song from the album of the same name.

Trina Robbins won a Special Achievement Award from the San Diego Comic Con in 1989 for her work on Strip AIDS U.S.A., a benefit book that she co-edited with Bill Sienkiewicz and Robert Triptow.

Reviews

[T.J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The original novel is one of my all-time favorite books since reading it as a teenager. I've read it countless times. But I never read the graphic novel adaptation until It's Alive lovingly republished it this year. This is a beautiful companion to the novel and I am so happy it is back in print for fans of Tanith Lee and women in comics. Hallo, Jain. Hallo, Egyptia.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was intrigued by the idea of the graphic adaptation of this novel. The theme and scope are entirely different; the author worked with the adapter/illustrator to change the story so some main elements remain, but it is truly a different story. Still interesting, but not as good as the longer novel (which was wonderful!).

[StrictlySequential · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love when Trina gets really "girly" with her art- it's ADORABLE and sets the perfect atmosphere for a romance.

This is shelved as "erotica or related" because it's a passionate love story with feverish sex that makes sure to highlight the details to enhance the complexities of the robo-human union.

Another well examined theme is the girl's relationship with her keep-my-daughter-plain mother. That's always a good frostophobia to dissect and the advances in physio-alteration present in this future add to it's interesting complexities.

It's SO MUCH better than I thought it would be but my faith in Trina payed handsomely- I was worried about it being a campy young adult sing-a-long but it's really a girl taking an early ticket to hardcore adulthood in harsh environs which contains very well juxtaposed intricacies throughout!


Imagine if you were getting super intimate with someone who not only had no heat (vs. high 90s) but also stole yours!

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not entirely my speed, but certainly a beautifully done passion project. It features intros and commentary by Storm Constantine (deceased 2020) and Tanith Lee, as well as an afterword by Colleen Doran and an intro by Gail Simone, so if you have any interest in women in comics and/or feminist comics, this is a must have.

[Kai Charles(Fiction State Of Mind) · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the first graphic novels I ever read! I was so happy to meet Trina for the first time at a convention recently and tell her how much it meant to me then and now. Gorgeous art and a fantastic story.

[Leila Anani · Rating 4 out of 5]

This re-print of the Trina Robbins' 1985 graphic novel adaptation of Tanith Lee's novel is everything you could ask for.

The story is a simple coming of age tale about 16 year old plain Jane who falls in love with Silver, a robot troubador and runs off with him escaping her mother's shadow. Trina's bold simple art sets it off beautifully and its so refreshing to have a SF romance by women, for women - this really does not fit into any graphic novel niche. Love the character on this - Jane is very real and flawed having all the doubts and insecurities a normal 16 year old would.

This new hardback edition is gorgeous. Not only a wonderful, glossy re-print of the long out of print story but lots of bonus content too. Highlight for me was Trina's earlier attempt at adapting Lee (Exercise in Gold being the dream sequence from Don't Bite the Sun) - This featured in Heavy Metal 2 #9 (1979) and I thought I was going to have to go through my Heavy Metal back issues to find it, when lo, it's in the bonus material. There are bios of Lee, Robbins as well as Gail Simone, Storm Constantine and Collen Doran (who also did the wonderful cover art for this edition), and essays from Lee and Constantine plus background on the graphic itself.

Fans of Tanith Lee and the history of women in comics are going to want to check this out. I was rather impressed.

[Fangirl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the original novel by Tanith Lee, so I had to pick up this graphic novel version. It is nice to look at, but it could never replace the book.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

i readthis when it first came out and was afraid to see if it still held up, it does. 25 years ago i would have rated it five stars, still give it four. my favorite of trina robbins' books.

[Tammy Dominguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book as a teenager, then found it again as an adult. I loved it just as much now. It's a beautifully tragic love story.