Atomic Robo vol. 12: Lo spettro del domani

Atomic Robo #12

by Brian Clevinger, Scott Wegener (Illustrator), Anthony Clark (Colorist)

Robo sta installando il nuovo Tesladyne Institute nei calanchi del deserto del Jornada del Muerto, nel New Mexico, con lo Spaceport di Sir Richard Branson da un lato e la Solar Farm di Elon Musk dall'altro. Con vicini come questi, chi ha bisogno di scoprire la trama insidiosa che minaccia la vita di tutti nel mondo?

Genres: Comics, Science Fiction, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Webcomic, Graphic Novels Comics, Adventure

144 pages, Paperback

First published June 19, 2018

About the author

Brian Clevinger is best known as the author of the most popular sprite webcomic, and one of the most popular webcomics overall, 8-Bit Theater. He is also the author of the self-published novel Nuklear Age. Clevinger has recently received attention for his Eisner-nominated print comic Atomic Robo.

Claiming that his "favorite comics are the ones where the jokes are on the reader," Clevinger is an expert in using anti-climax, interface alterations, and the occasional false ending to play with the reader's expectations. It is a testament to both his sense of humor and his writing skills that these "jokes on the reader" are usually beloved by his fanbase.

Reviews

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

I haven't come across an Atomic Robo at the library in a few years, but I'm happy to see that it is still has the same pleasing mix of fun, wackiness, science and adventure. Good stuff.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last few books left me feeling the stories were lacking and not memorable. I think this volume brought it back to what made me like Atomic Robo in the first place. A quick pace and robot action with links to the past.

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Atomic Robo is never not a good time. From the chunky art to the outlandish plots to characters who have some of the best banter in the business, I have yet to be truly disappointed. Spectre of Tomorrow is a standout example. It tracks two parallel plots: in one, humans are being unexpectedly transformed into robots; in the other, Tesladyne Industries is under siege from Richard Branson and the Home Owner's Association. Need I say more? Humor, heart, and excellent action abound. I especially liked the afterword from Brian Clevinger suggesting that Spectre of Tomorrow is the first of many future Atomic Robo volumes that will explore how some of our current technologies could lead to bad ends. Keywords: "many future Atomic Robot volumes." Yes, please!!

[Owen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll admit it.

When this story first came out, I had trouble getting into it. The real world was rough and distracting. I could not remember vast swaths to Robo lore. And the art was different than what I was used to.

But I've been working my way through Robo from the beginning lately, so my grasp on his past is as firm as never before.

The real world is still difficult, but things have been improving.

And I got used to the art.

Robo is back. Tesladyne is back. And a surprise villain is back...?! Oooh!

It fascinated me that the majority of our action science crew are stuck fighting a mundane problem like a HOA while Robo is clandestinely combating an unexpected evil. And while it was not intended as such (since our current pandemic was not even on the radar of most people back then) the parallels of the outbreak with our current situation has surprising relevance.

[John M · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best Robot Comics Book you've never read.

However you come to Atomic Robo, if your a comics fan, you know you've found something extra ordinary. Did you like reading H.G.Wells and Jules Verne and Edgar Rice Burroughs and Issac Asimov and Harlan Ellison in your teens? Yeah, now Atomic Robot has all that DNA plus funny pictures.
Treat yourself to an entertainment that started in 2007 and has only gotten better with each new story.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tesladyne is dead, long live Tesladyne! As the era of Tesladyne Industries gives way to the Tesladyne Institute, Robo's adventures continue.

It is interesting that just five years ago, when given the choice between portraying Richard Branson or Elon Musk as the bad guy, the creators of Atomic Robo chose Branson. I guess it goes to show just how easy it is to destroy your own reputation when you are bound and determined to do it...

[Colin Parfitt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Atomic Robo - but there’s nothing here that hasn’t been done before in an early volume (except Lang and Abasi arguing with Richard Branson to get a toilet plumbed in)

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun bridging story arc from the very serious fall of Tesladyne to what comes next in the Weird Future. Much needed.

[Kyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the kind of story I come to Atomic Robo for. A fun, action A-plot and a silly but menacing B-plot.

[***Dave Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Robo fun, complete with a cyborg menace to deal with. Enjoyable, but not great, and Wegener's art feels particularly sketchy this outing.

[Nate]

Never did I imagine that finding loopholes in Home Owner’s Association noise complaint regulations would be so entertaining.

[Federico Kereki · Rating 2 out of 5]

Art went down a level -- it seems that Scott Wegener had to be helped, and it's quite noticeable.

[Viewtiful_Dante · Rating 5 out of 5]

Con la conclusión de este tomo, esta serie se convierte por derecho propio en una de mis favoritas. Poco más puedo decir a estas alturas, salvo: léelo. Leelos todos.

[Stephen Theaker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm very fond of Atomic Robo, one of the first comics I read on Comixology. In this one, people start exploding into robot pieces and Richard Branson asks Robo's team to turn down the noise. As with previous volumes, the artwork is not always easy to read, but I still enjoyed it.

[Adam Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book starts a bit slow as Robo's team tries to deal with getting their headquarters situated and also dealing with a noise complaint that threatens to shut everything down while Robo disengages. We learn that Robo has good reason for being aloof as his experiments have uncovered yet another threat that he has to deal with. There's a nice slow build up, but a really fun pay off. It's even funny that the book keeps going back to the part of the team working on the noise complaint even while the feat of Earth hangs in the balance.