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DC: Mech
The dawn of a brave new mechanized DCU is here from the rising star creative team of Kenny Porter (The The Fastest Man Alive, Fearless) and Baldemar Rivas (Robins, Urban Legends).
At the end of World War II, Earth was invaded by giant mechanized parademons from a planet called Apokolips. Earth’s protectors, the Justice Society of America, were devastated, and with them, the age of superheroes came to an end and the era of the Mech began. In the ensuing years, the world has stockpiled colossal battle suits piloted by elite warriors, waiting for the day Apokolips returns. But when Kal-El, the last son of a dying world, crash-lands in Metropolis with his own war suit, he’ll face down two of Earth’s finest Mech fighters, the Flash and Batman.
Collects Mech #1-6!
At the end of World War II, Earth was invaded by giant mechanized parademons from a planet called Apokolips. Earth’s protectors, the Justice Society of America, were devastated, and with them, the age of superheroes came to an end and the era of the Mech began. In the ensuing years, the world has stockpiled colossal battle suits piloted by elite warriors, waiting for the day Apokolips returns. But when Kal-El, the last son of a dying world, crash-lands in Metropolis with his own war suit, he’ll face down two of Earth’s finest Mech fighters, the Flash and Batman.
Collects Mech #1-6!
160 pages, Hardcover
Published July 11, 2023
12 people are currently reading
18 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 30, 2023
What would the DC universe look like if, after WWII, it pivoted to Eastern Mecha stories instead of Western Pulp Sci-Fi? DC Mech takes that idea and turns it into a whole new Elseworlds story that looks slick and cool in all the right ways. What really captivated me though was that, even in the first chapter, the author had clearly put a lot of thought into the setting and how that impacted its characters. This book is loaded with great bits of history and worldbuilding from the JSA in WWII to modern day with an adult Superman meeting the Kent’s for the first time.
Porter clearly had big plans for this series, which makes it all the more heartbreaking to see things so rushed.
This book has several good scenes and character moments, but because we have to get to a big bombastic fight at the end (without compromising on content), we have to rush through the emotional moments and rob them of all emotion and gravitas. There’s three significant character deaths, two of which are barely given enough time for the characters to experience the weight of what’s happened, and another whose death was so close to their introduction that they feel entirely unnecessary to the plot.
But this isn’t exactly a problem that’s new to DC’s Elseworld stories is it? I think that’s why I still walked away enjoying this book. Weird pacing comes with the territory. However, unlike a lot of DC’s Elseworld stories, this is one I actively do want to see continue in another volume, if only to see things built and expanded upon even further. If I was to describe DC Mech, I’d say it’s a victim of its own ambition. It tried to do too much at once and buckled under the weight…but it’s because of that weight that I want to see this series try again and succeed, because if it does, Mech has the potential to become the best alternate universe DC’s made in years.
Porter clearly had big plans for this series, which makes it all the more heartbreaking to see things so rushed.
This book has several good scenes and character moments, but because we have to get to a big bombastic fight at the end (without compromising on content), we have to rush through the emotional moments and rob them of all emotion and gravitas. There’s three significant character deaths, two of which are barely given enough time for the characters to experience the weight of what’s happened, and another whose death was so close to their introduction that they feel entirely unnecessary to the plot.
But this isn’t exactly a problem that’s new to DC’s Elseworld stories is it? I think that’s why I still walked away enjoying this book. Weird pacing comes with the territory. However, unlike a lot of DC’s Elseworld stories, this is one I actively do want to see continue in another volume, if only to see things built and expanded upon even further. If I was to describe DC Mech, I’d say it’s a victim of its own ambition. It tried to do too much at once and buckled under the weight…but it’s because of that weight that I want to see this series try again and succeed, because if it does, Mech has the potential to become the best alternate universe DC’s made in years.
February 21, 2023
What if the JSA got their asses handed to them in the 40s by Darkseid and his parademons?
You get a world where crime and crimefighting is all Jaeger/drive suit/mech based...
Weird concept. Even weirder storyline. Bruce's parents were killed during an actual War of the Worlds invasion by Martians. Brother Eye came online and Barry Allen sacrificed himself to save his city. If you think this sounds a bit like Pacific Rim and all those kaiju battles, you're right.
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Feels like this is about 10 years off from being considered a great idea. That movie is about a decade old. It's not a bad story, all things considered. Room is definitely left for them to revisit it if sales are good.
Bonus: Of course Nth metal saves the day. Upgrades for everyone!
Bonus Bonus: It's weird to see supervillains in mechs as well. Captain Cold in a Jaeger?
You get a world where crime and crimefighting is all Jaeger/drive suit/mech based...
Weird concept. Even weirder storyline. Bruce's parents were killed during an actual War of the Worlds invasion by Martians. Brother Eye came online and Barry Allen sacrificed himself to save his city. If you think this sounds a bit like Pacific Rim and all those kaiju battles, you're right.
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Feels like this is about 10 years off from being considered a great idea. That movie is about a decade old. It's not a bad story, all things considered. Room is definitely left for them to revisit it if sales are good.
Bonus: Of course Nth metal saves the day. Upgrades for everyone!
Bonus Bonus: It's weird to see supervillains in mechs as well. Captain Cold in a Jaeger?
November 28, 2025
I thought this was a fun else world story. I actually met the Kenny Porter at a recent Con, and each of the mechs were inspired by a different mech anime. I thought it was cool to see each mech had its own “personality”.
Spoilers ahead:
It was cool that the JSA was original team that found the invasion first, and Hawkgirl was the soul survivor from that team and leading the new team. Luthor is a scoundrel and a jerk. Darkseid is menacing as ever and some decent villain monologues. I love mech anime’s and movies so I would love to see an animated version of this. The pacing for a 6 part story was good, it didn’t drag on unnecessarily. Even though the end of the story hinted at future threats such the legion of doom and brainiac, I don’t think this story needs a sequel, but I wouldn’t be upset if it happened.
Spoilers ahead:
It was cool that the JSA was original team that found the invasion first, and Hawkgirl was the soul survivor from that team and leading the new team. Luthor is a scoundrel and a jerk. Darkseid is menacing as ever and some decent villain monologues. I love mech anime’s and movies so I would love to see an animated version of this. The pacing for a 6 part story was good, it didn’t drag on unnecessarily. Even though the end of the story hinted at future threats such the legion of doom and brainiac, I don’t think this story needs a sequel, but I wouldn’t be upset if it happened.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 6, 2024
3.5 Stars:
A thoroughly entertaining story. There isn't anything particularly deep. The characterization is almost nonexistent, and the plot isn't anything that hasn't been done in any number of cosmic DC stories in the past. However, for someone like me who grew up with Gundam and Power rangers and continues to love Giant Robots, this was a treat of a series to power through. The design work was interesting, if a bit strange at times (The SuperMech has hair for some reason?), but overall, this was a good turn-your-brain-off read with some fun twists and turns. I also appreciated that this was an Elseworlds story; it helped the suspension of disbelief and the overall worldbuilding.
A thoroughly entertaining story. There isn't anything particularly deep. The characterization is almost nonexistent, and the plot isn't anything that hasn't been done in any number of cosmic DC stories in the past. However, for someone like me who grew up with Gundam and Power rangers and continues to love Giant Robots, this was a treat of a series to power through. The design work was interesting, if a bit strange at times (The SuperMech has hair for some reason?), but overall, this was a good turn-your-brain-off read with some fun twists and turns. I also appreciated that this was an Elseworlds story; it helped the suspension of disbelief and the overall worldbuilding.
February 13, 2024
I really wanted to enjoy this, but sadly it just made most of the Justice League into punchy power armor robots rather than doing anything interesting with the premise. Felt very wordy but felt more like exposition that didn't really draw me in - it unfortunately does a superman origin story which I felt ate up too much time since it somehow seemed obvious given the character roster that this was going to end up being a Justice League book.
February 17, 2023
honestly i don't care much about the story, it was entertaining enough but that's about it. the art, however, is a complete different thing. i wasn't into it at the beginning but as i kept reading i found myself enjoying it more and more. and i'm lowkey obsessed with kal's design, so kudos to the artists.
August 17, 2023
This book was pure fun and excitement. It combines DC super heroes and japanese mecha to make a truly good story. It didn't change my life and a lot of it was very campy, but what are you doing here when that's DC in a nutshell. I'm glad I read it and equally glad it rests on my shelf. If you're looking for a simple action-packed story with giant robots and cosmic battles, look no further.
December 27, 2024
I'm a fan of stories with parallel words, so DC Elseworlds has always been up my alley. I'm also a fan of Power Rangers, Super Sentai, Pacific Rim, etc., so seeing some of the greatest JL superheroes do battle in giant robots seemed cool. Too bad it wasn't. My biggest gripe is the characters. The way they were written seemed off and took away from the story.
February 4, 2023
An Elseworlds series where a giant parademon killed off half of the JSA after WWII and all of the Justice League decided to pilot giant mechs instead while waiting for Darkseid to come to Earth. This had a kiddish feel to it in both story and art. Neither one was very good.
November 18, 2024
It starts off super strong, but then the pacing starts to feel a bit rushed. And as the action switches to space, the scale of the mechs matters less and the action feels a tad busy. Love the designs of the mechs though.
August 21, 2023
A complete mess of a series.
October 5, 2023
Really unique and well crafted alternate DC universe with mechs powered by our favorite heroes with a suggesting that there is more mech story to come.
July 18, 2024
Pretty successful reimagining of the DC Universe. I liked the subtle changes to character origins and thought the look (and the length) was just right.
October 17, 2024
Okay silly and a bit of a continuity mess
November 28, 2024
Elseworlds where the DC universe had to make giant mechs. Sure, why not?!
May 14, 2024
This type of book should be dumb fun, but it’s just dumb.
The idea that DC characters are pilots of giant mechs instead of superheroes seems like a fun idea, but this book just sticks superheroes inside mechs, which doesn’t make sense even for silly comic book logic. Why would Wonder Woman or Green Lantern need a giant mech? They’d be more effective just fighting monsters as themselves.
Also, the way Porter has written these characters makes me wonder if he’s ever read an American comic. Here, Batman is just an asshole and Superman is a dumbass, neither having any redeeming qualities.
What’s most baffling is that the DC universe has a built-in backstory that’s perfect for adapting to this Macross/Pacific Rim idea: the super families. For decades DC published titles like Batman: 80 Years of the Bat Family and The Superman Family and Shazam! and the Shazam Family!. There are multiple Flashes, an island of Amazons, and a whole corps of Green Lanterns.
Here’s how I’d rewrite it: make different classes of mechs and stick the non-super characters in the appropriate ones.
So you have a whole bunch of Tank mechs. So your pilots are Clark Kent, Jon Kent, John Henry Irons, Kara Danvers, Karen Starr, etc.
And there’s a class of Stealth mechs. Piloted by Bruce Wayne, Dick Grayson, Jadon Todd, Barbara Gordon, and so on.
A class of mechs that use energy shields and lasers. Pilots: Hal Jordan, John Stewart, Guy Gardner, etc.
Mechs which use giant swords and shields. Diana Prince and her fellow Amazons.
Mechs that specialize in speed and operate as scouts: Barry Allen, Wally West, Jay Garrick, Jessie Quick, Bart Allen, and so forth.
Even water-based mechs. You get the picture. These pilots would all be regular people. Throw in a bunch of characters who go on a suicide mission (Suicide Squad), and flying mechs (Blackhawks/Hawkman), and something with Black Lightning and his kids. You start mixing and matching and killing characters off (because it’s an Elseworlds title) and you can really have some fun with it.
Anyway, I’m going to read the Marvel version now, to see if it’s any better.
Edit: the Marvel version was way better: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The idea that DC characters are pilots of giant mechs instead of superheroes seems like a fun idea, but this book just sticks superheroes inside mechs, which doesn’t make sense even for silly comic book logic. Why would Wonder Woman or Green Lantern need a giant mech? They’d be more effective just fighting monsters as themselves.
Also, the way Porter has written these characters makes me wonder if he’s ever read an American comic. Here, Batman is just an asshole and Superman is a dumbass, neither having any redeeming qualities.
What’s most baffling is that the DC universe has a built-in backstory that’s perfect for adapting to this Macross/Pacific Rim idea: the super families. For decades DC published titles like Batman: 80 Years of the Bat Family and The Superman Family and Shazam! and the Shazam Family!. There are multiple Flashes, an island of Amazons, and a whole corps of Green Lanterns.
Here’s how I’d rewrite it: make different classes of mechs and stick the non-super characters in the appropriate ones.
So you have a whole bunch of Tank mechs. So your pilots are Clark Kent, Jon Kent, John Henry Irons, Kara Danvers, Karen Starr, etc.
And there’s a class of Stealth mechs. Piloted by Bruce Wayne, Dick Grayson, Jadon Todd, Barbara Gordon, and so on.
A class of mechs that use energy shields and lasers. Pilots: Hal Jordan, John Stewart, Guy Gardner, etc.
Mechs which use giant swords and shields. Diana Prince and her fellow Amazons.
Mechs that specialize in speed and operate as scouts: Barry Allen, Wally West, Jay Garrick, Jessie Quick, Bart Allen, and so forth.
Even water-based mechs. You get the picture. These pilots would all be regular people. Throw in a bunch of characters who go on a suicide mission (Suicide Squad), and flying mechs (Blackhawks/Hawkman), and something with Black Lightning and his kids. You start mixing and matching and killing characters off (because it’s an Elseworlds title) and you can really have some fun with it.
Anyway, I’m going to read the Marvel version now, to see if it’s any better.
Edit: the Marvel version was way better: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews