Atomic Robo

• Title: Atomic Robo Vol. 5 #3 (of 5)
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Brian Clevinger
• Artist: Scott Wegener

“The Deadly Art of Science” continues as Atomic Robo learns from vigilante Jack Tarot (somewhat successfully), fights a giant robot (less successfully), and learns a few things from Jack’s daughter Helen (smoochie-smoochie!).

Although Tarot has little respect for out hero’s ability in the field (he’d rather work with a gorilla), Tarot is impressed with his scientific knowledge and astounded when Robo helps make a break in the case. What else can the vigilante do but reluctantly agree to train the troublesome robot?

A very enjoyable issue all around punctuated with Tarot’s increasingly short-temper towards all of Atomic Robo’s “help.” And aside from giving or hero his first kiss, Helen also teaches him a lesson about family which gives us a nice closing sequence between Robo and his creator Nikola Tesla that brings the pair’s confrontation earlier in the issue full circle. Worth a look.

[Red 5, $3.50]

• Title: Atomic Robo Vol. 5 #1 (of 5)
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Brian Clevinger
• Artist: Scott Wegener

Atomic Robo is back! The first issue of Volume 5 finds a very bored Robo stuck helping Nikola Tesla with his latest experiment only to jilted out of his malaise by a car chase and gunfight involving gangsters and a six-shootin’ vigilante.

It may be going too far to say Robo befriends Jack Tarot, Gunfighter, and his daughter Helen (after all the guy does shoot our robotic pal right in the face), but he does leave an impression (mostly by asking a series of only slightly less annoying questions than Nick Frost asked of Simon Pegg in Hot Fuzz). As to the mysterious scientist and the secrets of the mysterious skull, we’ll have to wait until the next issue to lean more.

Fans of Brian Clevinger and Scott Wegener’s off-beat character should feel right at home. Worth a look.

[Red 5, $3.50]

• Title: Atomic Robo Vol. 4 #3 (of 4)
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Brian Clevinger
• Artist: Scott Wegener

Volume 4 of Atomic Robo has been less than consistent so far. Issue #1 gave us a kick-ass tale of invading vampires from the fourth dimension, but Issue #2 was little more than a good cure of insomnia.

In fact, the second issue of Volume 4 was so bad I almost didn’t bother to even pick this one up. And, oh my, am I glad I did! Issue #3 picks up the pieces and gives us another humorous and energetic tale of the hatred between Atomic Robo and Dr. Dinosaur (the conclusion to the Free Comic Book tale some might remember from 2009).

The villain’s plan (involving crystals, Robo’s head in a box, and Betamax) is revealed along with how Doctor Dinosaur got his name. Insanely funny, this one’s definitely worth a look.

[Red 5 $3.50]