Atomic Robo 5 – The Deadly Art of Science Episode Three Review

Atomic Robo latest adventure continues – The Deadly Art of Science Episode Three

I’ve become a bit of a convert over the past few months to the world of Atomic Robo. I had some initial reservations when I heard the title ‘Atomic Robo,’  – was this tongue in cheek? –but they were soon overcome when I read the first two parts of The Deadly Art of Science.

Previous Atomic Robo sagas have time travelled around the centuries with Robo popping up at various point in his own timeline. This one is set in the 1930’s where the teenage Atomic Robo is cast as plucky but naive sidekick to masked crime fighter Jack Tarot.

My only (minor) criticisms of Episode Two was its lack of action with just a brief skirmish with an inter dimensional vampire being the only glimpse we got of what Atomic Robo can do. Well, Episode Three has even less, but what it lacks in battles, it more than makes up for in surprises and characterisation and it is all done with plenty of humour. No worries about being short-changed here.

The teenage Robo is particularly well written and his tantrums are wonderfully portrayed. The issue opens with some excellent comedy bickering between our hero and his father figure/inventor Mr Tesla and it goes all the way to Robo storming out in a huff. There’s a burgeoning romance with Tarot’s daughter Helen, and even the previously reluctant Jack Tarot himself comes round to the idea of having Robo join the team.

Add into this some revelations about Tarot’s past and his fighting methodology, and that Mr Tesla is experimenting with something potentially awesome. Oh, and there’s an intriguing coda at the end to ramp up the anticipation of Episode Four. And there’s some crystal skulduggery into the bargain.

So there you have it, a packed and thoroughly enjoyable issue that moves the story forward in every way and will leave you keenly anticipating Episode Four. Writer Brian Clevenger provides an issue of style, humour (look out for Mr Tesla telling Robo that he thinks he should meet Helen’s father) and charm.  The artwork of Scott Wegener compliments it all perfectly, clean, crisp and stylized. Its bright colours bring to mind the great comic strips of the time.

There are only two parts of The Deadly Art of Science to go. Bring them on asap.

8/10

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