Atomic Robo returns in this seventh volume of his adventures around time. In this mini series, set just after the Second World War, we get a new cast of characters just for the story with jet packs, ion guns, explosions and more.

Packed within these five issues, Robo crashes (many times) and meets a crew of rocket pack flying women to battle a rouge troop of Japanese scientists who wish to strike against the USA.

What we get as readers is a fast paced, enjoyable read. The cast of new characters are introduced quickly, but we still get a chance to get attached to them and join them on this ride. As per usual with Robo adventures, there is a nice mix of science, intrigue and explosions as we are carried from page to page.

As for the enemy, we get a good look at them and their motivations for attack. I always think that a key element of a bad guy, must be his motivations – he must feel he is right, otherwise it feels forced. That is what we get here with the main enemy. The Japanese Science troops feel betrayed after the war and feel they must get there revenge. Even at the end you feel for them in some way.

In the final issue, we get a bittersweet ending – the day is won, but at what cost? It leaves some questions at the end for Robo, plus a nice sweetener at the final page.

In all, another excellent Atomic Robo series, which I will continue to read and hope for the crossover with Hellboy that could be so good.

Atomic Robo & the Flying She-Devils of the Pacific is available in print and in digital format from ComicsPlus and Comixology online, on iOS and Android systems.

I’ve always thought that, with Atomic Robo, Red 5 Comics have created a great universe of characters over many decades.
Thankfully, Red 5 decided to do something about that!
This initial volume of ‘Real Science Adventures’ brings us not only some excellent Atomic Robo stories, but some of the characters we only get a brief look at as they were only supporting cast.
Published originally monthly as an anthology, this collection is now available digitally on the Comixology app online, on iOS and Android – as well as in print.

We start with ‘Bloop’ – a short Atomic Robo story with Robo investigating a strange sound from under the sea. There is some excellent art here which does well with not a lot to work with. The story flows well an finishes us off with something unexpected, but a great reveal.

‘City of Skulls’ picks up a thread from a previous Atomic Robo story – a thread that, from the original story, we didn’t know was hanging! The story is a logical extension from the original and even gives us the same moral feel from the original!

‘Daedalus Project’ makes us think we have a third Atomic Robo story (by now means a bad thing), but leads us into something else with a look at something potentially for the future. CLONES!

In ‘Leaping Metal Dragon’ we do get our third Atomic Robo story, but this feels different. There are some fight scenes, but with the help of guest star Bruce Lee, we get a different look at Robo – his motivations and his feelings.

I’m sure there’s a cameo from Jason Statham in ‘Monster Hunters’ were a team are tasked to …er…hunt…monsters! There’s a nice twist in the end here (which I won’t spoil) which bodes well for a possible future story.

‘Most Perfect Science Division’ stars Robots, but not the Atomic Robo! It’s only a few pages here, and it feels like a teaser for something bigger It’s a nice buffer though.

In ‘Once Upon a Time in China’ we get a nice story with a sweet ending. It harkens back to Robo in World War II and also to the future. The art style is very nice and suits the story.

‘Philadelphia Experiment’ gives a look at the shadowy science of the government which finishes with a good plot point that I would like to see in the future.

We get a different style in ‘Tesla’s Electric Sky Schooner’. The characters and the art are different with a cartoon cell style art and a selection of characters that I would like to see more of.

Atomic Robo shows his age in ‘The Dark Age’ while wandering into a comic shop and trying understand the market and comics we see today.

We get the return of a favourite of mine in ‘The Revenge of Dr Dinosaur’ and all I’m going to say is that it is a most heinous revenge….

Taking us back to 1944 in ‘To Kill a Sparrow’ we get an excellent spy story. With a cast of characters that could probably hold its own in a mini series!

As an addition we get the stories from Free Comic Book Day with Atomic Robo and Dr Dinosaur. Along with this you get a selection of pulp style covers from the monthly series with some in the style of Dick Tracy ad The Shadow.

In all this is an excellent collection of stories, which is well worth getting if you are a fan of Robo and his cast. I don’t think you need to have read any of the others here as they are standalone as you can get!

Enjoy!

When she saw her love Calico Jack Rackham hung above the docks of Port Royal, she thought her freebooting days were at an end. Aye, but they’d just begun! Soon she’d find her pockets overflowing with treasure and a bargain struck in the tombs of Adam and Eve… a wicked accord to free Jack’s soul from damnation’s flames. Upon such a task she would do battle with all manner of vile monsters, wizards, witches and mythic beasts. Will Hughes’ classic good girl art shines throughout. Every page is full of colorful detail and imaginative creatures from realms beyond belief. As always Heidi Hughes employs authentic, yet familiar, pirate lingo to spin a yarn of high seas adventure where cutlasses clash and sea dogs swagger.

Have I mentioned that I really enjoy Atomic Robo?

Written: Brian Clevinger
Art: Scott Wegener
Colors: Ronda Pattison
Letters: Jeff Powell

 

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Story: “Atomic Robo and the Ghost of Station X”

Previously: Robo tried to save some astronauts in space. And then it went HORRIBLY WRONG. So, then Robo tried to get to the bottom of it only to find a big damn conspiracy with tanks and guns and stuff. This issue? He’s on the run and the fate of everyone in the world lay in the hands of a trucker and some HAM radio hobbyists. Seriously. Not buying ATOMIC ROBO comics is the biggest mistake of your life. Do something right for a change and pick up an issue. Start with this one if you have to. Your only regret will be lamenting what took you so long.

Satellites!, tanks!, Ham radio!

?

Really – Atomic Robo goes from strength to strength. With humour, science and action in this issue, you really need to catch up fast – everything is leading up to the big reveal – whatever that may be.

Because, personally, I have no idea what is going to happen next.

This is a GOOD THING – I now am patiently waiting for the next issue.

Well I say ‘patiently’

This is excellent story telling – each new mini from the AR team brings something new, it may be from the past, future or present. There are some excellent ideas, with some fun art and nice touches!

“I get RSS feeds in my head”

With a well rounded and fleshed out supporting cast Atomic Robo is not a one trick character or storyline. There are layers here!

Atomic Robo is Red 5′s marquee character and needs to be read by all!

For ACTION SCIENCE!

Red 5 continue to release some excellent mini series which are readable for all!

Written: Scott Chitwood
Art: Alfonso Ruiz
Colors: Garry Henderson
Letters: Troy Peteri
Cover: Matt Busch

 

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Story: “The Good, The Bad, and the Zombie”

When two down-on-their-luck cowboys capture the most wanted outlaw in the West, they get more than they bargained for when they discover a Comanche shaman has infected him with an ancient zombie virus. If the zombie doesn’t kill them, the Comanche, rival bounty hunters, and other outlaws will!

I never really got into cowboy comics, or zombie comics – so why did I enjoy this initial issue so much?

Maybe it’s the art, which is very good – there are some excellent scenes here, from the light hearted and ‘happier’ times, to the dark parts. Maybe it’s because, at this point, we don’t get a full look at the zombies? Which increase the suspense?

The mix between the old times and the ‘now’ is very good, with some excellent overall visuals too!

The writing is also very good – well paced with a nice mix of cowboy humour, darkness and action! There are some excellent points here.

I like the sense of history with the title – there could be something like this!

To me, this is a mix in a comic which seems wrong, but works in so many ways – if you are tired of the same old tropes in comics, then I would recommend you look towards Red 5 – with titles like this you will be entertained