Atomic Robo Volume 6: The Ghost Of Station X (2012) - Plot & Excerpts
I think I know why I like Atomic Robo so much: It's everything that I was promised by the Iron Man movies.Iron Man is boring. I'm sorry, but Iron Man is a dud. TONY STARK is sort of interesting, as much as a story about a handsome super-genius billionaire with all the confidence in the world can be interesting. But there's just not a lot of conflict when a character can buy, fly, or charm his way out of any problem faced by a human being. I really think this is part of why the Iron Man movies have never really found a great villain. That seems like a silly distinction, Tony Stark versus Iron Man, but let's look at Batman for a second. Part of what makes Batman so interesting is that, if you think about it, it's hard to say whether Bruce Wayne or Batman is the dominant portion of that character's life, and this balance is a big part of the story. Atomic Robo IS Atomic Robo. He has a life pretty similar to Tony Stark in that he heads up a science-y super lab with seemingly unlimited resources, and he embraces the Iron Man portions with a good dose of action too.So what's the difference?Well, in this volume we actually hit an emotional point. A couple, but a really big one near the end. A point where the reader sees into this character. I won't spoil it. Just read it. You can even start with this volume if you want.Iron Man just doesn't get there. They try, but it never works for me.It's the same problem I have with the movie Dodgeball. Everyone loves that movie, and it's got its moments, but then we find ourselves in the last 15 minutes, and after laughing at how ridiculous the whole thing was, all of a sudden we're supposed to take seriously the fact that this team really needs to win an adult dodgeball tournament. It's stupid, and it's reaching for an emotional breakthrough that is totally unearned. It makes me hate the whole movie. Who decided that every goddamn screwball comedy needs an emotional touchstone near the end? I'm fine with not learning a big life lesson at the end. It's cool. I don't know what the fear is when it comes to a movie that makes me laugh for two solid hours. God forbid!With Iron Man, I've always felt cheated. In the first movie, he gets in the suit, what, 5 times? And in between those times we have to watch him slow dance? Why the fuck would he be slow-dancing? How could that possibly matter when he could go home and do something that nobody has ever done, shoot around the world in a wearable jet? THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM FOR ME.I mean, show me a guy who would rather slow dance with Gwyneth Paltrow than fly around in a real Iron Man suit, I'll show you a guy who is thinking with his penis, albeit a penis disguised as a foppish gentleman wearing a monocle. BUT IT'S A PENIS NONETHELESS AND I AM NOT FOOLED! There are so many lazy parts to that story I don't want to go over them, so let's just focus on Atomic Robo.This is an excellent book. It's great if you like comics, if you like science, and if you like to laugh. It's got all the action and laughs of Iron Man. And it's got real, genuine heart that comes through without having to be elaborately set up by Captain America saying some bullshit about how someone's father would be so disappointed and OH GODDAMN IT I GET SO MAD AND-No, no. Focus on the positive.Atomic Robo = Good. Everyone should be reading this book. Tenser than a typical Robo storyline - I'm finding myself riveted to the page, breezing through story faster than I'm usually comfortable with. The fact that this isn't just Dr. Dinosaur goofy fun could've gone sideways in a hurry, but somehow Clevinger and Wegener were primed and ready to tell a mystery tale like this.I'm damn impressed by Wegener especially in this one. He conveys emotions in wordless panels that even the super-realist artists can't always pull off, and I find myself moved and even further invested in seeing our friends come through with smiles and satisfaction.The mystery that builds in this book is fascinating - and I can't tell if it's because of the sheer inventiveness of the convolutions, or the way they cut away from the story just when you think they're about to tell you a Big Secret.The humour and deadpan delivery takes a while to return to this book - the seriously amped tension keeps folks from lightening up for a while - but thankfully we're not deprived entirely of one of the most rewarding aspects of this series. It's reassuring to see that the creators didn't suddenly start taking themselves too seriously and drop the fun on the floor.I love the pop-art Atomic Robo in the background of one panel. LOVE. I really love how well thought-out the villain is, and I'm entranced by how deep the science side of the sci-fi goes. Bravo guys, bravo - this is a stellar story. (The FCBD issue is pretty hilarious to boot.)
What do You think about Atomic Robo Volume 6: The Ghost Of Station X (2012)?
Not his best, but still has some memorable moments.
—96271223
This is one of the BEST graphic novel series!
—Vanee
