"Oh Christ, another mech comic."
That was my reaction after taking in the cover and opening splash page of this debut issue. I've made no secret of the fact that I'm not as taken with the undeniable tide of Japanese comics storytelling and its influence on the Western industry. Retro Rocket is another example of the latter, and my expectation was that it also would not prove to be my cup of tea. Well, writer Tony Bedard proved that expectation wrong. This is a fun action story, but more importantly, he;'s crafted an impossible title character that taps into the universal experience of feeling left out and obsolete. It's interesting that the most human character in this book is the least human.
Technology has grown by leaps and bounds over the years, and today, the military's elite strike forces are made up of armymechs, giant suits of armor piloted by the best soldiers. There was a time when the military relied on robots guided by just human brains as its first line of defence, but all that remains of that time is Retro Rocket, who accompanies the soliders of today on their missions as a tactical adviser. The antique of a time past still has something to contribute, though, and he proves himself once again on a critical mission. But that doesn't mean he gets to be one of the guys.
Orfalas's art boasts a clear manga influence but there are traditional comics influences to be found in his work as well. The action is engaging, and the computer color effects really add to the fun of the flashy visuals early on in the book. The opening sequence boasts a couple of moments in which the flow of the action isn't as clear as it could be, though. The design for the title character puts me in mind of Osamu Tezuka's Astro Boy, and I think that influence stems originally from the script. Orfalas's design for Sparky, Retro Rocket's new mechanic, is the stereotypical sexy tomboy, and it was a cliche I could have done without.
Bedard dresses up this book with the usual trappings inspired by Japanese pop culture. Giant robots/mechs, weird alien spaceships, robots... it all makes for a superficial apperance of Yet Another Manga Knockoff. Is this the most original new comic book I've seen? God, no. But there's an inherent sense of fun and action. Despite some fatalities among the peripheral characters, the script never gets too serious or melancholy. Bedard takes the light tone a bit too far with the superficial character of Sparky, but overall, I like the tone of the script.
What helps this comic stand out is the title character's personality and his social conflicts. Despite the fact that there's a human brain and spirit within the metal shell, everyone treats him like an object, monster or quirky curiosity. This is all about a man being perceived as less than a man due to circumstance -- due to a disability. Bedard even touches upon the fact that somewhere inside the steel frame lies a man with sexual desires, with a need for social contact and with emotional sensitivities. Others' perception of him not only dehumanizes him further, but it emasculates him. 7/10
