Sean McKeever continues to impress with this character-driven title, one he's managed to keep accessible for new readers. Though the notion of a boy with a giant robot is plenty of fun, the strongest scenes in the issue -- and the series as a whole -- are those that deal with the everyday challenges and triumphs of teenage life. The artists from Udon bring youth and energy to Juston Seyfert's everyday life, and their interpretation of the Sentinel robot from which the title is derived is stunning.
As he repairs the mysterious robot he found out in the woods, Juston realizes that he's only going to be able to cobble together so many spare parts from his father's junkyard. So, he finds other ways to get his hands on -- and to create -- new parts. Meanwhile, he begins to do some research into the possible origins of the mechanical creature he's been hiding, but his friends confront him about being so distant as of late. Elsewhere, the bully that Juston managed to bring down a peg is intent on getting even, and he realizes that Juston's friends might be his weak point.
The rich detail that's be found in Udon's depiction of the Sentinel makes for an interesting contrast to the more cartoony way in which the human characters are presented. Udon does a great job of conveying the youth of the teen characters as well, and they make it easy for the reader to relate to Juston's feelings for Jessie. She's just so cute, one can't help but like the character. The colors are vibrant and exciting, and the texture found therein brings a realistic tone to the backgrounds and settings.
I love how McKeever tempers the scene in which Juston informs his metallic companion that it is never to harm another soul with a later sequence in which Juston is awe-struck by the sheer power at the robot's command. He wisely tries to avoid a scenario in which will be hurt, but like a typical teen, he can't resist the sight of something being blown to smithereens.
I was quite taken with the gut-wrenching impact of the closing scene. Bully characters have been a staple of super-hero comics for ages -- everyone remembers Flash Thompson, right? -- but McKeever really brings home the ugliness of it with this cliffhanger. It's so easy to see bullying as a normal part of high-school life, but McKeever portrays it for what it is: needless violence. I think I know where McKeever is headed with this plotline, and I can't wait to see how it finally plays out.
