Future Comics has as its foundation three long-time comics pros who know the craft well. But it's not that experience that jumps off the page; instead, it's their enthusiasm. This story boasts a lot of energy and moves at a brisk, exciting pace. Unfortunately, it asks a lot of reader in terms of keeping track of characters. The creators seem to have so much they want to convey that they overload the audience.
Something has gone horribly wrong at Flint Technologies. A team was working on a new interface that would allow a person to download his mind into a machine and control it from within, but when only the aggressive side of company founder Mac Flint's brain makes the digital leap, the cutting-edge robot that was a part of the experiment causes quite a stir. The entire research and security staff leaps into action, but it may not be enough to put an end to the robotic rampage.
The art on this book is, not surprisingly, impressive. Giordano's and Layton's styles work quite well together. They manage to convey the chaos of the rampage and the frantic efforts of Flint security to get control of the situation. I'm not wild about the design for the security uniform, though, especially since it will also be the costume design for the title character, as the cover suggests. I think the greatest visual strength of the book is the colors. They're wonderfully vibrant when called for, and toned down at others.
Michelinie and Layton are known for their work on Marvel's Iron Man, and this books lends itself to comparison. Think of Flint Technologies as Stark International, but instead of a super-hero, genius president and CEO as the star of the story, people from throughout the company serve as vital players. In other words, this is more than a one-man show, but it's not exactly a team book either. I like that, and I hope that element doesn't fade when the character depicted on the cover finally comes into play. Hey, I think it would be interesting if the character on the cover turn out to be more than just one character.
In the end, though, this issue is a bit of a chore to read because the creators bombard the reader with new characters. While the script is accessible and identifies all the players clearly, it's impossible to keep track of who everyone is and what role they have to play. This is an extremely busy first issue. It's clear the creators want to get the story moving quickly, but it's a shame some of these characters weren't introduced gradually. The evil corporate villain at the end of the book strikes me as rather one-dimensional and cliched as well. Given the setting, I'd rather see antagonists that resemble real-life figures and entities like Kenneth Lay and Arthur Andersen LLC.
Note: This comic book is not available through regular distribution channels. If a local comic shop doesn't carry it, it can be ordered directly from the publisher at www.futureocmicsonline.com.
