As we near the end of the Robotica storyline (presumably), Abnett and Lanning have taken the story in an unusual new direction, and I find myself intrigued. While the focus this issue is on the one-on-one confrontation between Braniac 5 and Computo, it's a mirror for the larger struggle of the United Planets/Khund forces vs. the Robotica forces, and the balance between epic and personal is pretty impressive. Many of the Legionnaires fade into the background, but there's still a sense that they're there, waiting for their chance, and plenty of them do get spotlight moments. In addition, though Olivier Coipel is missing in action, there's a solid replacement in the form of Kev Walker, whose work reminds me of Coipel, as well as some of the work of Mike Mignola.
We've been conditioned by science-fiction stories to think of machines as the enemy. They're logical and powerful, and when they get free will they almost always turn on their creators. The Matrix and Terminator are only two examples. Abnett and Lanning use this model and this assumption to lure the reader into one expectation, and then throw some surprise curveballs at the last minute. It becomes clear about halfway through this issue that a physical confrontation isn't going to win the day, that the Robotican forces are too powerful for that, which begs the question: How will the Legion triumph? Though I have some inklings, the specifics aren't at all clear to me, and I'm anxious to see the answers.
Leaving aside a fascinating central premise and some strong characterization of Computo and Braniac 5, there are some other fun moments in this issue. Timber Wolf's encounter with RJ Brande, and the resulting turning point there, is a nice quiet break from the high action central plot. And the encounter of an alien super-hero (even more alien than most of the Legion) with the Credo villain organization is both foreshadowing for a future foe and an interesting look at the mostly unexplored galaxy that served as home to Legion Lost. I must once again complain about the Terrorforms, which I didn't like when they were first introduced and I like even less each time I see them, but I can't deny that Kev Walker makes the transformations they're going through seem pretty terrifying.
Speaking of Kev Walker, he's a find. This is the first place I remember seeing his name, but I'm sure he's done other work before, because he's too good to be a rookie. His work has the same flair for technology as Olivier Coipel, best displayed in the panel of Warworld, Legion World and Khund battlewagons firing on Earth's defensive shield, but he displays a softer quality with faces that reminds me of the work of Captain Marvel's Chris Cross. Throw in inking and shadows that are reminiscent of the great Mike Mignola and you've got some impressive artwork. If Walker turns out to be the replacement for Coipel in light of his defection to Marvel, I certainly won't be unhappy about the news.
I was just about ready to give up on this book a few months ago, but the Robotica story has rekindled my enthusiasm and I find myself once again anxiously awaiting the answer to the cliffhanger in each issue. I also find myself once again asking myself in frustration "What is it gonna take for DC to reprint some of the foundation work that Abnett and Lanning did on this book in trade paperback form?"
