This seafaring robot finds more excitement, but how much does he share with the reader?
Robot13: Colossus! #2
Publisher: Blacklist Studios
Writer: Thomas Hall
Artist: Daniel Bradford
Summary: In 1939, something was pulled up from the ocean depths off the coast of Spain; what it was and where it originated from were a mystery to the fishermen who found it, but all the surviving members of that crew agree on one thing~ whatever it was, it saved their lives. Robot 13 tells the odyssey of the hero who awoke from the ocean floor that day as it looks for answers to who he really is …
Review: The premiere of a new series with a twist of Mike Mignola-esque art caught my affection like a determined sea creature to a ship on the high seas, and naturally, I eagerly awaited the release of the subsequent issue. Would the lost and chivalrous robot find his way back to the equally mysterious “Doctor” who fashioned him, or would he be swept up in a fresh adventure after being buried at the bottom of the ocean for so long? The anticipated Robot13 #2 uncovers the sunken secrets … sort of, anyway.
The second part of the story begins with a mythological tale of a fabled, monster-slaying hero whose likeness to the skeleton robot Thirteen (XIII) proves uncanny. Jump forward in time and Rodney, a member of the captain’s crew, approaches the robot and inquires about the unexplained appearance of the sea monster Thirteen previously conquered, saving them—suggesting that perhaps there’s a startling link between Thirteen’s awakening and the newly restless waters. It’s not long before a phoenix interrupts their conversation, hurtling the robot champion into the sky and down against a snow-capped mountain in a burning cascade. Somewhere else, a scene unfolds that reveals more about Thirteen and the upcoming dangers that await him.
But what really happens? The issue doesn’t cover much more ground than the previous one; while the enigma surrounding Thirteen in the title’s debut intrigued me, the continued lack of answers and story progression disappointed me this time around. The same basic plot occurs—the robot fights a monster, which is good and well, but I was expecting a more involved comic. I’m also wondering why everything, down to the talk about fish, is terribly depressing.
Regardless of its flaws, the book does have interesting things going for it. Robot13 holds enough creative attraction to sustain itself. The premise and art style, both strongly alluring, invite a rich world to unfold within its pages. The new issue does set up trouble for Thirteen, but unless the overall intensity of the comic heats up and lays down higher stakes, Robot13 just might not rise from the ashes.
Robot13 #2, which comes out October 16th, is available for pre-order at the Blacklist Studios website.
