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A review by crookedtreehouse
Atomic Robo: The Everything Explodes Collection by Scott Wegener, Brian Clevinger
3.0
"A robot designed and built by Nikola Tesla fights evil with science and punching" is the briefest description I use to sell this book. This IDW volume is a repackaging of the first three Atomic Robo trades, originally released by Red 5 Comics. I find the three volumes contained in this to be of highly variable quality, so I'll review them in the format I read them.
Atomic Robo Volume 1: Atomic Robo and the Fightin' Scientists of Tesladyne: A series of stories told in a constantly shifting, but easy to follow narrative, we see Atomic Robo and his fellow adventure scientists battle Nazis, a brain in a jar, a steampunk powered pyramid, scientifically impossible giant ants, and boredom. The creators are clearly finding their footing in this volume, but I enjoyed keeping track of the characters explaining how various sci-fi tropes defy the laws of physics whilst battling said tropes. The dialog is fun, and [a:Scott Wegener|1922044|Scott Wegener|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]'s art is a perfect match for Clevinger's goofy adventure story.
Atomic Robo Volume 2: Atomic Robo and the Dogs of War is more linear, and more World War II focused. It's also fun, but it shows some of Clevinger's faults more clearly than volume one. There isn't a lot of character development, or, really, any depth to any of the characters. When you're shifting from year to year, and adventure to adventure, you don't have time to focus on the lack of interesting characters. But there's still some great art and fun dialog.
Atomic Robo Volume 3: Atomic Robo and the Shadow From Beyond Time returns us to non-linear storytelling, but this time it's because HP Loecraft is a monster unbound by time. I found myself skipping through this story. It's a neat conceit but lacking consistent pacing, and the dialog isn't as strong. It drags the whole collection rom four starts to three.
I recommend this to people looking for what Clevinger and Wegner themselves call "Hellboy Lite", for fans of silly adventures with self-aware dialog and plotting, people who think robots are the bee's knees, and people who mutter "horsefeathers" when they get upset.
Atomic Robo Volume 1: Atomic Robo and the Fightin' Scientists of Tesladyne: A series of stories told in a constantly shifting, but easy to follow narrative, we see Atomic Robo and his fellow adventure scientists battle Nazis, a brain in a jar, a steampunk powered pyramid, scientifically impossible giant ants, and boredom. The creators are clearly finding their footing in this volume, but I enjoyed keeping track of the characters explaining how various sci-fi tropes defy the laws of physics whilst battling said tropes. The dialog is fun, and [a:Scott Wegener|1922044|Scott Wegener|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]'s art is a perfect match for Clevinger's goofy adventure story.
Atomic Robo Volume 2: Atomic Robo and the Dogs of War is more linear, and more World War II focused. It's also fun, but it shows some of Clevinger's faults more clearly than volume one. There isn't a lot of character development, or, really, any depth to any of the characters. When you're shifting from year to year, and adventure to adventure, you don't have time to focus on the lack of interesting characters. But there's still some great art and fun dialog.
Atomic Robo Volume 3: Atomic Robo and the Shadow From Beyond Time returns us to non-linear storytelling, but this time it's because HP Loecraft is a monster unbound by time. I found myself skipping through this story. It's a neat conceit but lacking consistent pacing, and the dialog isn't as strong. It drags the whole collection rom four starts to three.
I recommend this to people looking for what Clevinger and Wegner themselves call "Hellboy Lite", for fans of silly adventures with self-aware dialog and plotting, people who think robots are the bee's knees, and people who mutter "horsefeathers" when they get upset.