By Patrick Wolf
Have you ever hung around a couple of your hipster friends and complained about the current state of alien-invasion movies? Have you ever grumbled about how the new ones suck and they’re nothing compared to the sci-fi greats of the 70’s and 80’s? Well gripe no more because one of the best sci-fi’s of the 80’s is back and it’s being spearheaded by none other than Brian Wood himself. It’s Robotech and it’s just as cool, fresh, and spirited as the original.
Robotech takes place in the not-too-distant future when a mysterious space ship crash-lands on Earth. Using the ship’s advanced technology, humanity takes the next 10 years to rebuild the strange alien vessel. However, on the day of the ship’s first flight, Earth is suddenly attacked by a fleet of alien invaders bent on reclaiming the lost spacecraft. Does the crew at Robotech have what it takes to defend Earth before their only hope is snatched away before it can even take flight?
I remember being mesmerized by this series when I was a kid. And it wasn’t just the robots, wars, and aliens that kept me coming back every week: it was the intricate characters, storyline, and creativity that made me wish this series had more than 85 episodes. The original Robotech is, without a doubt, a masterwork.
So, how does the reboot measure up? I’m happy to say it’s just as good, if not better. Brian Wood is an excellent storyteller and does a fantastic job of being faithful to the original without shamelessly copying it. Whatever changes he makes are warranted and only serve to bolster the plot, and whatever he keeps needed to stay. In fact, if I had to choose between the original and the new version, I’d prefer the latter.
But the writings not the only thing that makes this series wonderful, the artwork’s beautiful as well. In particular, I really appreciated how Marco Turini moves away from the classic anime style to the more gritty western approach. This is not to say I don’t like the anime. On the contrary, I love it. But, what I like about Turini’s style is that it pushes away from the kiddy, cartoony aspects of the franchise and moves it to a darker place. I like this move because I’m interested in a more serious version of Robotech, and I’m eager to see where the creative team takes it.
Unfortunately, there’s not much more to say without spoiling the plot, which I don’t want to do—especially if there are new readers coming onto this series. So, all I’ll say for now is this book is for everyone. If you’re a fan of the original, you’ll love this; if you’ve never seen the anime and want to know what all the fuss is about, this is a great place to start; if you’re a kid, this series will blow your mind; if you’re a grown-up, ditto. I can’t wait for issue #2 and kudos to Titan comics for rebooting this classic: 5 out of 5 stars.
SCORE: 5/5
Robotech #1
Writer: Brian Wood
Artist: Marco Turini
Colorist: Marco Lesko
Letterer: John Workman
Publisher: Titan Comics