CYBORG #1
Written by John Semper Jr.
Art by Paul Pelletier, Tony Kordos, and Scott Hanna
Published by DC Comics
Release Date: September 21, 2016
After the revelations from the events surrounding Malware, Victor begins with contemplations of humanity and the soul in his new Rebirth Series!
Semper Jr. made Victor an extremely likeable protagonist and made me understand why Cyborg is a good friend of mine’s favorite ex-Titan. His deep thoughts into what makes a person human and if he can even be acknowledged as one are impressive. I have a few questions about some of what is written. Why can’t Cyborg do as his dad said sassily and actually bring a friend like Superman in to fix the door he broke? How does someone not understand the difference between recorded music and live music, let alone recorded Jazz and LIVE JAZZ? How does someone in their twenties not know by now that the very essence of Jazz is spontaneity? However, even with these questions, I still love the writing in this comic. The characters are charming and I especially love the ice cream shop scene, it was adorable.
Pelletier, Kordos, and Hanna have done a gorgeous job on this issue. All the art throughout the issue is just great. The action scene in the beginning of the issue is fantastically done. All the backgrounds as Victor and Sarah walk through the streets of Detroit are well detailed. The particular levels of body horror in a certain character that appears in the first pages of the issue is my favorite thing by the three of them, really, it’s so reminiscent of Victor himself while playing into uncanny valley levels of creepiness. Their work, plus the efforts of colorist Guy Major, make it all the more better.
I really have to give a shout out to the letterer as well. Rob Leigh did a spectacular job in making the lettering not just words that you read. I love the usage of coloring for Cyborg’s thought bubbles. I love the choice he made for Cyborg’s introduction line. I like all of his choices really. Leigh deserves a pat on the back for being creative with his lettering.
Overall, Imitation of Life Part One: Awakening! is a good read. Some things are a bit on the nose at times, but the writing is well done. There are a lot of questions that come with Victor’s existence and it’s interesting to see Cyborg spiral into an existential crisis. I’d say the lettering is honestly worth it, since it’s the most imagination I’ve seen in lettering in a while. It’s definitely a series that’s started off on the right foot, and I’m excited to see where it goes.
The Verdict: 8.5/10
