CYBORG #3
Written by David F. Walker
Art by Ivan Reis, Eduardo Pansica, Scott Hanna, Albert Oclair, and Adriano Lucas
Published by DC Comics
Release Date: October 7, 2015
Holy alien bio-organic madness, Cyborg!
Vic and his friends are caught in the middle of an assault from an extremely Borg-like alien race. As S.T.A.R. Labs and its crew defend themselves, Vic makes his way to them with the help of the Metal Men. We find out that the Justice League is busy defending other parts of the world, leaving Vic and crew with few resources. Some unexpected guests arrive on the scene and Vic isn’t pleased, though they seem to hold answers to startling questions.
David F. Walker writes an action-packed issue from start to finish. From the very first page, we’re thrown into the chaos of Vic trying to protect himself and his friends as the S.T.A.R. Labs crew scramble to defend themselves and find a solution to their immediate problem. This issue is witty and youthful, something that has defined Vic since his early days in the New Teen Titans. Walker creates a real and engaging Vic who is multi-dimensional, which is something Vic has deserved in his own title for so many years.
I cannot get over how dynamic the art is in this issue. Ivan Reis and crew create panels, forms, and colors straight out of a science fiction film. One of my favorite touches was the images of guns firing, the shots cascading as they arc toward the aliens. These images were a small part of the issue, but they exemplified some of the unique magic within the art in this issue.
The Metal Men were an excellent touch to Cyborg #3. I love seeing them in action, and their presence reminded me, yet again, that I need to do some longbox diving to find out more about them. They are such excellent characters which amazing personalities and unique abilities. You’d think I’d have collections about them with how excited I am when they show up.
The Metal Men also fit with Vic’s overarching story and narrative, making them essential allies for him. As living metal, the Metal Men as juxtaposed with Vic reflect a sort of opposite of his journey. They have human personalities while being made from inanimate material while Vic had to transition from human to part robot, and I think this distinction creates an interesting parallel for both sets of characters.
The presence of racial diversity in science and science fiction is vastly important and so wonderfully expressed in Cyborg #3. Since the days of Static and Mister Terrific, we haven’t had much representation of race when it comes to science. When you compare this to the real-life lack of racial diversity in tech and STEM fields, this series becomes even more important. Seeing so many different faces involved in rigorous and detailed science may help many young people of color gain the confidence to pursue science and technology as a career, in spite of a world that does not see them as part of these fields.
Cyborg #3 was action-packed, holding a lot of treasures, large and small. I’m excited to see where the series goes and I’m happy with what we got in this issue.
The Verdict: 8.0/10
