Trade Paperback Tuesday: 'Atomic Robo and the Fightin' Scientists of Tesladyne'

Trade Paperback Tuesday: ‘Atomic Robo and the Fightin’ Scientists of Tesladyne’

Everyone knows that Wednesday is new comic book day. While picking up your new issues consider looking at some of the trade paperbacks and hard covers of past issues and story lines. But which ones should you choose?

That’s why every Tuesday, The Flickcast will recommend a collection of comics that are just as good, if not better, than the issues you are currently buying. Books that deserve to be read, and bought the next time you walk into your local comic book store.

“The hardest part is that I’m 83 years old. I do a great
Jack Benny, but no one really gets it anymore.”- Atomic Robo

Atomic Robo is a comic I have enjoyed reading for some time now. Every chance I get to recommend it to someone, I do and this was the book that started my love for it.

I was wandering through my local comic book shop. I knew that I wanted to buy a book, and I also knew that I didn’t want more of the same. I needed something different, something a little crazy, and something with some humor. Then, it appeared!

Its simple cover was filled with a robot with glowing blue eyes looking like it was seconds away from pounding in the heads of some crazier robots. How could I not buy this book? From there, I have read everything Atomic Robo, and you should too. Start with this Trade Paperback Tuesday pick, Atomic Robo and the Fightin’ Scientists of Tesladyne.

Atomic Robo is the story of the same-named robot that was built by Nikola Tesla in 1923. He has lived through the 20th century, had crazy adventures, and now has adventures with a team of action scientists! How can you not read a book with that description?

Excellently written and drawn by Brian Clevinger and Scott Wegener, Atomic Robo could read as very cheesy and hokey. Clevinger prevents that from happening by injecting the characters with depth and snappy dialogue. Robo comes off as snarky, clever, and endearing. Clevinger’s art compliments these whip smart characterizations with smooth and dynamic lines. His art may be too “cartoony” for some, but his use of angles and pacing never let the issues have a dull moment.

This first volume collects the first six issues of the series. It follows Robo through a series of adventures through the 20th century. We see Robo fight Nazis! We see Robo fight a giant pyramid! We learn of Robo’s secret mission to Mars! Seriously, why are you even reading this review right now? How much more awesome can one paragraph contain??

Atomic Robo Volume #1 contains more fun, plot, and action in six issues than most comics have in fifty issues. Reading Atomic Robo is like injecting cotton candy straight into the brain. At first, it may not seem like a good idea, but once you try it, you can never have enough. Go out and read one of the best, if not the best comic book published right now. There are four more volumes after this one. You have no time to waste!!