The start of a new arc, and Bionic Man #17 is full of potential. Whilst it does dance with some delicate issues, it none the less seems to be impressive so far, offering some personal development on the titular Bionic Man.

The official description from Dynamite:

Part one of an exciting new story arc! The country of Libue is in the bloody throes of a desperate rebellion. While a brutal dictator uses whatever means necessary to squash the rebels, the American government orders OSI to locate and disarm Libue’s nuclear missles before they go rogue. Steve plunges into the unforgiving desert on the hunt for the nukes, but finding them could be far tougher and deadlier than the Bionic Man bargained for.

This issue sees Steve Austin on his own for most of the issue. This gives the character greater development; the writing goes to lengths to show what Austin does when he’s by himself. The writing seems to have gained a better understanding of who Austin is as a character; he has a cocky side, but its not always beneficial. Likewise, even when he means well, this issue demonstrates that its not always for the best.

The one issue that might be a problem here is the modern context. Steve Austin is sent charging into a hostile war zone. Whilst its never stated, one could easily interpret the desert environment for a middle-eastern setting. Whilst Austin’s commentary about his own actions certainly suits the character, you could be forgiven for reading it as an allegory for America. This isn’t a political title, and its much more likely this serves as a reflection for Austin as a person; Bionic Man #17 makes the effort to demonstrate the bionic powers aren’t an end-all solution to everything. It gives the title a more mature tone, something it may be lacking after a large plot involving big foot.

As for the end of this issue, there’s certainly a small amount to read into. This is mainly because of any personal development; whilst the plot so far establishes that Austin shouldn’t get involved in foreign affairs, that’s exactly where this issue strongly hints the story is heading.

4/5