Bionic Man #23 Review


It’s taken a month off but it’s back. Bionic Man #23 certainly looks the same, but the month off wasn’t spent on improving the title.

The official description from Dynamite:

During his mission in China, Steve faces a life-and-death struggle against a truly wicked enemy and an army of indestructible battle mechs. The Bionic Man will have to rely on wits and a strange new partner to escape this one alive!

This issue is good if a little plain. It’s a regular old story in which Austin goes in and punches stuff, rescues people. It’s good stuff, and the mechs make for something a little interesting, if uninspired. However, I still have to express disappointment in Floyd. He’s a combination of ‘internet-nerd from his mother’s basement’ and ‘wheelchair bound genius’ that, quite honestly, compliments no-one and insults everyone. The character’s arc – the conflict between Steves desire for independence and actual reliance on another person – had all the potential but it’s been dressed up in memes of the week. I’m just waiting for the cats…

I guess the problem lies in Aaron Gilliespie’s writing. His understanding of Austin is superb, writing him as reckless and independent, but with good intentions. Floyd on the other hand is a different matter, while the rest of the elements in this issue still come out okay. The political side has strong potential and is something I hope they choose to focus on.

The art is good, as usual, but it’s not going to work miracles on the lacking story. Cool robots? yes. Plenty of detail, color and depth? Check. There’s no faulting Ed Tadeo’s pencils or Thiago Ribeiro’s colors. It makes the everything in Bionic Man come together.

But good art won’t save an overall poor execution. I like where Bionic Man is going, but this current issue is pandering too much to modern culture, internet references and a younger audience. Bionic Man should be about the future (such as cyborg technology – a little way off from when the show first aired) and the dangerous places this could lead to. I was happier with the big foots.

2/5

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