Robocop: Last Stand 7 (February 2014)
2/5/14
It’s an all art issue. It’s an all action issue too, but there’s not even the regular amount of witty banter for an action issue. So it’s just Öztekin doing a fight scene between Robocop and various cyborgs. All the cyborgs look alike. Robocop does have some special gear and there are a couple plot twists and sight gags… but it’s basically just this one fight scene.
I love Öztekin’s artwork but this issue doesn’t challenge him. He’s not doing anything crazy. Gone is the way he paced out intricate action sequences. It’s just Robocop punching one cyborg, then another one. Oh, they gang up on him and he’s got to persevere, but there’s no tension. That lack of tension is Grant’s fault.
Even though this issue has the big fight scene, it feels like a bridging one. What’s important isn’t what has happened here but what’s coming next. Unfortunate.
C+
CREDITS
Writer, Steven Grant; artist, Korkut Öztekin; colorist, Michael Garland; letterer, Ryan Ferrier; editors, Alex Galer and Ian Brill; publisher, Boom! Studios.
Robocop: Last Stand 6 (January 2013)
1/13/14
It’s funny how interesting art changes things in terms of pacing. Not just good art; there are plenty of comics out there with good art and bad pacing and the issue doesn’t work out. But with good, interesting art?
Take this issue of Last Stand–Grant skirts over a big plot development because it’s better to let Öztekin show it visually than to tell it with exposition. The whole issue takes place over fifteen or twenty minutes it seems and the issue reads in like four.
Except it’s bunch of great art used in perplexing ways. Öztekin still has Robocop, but he gets to visually play with all sorts of crazy other machinery and then also the desperate humanity of the whole thing. It’s big stuff and would have made a cool montage in a movie. But Öztekin does better than a movie could.
It’s a great-looking, solid comic.
B
CREDITS
Writer, Steven Grant; artist, Korkut Öztekin; colorist, Michael Garland; letterer, Ryan Ferrier; editors, Alex Galer and Ian Brill; publisher, Boom! Studios.
Robocop: Last Stand 5 (December 2013)
12/16/13
Wow, what a downer issue.
In a lot of ways, it seems like a rejection of the reader’s expectations, which Grant had only recently raised–and only if the reader is familiar with Robocop 3. But this issue? This issue reaffirms the reader has no idea what’s going on.
Unfortunately it does feel rushed. Some of the rushing is for effect–bluntly and quickly presenting plot twists gives the issue a sense of urgency–but Öztekin’s art also suffers. The art’s still awesome, he just doesn’t get to do as many awesome action sequences. The action here is, like I said, rushed.
The narrative also suffers. Grant relies on one or two panel updates–not even the traditional Robocop news updates–to show big changes going on.
It’s a bridging issue. The twists get Grant some more good will–but the comic’s readable no matter what thanks to the art.
CREDITS
Writer, Steven Grant; artist, Korkut Öztekin; colorist, Michael Garland; letterer, Ryan Ferrier; editors, Alex Galer and Ian Brill; publisher, Boom! Studios.
Robocop: Last Stand 4 (November 2013)
11/6/13
When I got done with this issue, I looked at the indicia to make sure I was remembering correctly and there really are four whole issues left. I’m a little sad it isn’t five, because this issue is phenomenal.
Grant’s script, except some of the stuff with the corporate guys, mostly keeps out of artist Öztekin’s way. Not in a bad way, like Grant is lazy–he isn’t. He writes some funny stuff for the little kid, who was weak last time but is the perfect sidekick for Robocoo this issue. I just mean Grant lets Öztekin go wild.
Whether it’s a car chase or a dialogue sequence in the diner with Robocop’s friends, Öztekin always makes the right move. There are maybe three perfect panels in the car chase; fantastic.
And the Robocop repair sequence is wonderful. Öztekin’s style, by being so wrong for Robocop, is perfect for it.
CREDITS
Writer, Steven Grant; artist, Korkut Öztekin; colorist, Michael Garland; letterer, Ryan Ferrier; editors, Alex Galer and Eric Harburn; publisher, Boom! Studios.
The Stop Button 