The Bionic Man #9
Based on a story by Kevin Smith
Script by Kevin Smith and Phil Hester
Pencils by Jonathan Lau
Colors by Ivan Nunes
Letters by Simon Bowland
Covers by Alex Ross & Jonathan Lau
Dynamite Entertainment
Release Date: May 23, 2012
Cover Price: $3.99
Man, after reading The Bionic Man #9, I am SPENT! But, in a good way. NO, a GREAT way. THIS is a comic book, folks. THIS is your summer action movie. THIS is your sci-fi drama with the drama turned up to eleven. THIS is the review that you bought and paid for, Phil Hester. Just kidding on that last part. I’ve only met Mr. Hester one time, and no money changed hands. That’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it.
Phil Hester (with some help from Kevin Smith) brings us the classic story of man vs machine vs man vs machine. Once you’ve read the issue, that’ll make more sense. This issue is INTENSE!!! From the story to the dialogue to the action, this book opens with a great action scene and doesn’t stop until the last page. In fact, it doesn’t even STOP at the last page!!!
You have Steve Austin fighting against a familiar enemy who’s on the run and headed to bring an end to the world as we know it. I know, you’re thinking “that’s what happens all the time in comic books, Jimmy!” Yes, you’re right, but not like this. This book takes place in the “real world.” There are no superheroes, no caped vigilantes, no transforming robots, so super paramilitary groups — just one man, who’s half machine. What makes the action incredible is that Hester sucks you into that world, so when a man with a bionic arm (which may be a lame power in another universe) punches something and it crumbles — IT MEANS SOMETHING. And, dear readers, this comes from someone who knows how to write comics REALLY WELL. In short, the story in this issue is incredible. It’s written at a super fast pace, but it’s not a super fast read. Everything makes sense, there’s no weird beats and everything flows superbly. And, of course, it ends on the greatest cliffhanger that’s been seen so far in this series.
What can I say about Jonathan Lau? There aren’t enough adjectives to describes this man’s art. He’s laid down some great pages here, folks. I’ve heard that technology is hard to draw for some artists. That’s clearly not the case here for Lau. He’s more than comfortable laying down the PAGES of fantastic technology in this issue. He makes it look like it belongs, not like it’s from a far off world that has collided with Earth. If you could call technology “organic,” then that’s what we have hear. And the man knows how to draw fight scenes! This is a totally different book than his last assignment (Green Hornet), and he delivers on the same level here that he did there. He is definitely Dynamite’s TOP artist. They’d do well to keep him guarded before another company steals him away!!
WHOOOO!!!! Now THIS is a comic book! Perfect story, perfect art, it doesn’t get any better than this, ladies and gentlemen. Yes, you might be thinking “who cares? It’s just another licensed comic!” Well, you’re dead wrong. This might not be the best issue to pick up for first time readers, so pick them ALL up at your neighborhood comic book store. You’re not going to find a better way to spend your money!
