Review: Magnus #4

Tensions are on the verge of exploding into riots between humans and robots, after Frederick, a robot servant, kills his owner and hides bombs around the city. But that appears to only be his opening move in an effort to get robots to fight for their freedom. Only Kerri Magnus, former bounty hunter and now robo-psychologist, can follow him into the AI world.

Frederick, the true revolutionary, has cut all his ties to both the robot world and the human one in order to bring about change for his people. Magnus is the only human who can survive in the AI world and in this issue she has to confront her own traumas. The AI world is a virtual place developed for robots to interact with each other without any human interference.

Magnus discovers Frederick abandoned his wife and children in the an unstable area outside the core of the AI city where there is very little computing power dedicated. Certainly not enough to sustain the family. Magnus knows that Frederick“s revolution will destroy both the human and robot societies. But in order to confront Frederick, Magnus will have to confront her own past. She needs to discover why she is able to survive in the robots“ virtual world, where no other human can.

Kyle Higgins and Jorge Fornes have really come up with an interesting new approach to Magnus that pays off many ways. We are looking at issues of not only the haves and have-nots, but the roots of identity and what is the difference between biological and mechanical sentience. By the laws of their world, Frederick and Julie are tools, like can openers or hammers. But they have real emotional lives that are expressed in the AI world, even if they are not allowed in the real one.

Frederick“s owner was kind, but it turned out that Julie“s were cruel. They would remove an arm or leg and command her to complete her job for their amusement. Julie had no recourse to seek justice. At this point, it may be impossible for Magnus to stop the war. Can she do anything to minimize it?

Higgins and Fornes have really done something interesting in their interpretation of what was really a boring Gold Key hero. It is an engaging story. One that will keep you coming back with new questions about this world and it“s hero. Hopefully they have some answers just as interesting.

Oh, there is another chapter in the less and less engaging Doctor Spektor, slacker magician, in the back. Really, the less said about that, the better.

[yasr_overall_rating]

Writer:Â Kyle Higgins (main), Aubrey Sitterson (Doc Spektor back-up)
Art:Â Jorge Fornes (main), Dylan Burnett (Doc Spektor back-up)
Colorist: Chris O“Halloran
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment

Author Profile

Andy Hall

Sent from the future by our Robot Ape overlords to preserve the timeline. Reading and writing about comics until the revolution comes. All hail the Orangutan Android Solar King!