Honestly, I don’t know what I was expecting from a Cyborg comic. I know this isn’t the first time he has had a series (that was almost two years ago), but most of my knowledge of the character comes from him being a Teen Titan, not a founding member of the Justice League. Even though this is a follow up to Cyborg: Rebirth, it works as a pretty good introductory issue. We get a summation of Cyborg’s origins and a rapid fire meet and greet of his supporting cast. Plus a general idea of the extent of his power level and abilities. It works more often than not. Sometimes there is a little too much explanation going on in the first half.
The issue starts off with a slightly confusing first two pages. Some evil bad guy cyborg has found a giant death robot to reactivate. The identity of either character is left a mystery, although I’m sure if I read Rebirth or the previous Cyborg series I would know. Until then, just obvious bad guys being obviously bad.
We then cut to Cyborg stopping two small time robbers in the obligatory show hero in action while also letting him exhibit/explain some powers. This leads to Cyborg returning home to STAR Labs to be checked on by his father, Silas Stone and his assistants Sarah and Tom. Cyborg is worried his humanity may be lost because he heard a recording of his father wondering if Victor was turned into Cyborg or if a soulless mental copy was created instead.
To help with this major crisis, Sarah takes Cyborg out for ice cream and jazz, the two most humanizing things in the universe. Once Sarah and Victor get off on their own, the book starts to come together. While I don’t want several story arcs focusing on Cyborg wondering if he is human or not, an initial issue or two works. Unlike most superheroes Cyborg can’t have a secret identity, he is always Cyborg with giant metal bits showing. There is a need to humanize him, and since the fun and silly Teen Titans Go! The version isn’t allowed, a story like this works.
Cyborg interacting with a few people in public in non-life and death situations is essential. And those bits work very well even though the story isn’t new. I also like how the story is set in Detroit and not a fictional city, it once again makes Cyborg more real.
My only complaints with the story are the over explanation bits, while understandable are still clunky as ever. I also worry that every villain Cyborg will face will be equally cybernetic or robotic, I hope that isn’t a trend.
But as a whole, this book had some heart and helped give me a better understanding of who Cyborg really is.
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Cyborg #1 Writer: John Semper Jr Artist: Paul Pelletier Publisher: DC Comics Price: $2.99 Format: Ongoing; Print/Digital
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