Review: MAGNUS: ROBOT FIGHTER #1

Writer:  Fred Van Lente
Artist:  Cory Smith
Colorist:  Mauricio Wallace
Letterer:  Marshall Dillon
Main Cover:  Gabriel Hardman
Publisher:  Dynamite Comics

Dynamite Comics purchased the Gold Key licensed characters in 2013 and announced that the line would be launching in 2014.  Among their lineup of writers is one of my favorites….. Fred Van Lente.  I became familiar with Van Lente in 2013 after reading some of his current comics, so I was eagerly awaiting his take on Magnus: Robot Fighter.

What I Liked

As someone who is completely new to the world of Magnus, this was a fabulous introductory issue.  Cory Smith masterfully conveyed emotion on each face he drew.  Their personalities really came through in the images.

The inclusion of a family for Magnus made him more relatable to readers.  The environment changing midway through the comic and the mystery that brings about kept the story from going in one singular direction.  Magnus is a character readers will want to root for.

What I Didn’t Like

There honestly wasn’t one thing I could nitpick.  Art was great, story was compelling.  If anything, it made me want to read pages between Magnus and his “father” to learn more about their dynamic.

Summary

Dynamite Comics has me intrigued with their Gold Key purchase.  Will all the series’ tie together to form one shared universe?  Or will they be off to tell their own stories?  Either way, I will keep reading Magnus: Robot Fighter.  The creative team of Fred Van Lente and Cory Smith are enough of an attraction for this reviewer.

Rating:  4 out of 5

This review is written in partnership with Pop Culture Network.  They can be found at their website http://www.popculturenetwork.com/

Timdogg

#ComicBookChronicles @CBChron founder. Editor-in-Chief of @thekliqnation. Comic book reviewer, podcaster #RABBLERABBLE