Advance Review – Magnus Robot Fighter #1 (Dynamite)

Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Writer: Fred Van Lente
Artist: Cory Smith
Release Date: 12th March 2014

Magnus: Robot Fighter, I must admit I remember when Valiant put this out in the 90s and I had no interest in reading it. However, after reading this first issue I am definitely finding myself wanting to learn more about this human that can break steel with his bare hands and trash a robot in a matter or seconds.

Fred Van Lente seems to have given the Magnus story new life. The story is well developed and sets the stage for what is to come in the following issues. I found the transition between the small town of Maury’s Peak and the new world Magnus finds himself in confusing. I’m not sure if Maury’s Peak was a creation of 1A, the self-aware robot that served as Magnus’ father, or if it was an actual place. Magnus goes from being in this small town as a teacher to being teleported into a world run by robots. However, this small confusing transition aside, the story is well written and leaves the reader ready for the next issue.

Cory Smith has done a fantastic job with this first issue. There are subtle but necessary changes between the two worlds that give the reader the feel that there is definitely a difference between the two. The artwork is detailed; displaying the emotions of the characters well, and also gives good movement for the action scenes. The two environments Smith creates are very much alive and set the tone well for what the story is conveying in each segment. Also, the use of colors by Mauricio Wallace do an excellent job helping the reader decipher that there is a distinct difference between the two environments.

Magnus: Robot Fighter #1, either for fans of something new or for fans of the different takes on the well-established character, is a highly recommended read. I found the character well-developed and the book most definitely grabbed my attention and interest. I was left wanting to see where this story will go next.