Cyber Force #1 Review

Carry on up the Cyber

Written by: Matt Hawkins / Bryan Edward Hill
Art by: Atilio Rojo
Publisher: Image Comics
Release Date: 28 March 2018
Reviewed by: Andrew McAvoy


I have to say that ever since I came across Marc Silvestri's amazing cover for the first issue of Cyber Force I've been relishing the prospects of reading it. Eagerly starting into this book I was hoping that it would be up there with some of the other high quality books on Image's roster at present. Did it live up to expectations or fall flat? Let's see.

Well I thought this was a very enjoyable start to this series. I've never read the original series (created by Silvestri who is overseeing this project) but am assured by the writing team (in a very good interview at the back of the issue) that this is entirely unnecessary. And so it proved. The experience of reading supported this theory entirely. An entertaining read, dealing with complex issues, but conveyed in an easily understood manner. This book managed it, many don't.

The complex issues referred to above center on the growing interface between man and machine. It explores issues of the use of advanced prosthetic limbs as part of groundbreaking scientific work. The advanced technology creates a modern day equivalent of the Bionic Man in the form of Morgan Stryker. Stryker who undergoes surgery to have a new arm added to him after being mortally wounded in a terror attack; an attach staged by those opposing technological encroachment upon society. His daughter, who is also confined to a wheelchair, secures similarly enhanced prosthetics as part of the consent agreement.

The interior art on this book was good, although part of me did yearn to see the style of the cover replicated in the inside of the book. Still, it is hard to criticize it. It is crisp, uses clean lines and is bright in terms of the color choices. There is a vibrancy to the early scenes depicting the explosion.

Bits and Pieces

This was a good first issue, and laid out some opening positions with regards to the tightrope between technology being used by humans, and technology using (or at least exerting a controlling influence) over humans. It is a topic which is ripe for exploration and I expect we will see this as the new series rolls out.

7.9/10