Re-Reading: Magnus Robot Fighter #14

[xoken]

I thought we could do a book a day (that way people can read one every day or catch up on weekends), talk about it on its own, in the context of whats next, in regards to what expectations it creates and vote on how good it is. I don't have to be the one that posts everyday. If I miss a day or if someone wants to take over please do

For voting think of your single favourite comic book (not just VALIANT) as the benchmark - thats a 10 - and grade according to that.

Make sure to mention what you like'd about the book, what you didn't, what you wish they would have done, your favourite panels, lines of dialogue, little bits of trivia etc.

Magnus Robot Fighter #14

[magnusr]

So many sides to this story. It really makes one think. But the end with 1-A seems a bit forced and the inmates loosen up a bit too easily. This story is too complex for such a straight-forward ending. It's an almost perfect issue. Btw, I love Magnus' self-confidence against the guard robot. Knowing what is right or wrong can be very difficult, but at least fighting robots is easy for him.

/Magnus

[Todd Luck]

Great issue.

It was very clever using the ruins of the ship 1-A served on as the asylum.

Magnus "introducing" himself to the guard rob is my favorite two panel sequence ever.

It was clever to throw in a passing mention of Xyrkol as an inmate of the asylum. Lots of implications there but, for this issue, we know it probably wieghed on Grandone's mind when she decided to kill the inmates.

And it's interesting that 1-A never seems "evil" or even heartless here. Many of the inmates still respect him. They volunteered for the experiments and except that they can't be a part of North Am society because would be too dangerous in some cases or too vunerable in others.

1-A's real sin was simply putting himself in a situation that was beyond his resources and intellect to solve. Thus we have a stubstandard asylum and the decision to eventually kill them when he feared what control he did have over them could be lost. It's almost understandable what happens.

But unfortuanately it puts him on crash course with his son. If you're going to raise someone to be the absolute champion of what's right you better make sure to follow your own rules. You can feel the absolute dread at the coming confrontation.

And the death of Grand One was one of the most shocking events ever put in a comic. I almost need the twist at the end (the inmates reaction) to put it in context, so I remember Magnus didn't just kill 1-A, he was saving humans from a killer robot ( a freewill no less). Wonderful irony.

Great stuff. A 10.

Continuity Note: Magnus 25 will recton away 1-A trying to kill the inmates (it was the Malevs) and will resurrect 1-A turning this storyline into a joke.

[magnusr]

Seaborn's synopsis:

Arriving on Phobos, Magnus meets the inmates there (1-A’s failures). The Maker (Grand One) decides to flood the Asylum with neurotoxins to kill the inmates. Izak, the rebellion’s instigator, aids Magnus in his attempt to reach Grand One. Cordik, following Grand One’s instructions, trys to turn the inmates against Magnus. Izac and Magnus breech the command center and Magnus is given no choice but to destroy Grand One. He promises to look after the inmates but acknowledges he can never free them.

/Magnus

[JonesyAZ]

Just started re-reading the Pre-Unity Magnus run this week, and I just have to say that this issue was absolutely GORGEOUS! Man...Ernie Colon just delivered SO well on the art on this issue. And the story's tone by Shooter was almost heart-breaking these last few issues. I wonder if the new Dark Horse run will sometimes feel as dark as these early Magnus issues?

Just had to give props to the creators on this one.

[Elveen]

This story arc in one of my most favorite in all Valiant. The look of these books are amazing.

[Daniel Jackson]

This story arc in one of my most favorite in all Valiant. The look of these books are amazing.

I agree, most of the early artwork was very memorable.