RoboCop (comics)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
RoboCop refers to a number of comic book series spun-off from the feature film of the same name.
The main character is a fictional cyborg, Detroit police officer who begins as a human police officer Alex J. Murphy, who is killed in the line of duty by a vicious crime gang. Subsequently, Murphy is transformed into the cyborg entity by the megacorporation Omni Consumer Products. Since his 1987 film debut, the RoboCop character and franchise have been exercised through numerous entertainment media, including multiple comic book mini-series and ongoing series.
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[edit] Marvel Comics
In May of 1990, Marvel Comics released the first issue of an ongoing RoboCop comic book series based on the movie. The series ran for 23 issues, ending in January of 1992. In addition, a one-shot was released in August of 1990, reprinting in color the 1987 black and white magazine adaptation of the movie. That same month also saw a black and white magazine adaptation of the movie sequel RoboCop 2, as well as a three issue mini-series, printing in color the same contents as the RoboCop 2 magazine.
[edit] Dark Horse Comics
The comic book license for RoboCop was then acquired by Dark Horse Comics. In September of 1992, Dark Horse release a four issue mini-series RoboCop vs. The Terminator, written by Frank Miller, with artwork by Walt Simonson. This led to several new RoboCop stories by Dark Horse, including RoboCop: Prime Suspect, RoboCop: Mortal Coils, RoboCop: Roulette, and a three issue limited series in 1993 adapting the third movie.
[edit] Avatar Press
| RoboCop | |
 Cover of first issue. Cover art by Frank Miller |
|
| Publication information | |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Avatar Press |
| Schedule | Irregular |
| Format | Limited series |
| Genre | Crime, Science Fiction |
| Publication date | August, 2003 – February, 2006 |
| Number of issues | 9 |
| Main character(s) | RoboCop |
| Creative team | |
| Writer(s) | Steven Grant |
| Artist(s) | Juan Jose Ryp |
| Creator(s) | Frank Miller (original screenplay, concept supervisor) Steven Grant (writer) Juan Jose Ryp (illustrator) |
Almost a decade later, the comic rights to RoboCop were acquired by Avatar Press. Upon announcing the acquisition, the company's publisher, William Christensen, received several offers from artists and writers hoping to contribute to the project (which eventually lead to the Avatar comic RoboCop: Killing Machine). Christensen himself was interested in producing a comic adaptation of Miller’s “lost” screenplay, of which he possessed a copy. Christensen soon got in contact with Miller, who was enthusiastic to the idea of his story finally being told uncensored.
The series was personally overseen by Miller, based on his own unused screenplay for the film RoboCop 2 and notes of unused ideas for RoboCop 3, however scheduling prohibited him from personally writing the comic adaptation or illustrating. It was written by Steven Grant, a long-time acquaintance of Miller’s who had written the comic adaptation of RoboCop 3 for Dark Horse Comics. Juan Jose Ryp, best known for illustrating the Avatar comic Another Suburban Romance (written by Alan Moore), became the title’s illustrator while Miller drew covers.
The series was composed of nine issues that were published from August 2003 through February 2006 under Avatar’s Pulsar Press line, which specializes in licensed comic properties from movies. Issues featured covers by Miller and alternate covers by Ryp.
[edit] Synopsis
The machine that was born as Alex Murphy continues his war against the criminals of Old Detroit. But his human soul still haunts him with a sympathetic conscience and memories of his past life.
When his creators and benefactors at the Omni Consumer Products (OCP) corporation get wind of this, they deem RoboCop obsolete. Now our hero and his resilient partner, Officer Anne Lewis, are pitted not only against the scum of the streets, but the new OCP model that shows no mercy.
[edit] Reception
Critical reaction to Frank Miller's RoboCop comic has been mixed. Randy Lander of comic review site The Fourth Rail gave the first issue a score of 7 out of 10, saying that "there's not a lot of personality to the book" but added that it's "certainly interesting to read and full of potential."[1]
Ken Tucker of Entertainment Weekly gave the comic a "D" score, criticizing the "tired story" and lack of "interesting action." [2] A recap written for the pop culture humor website I-Mockery said, "Having spent quite a lot of time with these comics over the past several days researching and writing this article, I can honestly say that it makes me want to watch the movie version of RoboCop 2 again just so I can get the bad taste out of my mouth. Or prove to myself that the movie couldn't be worse than this."[3]
[edit] Dynamite Entertainment
Dynamite Entertainment announced they would be producing the next RoboCop[4] with writer Rob Williams[5] and artist Nick Barrucci.[6]
[edit] References
- ^ Review by Randy Lander, The Fourth Rail
- ^ Review by Ken Tucker, Entertainment Weekly, September 5, 2003
- ^ "Frank Miller's Roboflop", I-Mockery, March 31, 2008
- ^ Brady, Matt (June 10, 2009). "RoboCop Returns to Comics with Dynamite". Newsarama. http://www.newsarama.com/comics/060910-Robocop.html. Retrieved on 2009-06-17.
- ^ Brady, Matt (June 16, 2009). "Man and Machine - Rob Williams on Dynamite's RoboCop". Newsarama. http://www.newsarama.com/comics/060916-Robocop-Williams.html. Retrieved on 2009-06-17.
- ^ Brady, Matt (June 11, 2009). "Nick Barrucci on RoboCop & Writer Rob Williams". Newsarama. http://www.newsarama.com/comics/060911-Nick-Robocop.html. Retrieved on 2009-06-17.
[edit] External links
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