Tech Jacket

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Tech Jacket
Publication information
PublisherImage Comics
Creative team
Created byRobert Kirkman
E. J. Su
Collected editions
The Boy From EarthISBN 1-5824-0771-1
Lift OffISBN 1-6321-5029-8
Touch the SkyISBN 1-6321-5257-6
All Falls DownISBN 1-6321-5344-0

Tech Jacket is an American comic book created by writer Robert Kirkman and artist E. J. Su, first published monthly by Image Comics for six issues from November 2002 to April 2003. Starting in Invincible #71, an 8-part backup series ran, continuing the storyline from the original series. In the main comic, Tech-Jacket joined the Viltrumite war. This was followed by a new comic book series which ran twelve issues (July 2014 to December 2015). All issues have been collected into 4 graphic novels.[1][2][3][4][5][6] The series is also notable for featuring the first appearance of Invincible, who would later star in Invincible and The Pact.[7]

Fictional character biography[edit]

Zack Thompson, a high school kid, finds a dying alien from a race of incredibly intelligent but physically weak beings called the Geldarians. To make up for this they have invented the Tech Jacket, a vest that every Geldarian is equipped with upon birth. Seeing the human and knowing his crashed spaceship is going to blow up and kill them both, the alien fits him with the Tech Jacket, saving his life.[8] But now the Tech Jacket can't be removed and gives Zack "one of the most powerful weapons in the universe". After saving his father (who is therefore aware of the Tech Jacket), Zack tells him about the crashed spaceship and dying alien. Later, the Geldarians show up, thinking Zack killed their comrade Kelda (the alien) and stole the Tech Jacket.[9] After helping the Geldarians fight the Kresh, the Geldarians felt grateful towards him.[10]

He appeared in Invincible #71, working on a space station with his father. The station was implied to have been built by him. According to a conversation he had with Allen the Alien, he mainly involves himself in galactic events, and calls himself a "galactic guardian" instead of a superhero. He was recruited by Allen and Nolan to accompany them to fight against the Viltrumites. While on board a spaceship with Invincible, they were attacked by Conquest and two additional Viltrumites.

Features

  • Removal is unpermitted, under executive decree 574-3.[9]
  • The vest gives him near-invulnerability, super-strength, flight, energy blasts, and a variety of gizmos.[9]
  • The jacket has an ability known as Host Maintenance which when activated removes and destroys all germs, bacteria and dirt from the user's body, removing the need to bathe.[9]

According to Zack, because a human is already physically stronger than a Geldarian, he is more capable of using the tech jacket and is a natural with it. Additionally, in his most recent appearance, Zack has become physically stronger than in his original series, which implies that his tech jacket strength has increased as well.

Collected editions[edit]

Title Material collected Published date ISBN
Tech Jacket Volume 1: The Boy From Earth Tech Jacket (vol. 1) #1–6 January 1, 2003 ISBN 978-1582407715
Tech Jacket Volume 2: Lift Off Tech Jacket (vol. 1) #7–8 and Tech Jacket Digital #1–3 July 2, 2014 ISBN 978-1632150295
Tech Jacket Volume 3: Touch the Sky Tech Jacket (vol. 3) #1–6 January 20, 2015 ISBN 978-1632151773
Tech Jacket Volume 4: All Falls Down Tech Jacket (vol. 3) #7–12 May 25, 2016 ISBN 978-1632153449

References[edit]

  1. ^ McMillan, Graeme (January 9, 2014). "Robert Kirkman Revamps 'Invincible,' Revives 'Tech Jacket'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  2. ^ Burlingame, Russ (January 9, 2014). "Tech Jacket Digital Preview From Skybound". ComicBook.com. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  3. ^ Christenson, Kurt (July 2, 2014). "'Tech Jacket' joins Robert Kirkman's Skybound imprint at Image Comics". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  4. ^ Thompson, Zac (July 3, 2014). "Review: "Tech Jacket" #1". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  5. ^ Smith, Andy (August 6, 2014). "The Pull List (8/6/14): Tech Jacket returns". CLC. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  6. ^ Robert (June 7, 2021). "Comic Rewind: Tech Jacket Vol. 1: The Boy From Earth". That Hashtag Show. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  7. ^ Liu, Narayan (July 18, 2020). "Invincible: Robert Kirkman Reveals Full Cast for Animated Adaptation". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved July 18, 2020. Invincible was created by [Robert] Kirkman and artist Cory Walker for a series published by Image Comics. After several brief appearances, starting with Tech Jacket #1 (written by Kirkman with artwork by E.J. Su), Invincible was given his own comic book series in 2003, which ran until 2018 with Kirkman as sole writer, ending with the giant-sized Invincible #144 (written by Kirkman, with art by Nathan Fairbairn, Ryan Ottley and Cory Walker).
  8. ^ Tech Jacket #1 (November 2002). Image Comics.
  9. ^ a b c d Tech Jacket #2 (December 2002). Image Comics.
  10. ^ Tech Jacket #3 (January 2003). Image Comics.

External links[edit]