The Good
RoboCop has finally been given some upgrades and writer Joshua Williamson puts 'em to good use. A faster, stronger and more agile Alex Murphy? That sounds like a frightening thing, doesn't it? Well, a couple of unlucky scum bags and an upgraded ED finds out just how formidable RoboCop has become. It's a stellar way to open the issue and the violence is presented in an over-the-top and fun way. The first double-page spread is something RoboCop fans will never forget and there's one punch in here that'll make you want to cheer. I'm stoked to see more of these upgrades in action, but I'm left wondering if they're a permanent change or there will be some plot device ("these upgrades require too much energy!") that'll bring him back to "normal."
This is yet another fast-paced issue that never drags its feet. We quickly move from scene to scene and all of the buildup leads to one hell of a cliffhanger. You'll know what's coming, but that doesn't make it any less gripping and it makes purchasing the next chapter irresistible. But you were going to buy it anyway since the series has been so good, right? It's not the most insightful or character-driven issue around, but it races the narrative forward and does so in a consistently entertaining and well-written way. The outcome of the prisoner interrogation scene seemed questionable when it happened -- especially considering the remark about Killian's goons -- but Williamson justifies what the villain says in the following scene and, upon re-reading the issue, you see one of the opening remarks also shows just a little more of where his head is at (
Carlos Magno and Marissa Louise pages continue to pull me right into this dirty and corrupt city. There's still some panels in which depth is an issue and others where characters are a bit rigid, but those are outweighed by all of things this art team does so well. Even if I do have personal criticisms about some of the work, you can at least tell that none of it is rushed. The characters and the environment are always given a proper amount of attention, so you can tell they're doing what they can to really immerse us in this world. And you know what? It's working. It really does feel like a proper return to the classic franchise and little things like the bad guy's expression during the interrogation or RoboCop's debut certainly impress. I continue to love the close-ups of RoboCop as well. The highlight for me was getting a good look at him right before he throws a wicked punch.
The Bad
As the story races towards the big cliffhanger, one story element feels rushed. On one hand, I'm okay with it because it results in something important for RoboCop and it allows the story to move forward. But on the other hand, it comes off feeling a bit random and like a missed opportunity to explore just a little more of this world before making that scene happen. It's justified with a few remarks and because of them I understand why it happens, but seeing as we haven't seen all that much of the character and his situation, the move felt a bit convenient for the sake of the plot. Also, the opening trap was a bit unclear to me. I couldn't tell if the van was in motion or parked (if it was stopped, that's pretty abrupt and wasn't conveyed in the panel). The artwork makes it seem like the latter because there's no sense of motion (and it doesn't crash), but the former makes sense based on what the bad guy said about them trying to sneak in. If it's parked, why would there be a guy in the driver's seat?
The Verdict
ROBOCOP #7 begins with pure fan service and then rushes towards yet another exciting and crazy conflict. It's not big on character but it has a ton of plot progression as we're thrown back into the ugliness and violence of the classic franchise's world. Before everything hits the fan, we get a totally cheerworthy scene of a newly upgraded RoboCop in action and it's awesomely over-the-top and thrilling. Seeing as much of this chapter is building towards another big conflict (don't worry, the cliffhanger delivers), this was a great and unforgettable way to open the issue before focusing purely on story. It's looking like the next issue will have even more craziness, too! You know they're handling the franchise with respect and when every issue makes me want to go re-watch the first movie.