“Yesterday’s” Comic> Gigantor #1

“Stood up for my blind date again.”

Gigantor #1

Antarctic Press (January, 2000)

Years prior the Japanese forced two Americans, Bob Brilliant and Dr. Sparks, to help them build a giant robot to help win the war, but the American forces found them and bombed the daylights out of the place. Bob, Sparks, and Count Alberto were the only survivors, but when Alberto tried to kidnap them for the Reich he was stopped and blown up by another agent. Bob decided to pursue robotic research for the good of mankind rather than war. Years later a group of scientists, including Bob, formed a group that brought about world peace, defended by the World Justice League. That peace is threatened by the Iron Empire. Two agents try to stop a plan by the Empire using a blimp, but in the end the blimp has to be stopped by Jimmy Sparks and Bob Brilliant’s creation, the giant robot Gigantor! But is having a control device anyone can use and in the hands of a 12-year-old boy the space-age robot’s Achilles Heel?

What they got right: While Gigantor only shows up at the end of the issue it’s a good introduction to the world that created him and the enemy they will face. There are also some creative nods to other characters. The agent that blows himself (or is it herself?), Agent Franco, bears a resemblance to a Captain Harlock character. Lord Jim, one of the agents from later, looks like a fusion of John Steed and Tuxedo Mask, while the Mrs. Peel stand-in is wearing one of Lois Lane’s 1950s outfits. The artwork overall is really good, a mix of Japanese and Western styles.

What they got wrong: More like what’s coming. The character nods are going to get to a point later in the story where it becomes a distraction. One or two nods is fine, but we’re getting the Fantastic Four homaged later and that may not be the last one. It goes a bit far later. And somebody’s going to be annoyed with the fact that Gigantor barely appears in the story and it isn’t about his building but his creator and world building. It didn’t bother me as much, as stated above, but I can see where that other person is coming from.

Recommendation: It’s a shaky but decent start. Later today we’ll look at the second issue. I say give it a look. You might like it.