It should be noted that Isaac Asimov came up with the concept of I-Bots before he passed away, with Howard Chaykin filling in the gaps. This would have been Asimov’s first move into comic books. I’m still surprised he adapted Fantastic Voyage into novel form and I still need to see that movie before I can review that book. Tekno Comics prided itself on getting science fiction by modern greats into comic form and this was the closest they had to a superhero title. Which means Isaac Asimov came up with a superhero team. This was awesome on principle!
“Anybody lose a helmet? Could use a cleaning.”
Isaac Asimov’s I-Bots #1
Tekno Comics (December, 1995)
“Out Of The Blue” WRITER: Steven Grant PENCILER: George Pérez INKERS: Josef Ruinstein & Mike Witherby COLORIST: Demetrius Bassoukos LETTERING: Richard Starkings & Comicraft EDITOR: James Chambers CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT: Howard Chaykin
Sometime in the future, a presidential debate is interrupted by terrorist out to kill one of the candidates, Gregson Silver. However, a bunch of costumed characters with superpowers saves him, which Silver dubs The Amazings. Then a man named Zac appears in a hologram thanks to the light-controlling Radiant. Apparently he has a connection to the other candidate, Senator Kevin (last name not given), or rather his cousin, Annabelle, who runs the family business, Worldtech. She was behind the attack on Silver and has the terrorists liquidated later before being confronted by the secret cabal she answers to.
As for the I-Bots, in addition to Radiant you have de facto team leader Psy-4 (who can control technology), Stonewall (indestructible), Killaine (super strength and also with a bit of invulnerability), and Itazura (martial arts and as violent as the protocols allow him to be–this IS Asimov after all).
What they got right: The art is really good and I like the costume designs for the I-Bots. Unlike a lot of 90s comics not telling us the basic details (we get the full story next issue as I recall) works because EVERYONE is in the dark as to whom these superheroes are.
What they got wrong: We don’t know Kevin and Annabelle’s last name. Maybe Grant couldn’t fit it in as organically as Gregson Silver’s full name but it would have been nice to see them try.
Recommendation: I remember this being a comic I enjoyed, and it’s worth it just to see how Isaac Asimov (with some help from Chaykin) would have created a comic book superhero team. Go find this already!
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