“Don’t worry, nobody stays dead in comics anymore.”
Isaac Asimov’s I-Bots #2
Tekno Comics (December, 1995)
“Origin Of Species” WRITER: Steven Grant PENCILER: George Pérez INKERS: Josef Rubinstein & Mike Witherby COLORIST: Demetrius Bassoukos LETTERING: Richard Starkings & Comicraft EDITOR: James Chambers “I-BOTS” CREATOR: Isaac Asimov, as developed by Howard Chaykin
Annabelle meets with the Cabal, a sort of Illuminati who are just brains in jars with a video screen showing their faces. (I wonder what they do when they’re not busy molding the world?) She tells them about Zac Robillard, a scientist who created the technosome, a new way to create humanoid robots. She saw it as a way to make new soldiers and drugrunners so he took the project and disappeared. When Annabelle’s solider, Blicero, finally finds him he already created five such independently-thinking robots, the I-Bots. In the present, Annabelle’s story is interrupted by Zac, who completes the story. When the military guys shot and killed him, thinking he was making a run for it, he was able to interface with his special computer hookup, transforming himself into data, and not only activated the I-Bots but learned secrets about the Cabal, which scares them and delights Annabelle. However, there’s a third party in the game, the Black Triangle, who sends their agent, Yagara, to protect them from a new rogue agent Annabelle is looking to send after them.
What they got right: I admit I’m not familiar enough with Asmiov’s work (and I don’t like admitting that) to know if the idea of a secret cabal would be something he’d come up with or not. In a period where secret organizations are popular again (especially in the New 52/DC You), the Cabal are still an interesting idea, a group who claims to be progressing humanity forward, although Zac claims they’re actually holding technology back. The origin of the I-Bots is rare, if not unique, among science fiction style superhero origins.
What they got wrong: I’m wondering if the Black Triangle is going to be worth it or not. There are limits to how many shadow organizations a series needs, but I might be proven wrong as this goes on.
Recommendation: This is a fascinating take on superheroes and Asimov’s form of robotics fiction. Seriously, pick these comics up.
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