“Yesterday’s” Comic> Isaac Asimov’s I-Bots #4

I don’t think Radiant knows how flashing works.

Isaac Asimov’s I-Bots #4

Tekno Comics (February, 1996)

Can somebody explain to me why Rubinstein was the only inker credited in the proper spot? The other three had their own credit box separated from the other credits.

As the I-Bots continue to fight crime and search for a superhero name that isn’t lame (don’t get me wrong, the Incredibles worked for the Parr family, but all you can say for the I-Bots is that it was better than the Astonishings, which the news is trying to use now), Radiant finds herself in a small town trying to learn about humans. Working at a small diner in Blue Sky, Arizona, “Rhea” makes friends with the waitress and the sheriff. Then one night she stops an attack on a man that turns out to be part of a larger plot to bury toxic waste unsafely, and the waitress’s boyfriend is involved. While Radiant tries to save the boyfriend the sheriff (in her opinion) is too fast on the trigger, killing the man. Sick of what she’s seen, Radiant is contacted by Zac, just as something happens to him and cutting off his connection to her, only getting out that the other I-Bots are in trouble!

What they got right: I do like that we get to see the world through the eyes (no pun intended) of one of the I-Bots, a robot grown like a human clone mere months ago. Annabelle is also a smart enough villain to figure out that one of the group is missing and that it might be important.

What they got wrong: I think there are pages missing from this story. We don’t see “Rhea” get to know the sheriff or that the waitress learned Rhea was actually Radiant or at least that her eyes are all weird, which makes it less of a shock when she supposedly tells…someone…at the trial of the guys who attacked that man, or how her boyfriend (who we never really get to know and thus don’t care about) is connected to anything. I think this story needed a second issue or something.

Recommendation: This is a most interesting series in concept but the execution has been just as good thus far. Give this series a look.

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