“Yesterday’s” Comic> Prototype #8

“Buy this comic or I’ll kill YOUR dog.”

Prototype #8

Malibu Comics/Ultraverse (March, 1994)

“Get Ready To Rumble!”

WRITERS: Len Strazewski & Tom Mason

PENCILER: Roger Robinson

INKER: Jeff Whiting

COLORING: Robert Alvord & Family Fugue

LETTERER: Tim Eldred

EDITOR: Roland Mann

Arena resumes his attack on Prototype, and Jimmy is in the fight of his life, barely taking the attacker down. Meanwhile there’s fallout all around them both to Ultratech stock and the response from the city. There’s also a news story about the little girl who was shot, and she turns out to be a cousin of Jimmy’s baby mama. Meanwhile, Jimmy has had enough of nearly getting killed and quits.

What they got right: There’s some good action. Jimmy is (was?) growing as a superhero, learning to think and even earning Arena’s respect. We also get part of his backstory, though nobody knows his origin. Apparently he just has an urge to keep fighting Prototype and making him a warrior.

What they got wrong: Nobody seems to care about the civilians. Even Bob, who I liked until this, talked about how great his fights were and how excited he was to get back into things with his own armor. Yeah, he mentions nobody got hurt in his previous encounters but there’s still very little concern. Meanwhile, learning about Jimmy’s old neighborhood could have been left for the next issue, as he seems to be headed back home. They also killed a child and I’m never comfortable with that. All of this means I didn’t get the pure fight issue I wanted. Again.

What I think overall: Part of it was good. I’m kind of disappointed this reading list won’t let me read the book for awhile (I really chose the wrong list as I wanted dates, not supposed continuity order, but it’s too late to switch now), but hopefully they learn to balance the superhero stuff and backstory stuff. It’s the 1990s so good luck with that. Also…NO MORE DEAD CHILDREN!