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IN ADVANCED WARFARE
INTRO
By now, we’ve all seen the original “Robocop” released in 1987. Indeed, it was the movie that marked the decade characterized by other popular movies such as “The Terminator.”
Let’s delve into why Robocop is one of the most avant-garde cyberpunk concepts from the 80s.
Notably, Frank Miller is the quintessential American comic writer of the ’80s. Really, his body of work is both revolutionary and deconstructionist. Some of his most celebrated works include Sin City, 300, Batman: Year One and the revolutionary The Dark Knight Returns. So, when Frank Miller set out in the ’90s to work on Robocop, people took notice.
SKYNET WEAPONIZED ROBOCOP’S TECH
To begin, Frank Miller’s series brings together different elements of the Robocop and Terminator universes. There are Skynet and its Time Displacement technology, human rebels and Robocop’s brain. In Robocop vs The Terminator (1992), a female soldier in the year 2029 is sent back to the past. Incredibly, her mission is to kill Robocop. At the same time, a trio of Terminators are sent to the past on a mission to protect Robocop.
As the series progresses, we learn that Robocop’s tech is in part responsible for the creation of Skynet. From there, it is a race against time for Robocop to disable Skynet in the future and the past. Of course, in Miller’s style there is a twist at the end which will bring a dramatic resolution. Probably, this is one of the most popular Robocop stories in the medium.
In Robocop vs Terminator (1992) #2, Robocop rumbles with a trio of Terminators. Since Robocop is trying to take down Skynet, he ends up fighting the Terminators. Violently, the battle spans multiple pages. And it features Terminators firing live ammunition at the cyborg.
In the beginning, the Terminators ID Robocop as their Creator. Immediately, they switch mission parameters to “terminate.”1 Soon, Robocop fights mano a mano against their leader. Then, falling through buildings, Alex ends up ripping the android’s head off. What a fitting finish!
In his review, Zac Thompson at Bloody Disgusting compares Frank Miller’s and Walter Simonson’s work to music.
If you are a music fan, discovering a book like Robocop versus The Terminator HC would be like finding out two of your favorite bands made a kick-ass record together you never heard about way back when. Add to the mix two more iconic music producers (analogy ongoing) creators in Frank Miller and Walter Simonson. This is what you could call a no-brainer if you’re a fan of even only ONE of these four icons. You literally cannot lose by reading this book. It’s perfect for a summer road trip or any other time you want to see a genuinely amazing epic this season. I honestly had no idea what to expect when I opened this book up. I am so glad I discovered this hidden gem and you will be too.
