Robotika

By Alex Sheikman
Published by Archaia Studios Press, 2006. $19.95

The Plot: “Far future…” Begins Robotika, the steampunk/samurai/western/sci fi tale. The world is reminiscent of that from the films A.I. or Bladerunner, a melting pot of androids and humans and bastards caught somewhere between the two. But forget the science; it doesn’t make any sense and matters less. This is the story of a mute samurai who does as ordered, and how he comes to see life beyond the simple code. This hardback collection of the series’ first four issues (more are supposed to be on the way this year) takes Niko to all ends of the world as he meets deadly cyborg Amazons and strange forest spirits. It has the healthy dose of existentialism that all indie comics do but manages not to lose sight of the plot.

The Good: If I were to make a checklist of stories I’m a sucker for, samurai, western and sci fi would list way up there. So, combining them is pretty much guaranteed to leave me tickled. Of course, I still like books to actually be worth a damn, and Sheikman’s tale comes through there as well. The writing is sturdy for a guy who lists comics as a hobby (little flourishes, like an android that speaks vertically, help a lot). While the premise is pretty basic, Sheikman’s highly detailed and Heavy Metal-esque version of the future are enough to engage throughout and, in fact, often steal the show.

It’s a bit hard to comment on Sheikman’s art, because it’s alternately very good and then much less so. The guy is clearly talented, because when his work is “on” it’s excellent. His style doesn’t look especially like that of Mike Allred’s, but the two have some similarities. Like Allred, Sheikman uses crisp linework with limited shading. It manages a stark, high-contrast and somewhat abstract feel while maintaining a liveliness and fluidity.

The Bad: While most of the art in the book is good, there are moments where it’s very clear that Sheikman isn’t an illustrator full-time. Some panels are poorly composed and others feel a bit underdeveloped. A few pages don’t flow very well either, the victims of lackluster design. But it’s his first book, and on that scale I’d call his work very impressive.

As for the writing, spots trudge under unnecessary wordiness. And the clever idea of the vertical text becomes painful to read after enough effort. Also, the story feels pretty short, despite the page count. This book comes across as little more than an introduction to this world, and perhaps too many pages go to mediocre backup stories (the bonus sketches, however, are a welcome addition).

The Grade: B- What ultimately keeps Robotika from being an eminently successful book is the lack of a focus. Once I finished reading, I stopped and thought, “What was that really about?” I still don’t know. The story feels like it’s on the verge of hitting stride, but it doesn’t reach it here. That said, I could easily see this series making a jump in the next issues. The premise is there and the art is almost there. All that said, if you love samurais, westerns and sci fi, you’ll probably want to go ahead and pick up this first collection.