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| Cover A by Bret Blevins |
As Rai and his positronic brother Raijin scour the Earth of 4002 AD for traces of Bloodfather, they pick up a fellow traveler. Her name is Alice. Like her namesake who fell down a rabbit hole and discovered a completely different world, when New Japan fell from orbit, Alice survived the crash of the orbital city, and has struggled to find her place on a world she knows nothing about.
When the robots began their journey, they enjoyed a brotherly camaraderie. Sadly, as they have traveled, the gravity of the threat Bloodfather poses to Earth has worn Rai down. He has grown quiet, remote, and more controlling.
His robot brother Raijin has borne Rai's remoteness and stubbornness with greatness of spirit, overlooking the way Rai has treated him. While supposedly less-Human in nature than Rai, Raijin has displayed kindness, patience, and forgiveness.
They are an odd couple, as Alice observes. But then, like the characters Alice met in Lewis Carroll's beloved novel, Rai and Raijin are not Human, and should not be judged by Human standards.
Nonetheless, Alice knows Rai has not misjudged the threat Bloodfather poses. Along with other survivors of New Japan, she was possessed by Bloodfather. She could only look on, trapped inside her body, as Bloodfather controlled her actions, and forced her to attack and kill people.
Not wanting to ever be controlled again, Alice has a vested interest in accompanying Rai and Raijin, and ending the threat of Bloodfather on her new world.
Although her role in the series was not immediately apparent, it has grown as the series developed. I suspect she will play a pivotal role in the culmination of the robot brothers' epic journey.
Using Raijin's ability to track the remnants of Bloodfather's consciousness, the trio come across someone who welcomes them to his community.
Whether he proves friend or foe, and assists them in their quest or impedes them, I'll let you discover for yourself.
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| Pre-Order Cover by Kano |
In Rai #8, writer Dan Abnett develops upon the themes and events of earlier issues. The artwork of Juan Jose Ryp breathes life into this violent yet whimsical future Earth. Colorist Andrew Dalhouse reveals the grandeur of the travelers' surroundings, while also immersing us in a virtual datastream. There, Rai's friend Lula, also knows as Spylocke, encounters a Valiant hero who very much belongs to our present time. As always, Dave Sharpe's subtle use of fonts bring tonality and feeling to character interaction.
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| Cover by Walt Simonson and Laura Martin |
As this series hurtles toward its climax, I can only wonder how Dan Abnett will resolve all the plot threads he has woven into earlier issues. While I will mourn its resolution, I stand in awe of the tour de force this team of talented people have created.
Dragon Dave
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