Being released at the end of July of 2012 is The Bionic Man volume 1: Some Assembly Required, a trade paperback collection of the first ten issues of the series.
The series is written by Kevin Smith, noted comic-fan-turned-filmmaker, and begins by adapting his pitched script for a film that was planned in the 90's but was never made. The story opens with the origin of the Six Million Dollar Man, telling of pilot Austin's fatal crash and recovery as a government prototype in bionics. Smith, in his usual style, mixes humor and some very real-life language into the dialogue.
Each issue features stunning painted covers by Alex Ross (included at the end of this collection). However, what really impressed me was the amazing artwork by Jonathan Lau and Phil Hester with the brilliant colors by Ivan Nunes. Their work is crisp, clean and cinematographic. It is perfect for this project; reading it was like watching the television program back in my family room when I was a kid in the 70’s. It contains all the drama and awe that wowed me back in the day. They also nail the looks of the original actors on the show.
But don’t think this is just a retread of what you might have seen before on the show. This story digs deep into the emotional and ethical ramifications behind the show’s premise. We also learn about the first attempt by the O.S.I. at building a super-cyborg-soldier named Avery Hull. And that’s where all the action and adventure of the Bionic Man’s first mission comes into play.
If you love comics, this is one you should be checking out. If you are a fan of the classic show, this book will have you smiling from page one all the way to the end (over two hundred and fifty pages total).
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