DC COMICS
WRITER/ARTIST/COVER: Duncan Rouleau

Dr. Magnus and his crew of robot rejects battles T.O. Morrow and his Death Metal Men in an attempt to save Magnus's favourite creations, the Metal Men. Well, at least that is one of the plotlines going on in this very complicated story. We jump back and forth through time, seeing the absent-minded professor Magnus and his failed romance in his youth, before the Metal Men finally took form. There is also a bigger plotline involving some alchemist. It is hard to get it all figured out, especially since the art is rather dark and moody and does not change style, regardless of whether the setting is a dank laboratory or a bright restaurant. Magnus himself hardly looks to have aged at all even as the story spans decades. As for those who read this comic for the unique personalities of the Metal Men... well, they barely do anything in this issue at all so you may be in for a disappointment. The chief saving grace of this issue is the depiction of Magnus who really comes together as a complete character. We actually get to see him express his softer side, his awkwardness but also his creativity and his almost childish fascination with his creations. The robot renegades who reluctantly help Magnus also look interesting. Now if only the writer had bothered to tell us who they heck they were. While Rouleau, the writer-artist behind this series, is clearly talented, he doesn't make it easy to enjoy his story. Some people may take up the challenge but too many may just find it too strange to follow.