If Destruction Be Our Lot #3 // Review
The Lincoln simulacrum is in good company. He’s hanging out with a robot named Speed. They’re both on the run, though. The two fugitives from the all-robot technocracy are in desperate need of some distance between themselves and the authorities. They’re not alone, though. There’s a real live human with them. She’s a little girl. For all they know, she might be the last human as their adventure continues in If Destruction Be Our Lot #3. The writing team of Matthew and Mark Elijah Rosenberg continue an appealing dystopian sci-fi action story with the stylishly immersive work of artist Andy MacDonald.
The Lincoln simulacrum he is overcome of curiosity. And concern. There's no way a human can survive in an all robot metropolis. Especially not once so young. And yet there she is. And she's not really interested in answering any questions. Partially because the authorities are after them. But mostly because she just doesn't seem at all interested in talking to them. Speed is attempting to speak a reason to Lincoln. If the kid doesn't want to hang out with them, they certainly have other concerns. Like their basic survival. (And Speed would really like Lincoln to take an interest in his own survival.)
It comes across as a relief, charming character. Given the seriousness of Lincoln, it's nice to have comic relief. That's also a lot more pragmatic. Speed is the robot that feels just a bit more relatable than the idealized notion of one of the single, most respected US presidents in the history of the nation. And so it's nice to have his ideal in contrast against some very witty action dialogue on a part of this other robot. The attention brought about by the ambivalence of they surviving human at the layer of intrigue to the story, which continues to move the pages forward.
The visuals in the series go a hell of a long way just with the physical I pornography of Lincoln. He's easily one of the most recognizable presidents in history. He represents that abstract ideal. So to see him running around away from robots draws on a deep, cultural idealism that amplifies the intensity of the story. Beyond that, MacDonald is able to draw some level of emotional depth into this particular robot. And the world in which exists is breathtaking, the rendered in a great deal of detail.
It might've had kind of an awkward start, but the series really seems to be moving in a direction create its own fingerprint on the page. It has its own distinct presence. What starts office is kind of a silly idea. Turns into a really compelling action drama. The contrast between the sentimental idealism of Lincoln and and the snappy, scream, smart with of Speed are great fun to follow. Add to that the entry of what might be the last human and everything really starts to come together in the sharp focus for a series which is really beginning to hit it right at the end of the third issue.
