Editor Brandon, co-writer of the NYC Mech
comics series, invites well-known names to play in that world, a New York populated by robots. The stories are mostly about crime, violence and urban life. Contributors include Eduardo Risso, Phil Hester, Alex Maleev, Michael Avon Oeming and Eric Canete. The book is classed as sci-fi/noir, but the genre trappings are often overshadowed by the obvious fun contributors are having drawing robots. There are plenty of concepts, but most stories take familiar conventions, like the petty thieves holed up with cops outside, and simply populate them with metal people. One of the best of these is the story of a squealer by Frank Beaton and Ben Templesmith. Less typical standouts include a quiet story about urban interaction by Neal Shaffer and Ryan Brown, Jim Rugg's tale about a pigeon-keeper and one by Miles Gunter and Lakota Sioux appreciating the strangers a city-dweller sees. Kelly Sue DeConnick and Andy MacDonald take the rare female perspective. Even where concepts are thin, the art, in a terrific variety of accomplished styles, is impressive. (July)
