When RoboWolf #1 debuted back in May, it blew the doors off our hearts with a wild mix of ‘80s action grit, grindhouse absurdity, and genuine emotional bite. In AIPT’s interview with creator Jake Smith, he described the book as “equal parts Predator and Miami Connection, with a soul,” and that promise came through loud and clear in the debut issue’s explosive pacing and wounded-father pathos.
Now, RoboWolf #2 kicks the door back down with even sharper claws. The hunt for RoboWolf’s kidnapped daughter hits a violent detour as he and his crew square off against a double-chainsaw-wielding maniac from their past. It’s an issue that tests every ounce of muscle, metal, and moral resolve this cybernetic soldier has left. Bullets fly, roundhouse kicks connect, and Flesh Headz attack.
There really is nothing like RoboWolf, with issue two bringing incredible art and even more over-the-top dialogue. This second chapter proves the series has staying power. For anyone who loves a good B-movie or so-bad-it’s-good action flick, this is the comic of the year. Smith is on the record saying this series is both dumb and smart, and it shows. Characters regularly say out loud what is happening to them, or their feelings, which at first seems jarring, but then you realize it’s all part of the fun.
There’s also an emotional core to this issue, particularly in the flashback. Robowolf, who at the time went by just Wolf, and his best bud Nick are looking to free farmers in what appears to be an East Asian country. The two buds kill the assailants with glee, but when Nick is called in to destroy the defenseless partners, the fight turns brother against brother. Flash forward to the present, and we see Robowolf must fight Nick, who now has chainsaws for hands. It’s not only wickedly over the top, but it’s so ridiculous it’s easy to smile until it hurts.
Watch out, he’s got a chainsaw!
Credit: Dark Horse
The art will be what many take away as the must-buy aspect of this series. It’s retro, detailed, and super stylized. The use of color is vibrant, and the character designs are nostalgic yet distinct. Nick and his chainsaw hands have a bit of a Shredder thing going with his helmet, with plenty of Streets of Rage thrown in for good measure. Heck, the flashback kind of has a Contra vibe, with this series begging to be turned into a 16-bit video game.
It’s not just the art’s detail that captures your interest, but the evident joy Smith takes in drawing it and the level of detail that brings it all together. When Wolf is getting his implants, for instance, there are all sorts of structures and tubing around the slab he’s lying on that make it all seem too real. A puddle of blood under the table here, computer keys there, and it’s as retro and cool as it comes.
As for the story, the various cast members have things to do and say, playing a part in defeating Nick. The way Smith wraps up Nick’s story is a shocker, and it’s somehow satisfying in its finite nature. While much of this issue is a fight with minimal plot progression, that’s okay, because it’s in the action and ridiculous character work where the series shines.
RoboWolf #2 doubles down on everything that made the debut so electric: Absurd action, emotional flashbacks, and art that demands to be blown up into a poster. It’s a glam-metal fever dream that understands its influences inside and out, wearing its heart (and circuits) proudly on its sleeve.
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