Stories about evil AI are becoming more and more commonplace in fiction. I wonder why? Enter: Zero Instance, a new series that kicks off today on Comixology that blends online RPG gameplay with the dangers of AI. Adaptive gaming difficulty isn’t new, but what if you unleashed a powerful AI that is supposed to be impossible to beat? In Frank J. Barbiere, Stephen Rhodes, and Vic Malhotra’s Zero Instance, the answer is a very terrible thing!
Zero Instance #1 is a solid opening issue, and for $2.99, it feels a bit like a steal – it’s fairly lengthy as it lays out the video game world and the main characters who play it. The story opens in-game, although you won’t know that for a while. The writing duo does a good job of featuring each of our characters through dialogue with our main character, Rhys, who stands out as the leader. It’s through him that we learn about the world that’s plausibly around the corner, as well as his family.
While the trope of featuring a world that isn’t really real isn’t new, Malhotra’s art keeps you invested in this gamer party. The eclectic group has a good mix of familiar and not-so-familiar for D&D fans, like an elf, a dwarf, a He-Man lookalike, and even a cyborg lady. The opening features an epic battle, monster fights, sword-wielding, and quick thinking. It’s an exciting look at what the video game Everon Online feels like.
The party is ready.
Credit: Comixology
If you’ve played online video games, you’ll understand the turn in the story, as Rhys has to quickly leave for a real-life appointment. He’s going for a job and needs to borrow his dad’s suit. Again, the writing duo makes these characters feel warm and familiar, like a sister who calls Rhys “sibling” and parents who support Rhys’ passion for gaming but want him to get a real job.
While Rhys juggles a job interview, we see our main villain plotting. Supposedly unbeatable, a draw for gamers to show off, one can imagine that an AI can’t handle going against its programming. By the end of the issues, the villain’s plan is in motion, the programmer who created him watches in disbelief, and Rhys’ party is unsure what to do next. Everything is in place for a must-read second issue.
Zero Instance #1 lays a strong foundation for a story that feels timely without losing sight of its characters. Frank J. Barbiere and Stephen Rhodes introduce an appealing cast while steadily building tension around an AI threat that quickly spirals beyond its intended purpose. Vic Malhotra’s energetic artwork brings both the fantasy game world and the real world to life, making the transition between them feel seamless. By the final page, the pieces are in place for a series that could become a standout for fans of gaming and speculative fiction.
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