Title: RoboCop: Citizens Arrest #2
Publisher: BOOM
Writer: Brian Wood
Artist: Jorge Coelho
Release Date: May 9 2018
Price: $3.99
“With growing unrest in the Ruins, OCP is encouraging people to report on their neighbors. The Ruins is a powder keg, with OCP handing out the matches.”
RoboCop: Citizens Arrest #2 sees the return of the iconic 80s robo-hero to the world of comics. I missed the first issue of the series, but after this second installment you better believe I’m going back to my comic shop to track down the first issue. It should be noted that RoboCop: Citizens Arrest #2 isn’t new reader friendly, but it sets up one really interesting story for Robocop fans.
The first thing you are going to note is the art by Jorge Coelho. This book is heavily inspired by Frank Miller’s classic run with Robocop, and the very square and harsh artstyle really works for a book focused on machines. The coloring by Doug Garbark also needs to be praised to help set a really nice tone to the whole affair.
Following the story is a bit difficult if you are new, but there are enough hints that you’ll get whats going on, even if you’ll probably have to reread the comic to put it all together. OCP is once again the main antagonist, but we see that Robocop is now old hat at this point in the universes history.
Alex Murphy is a relic of the past in a world where OCP is now in control of seemingly everything. RoboCop: Citizens Arrest #2 spends most of its time letting us in on the world that OCP is building (or tearing down). One that has clear lines between the rich and the poor and uses the media to push its agenda. It does a lot to subtlety pull from things in the real-world that makes the reader better connect with the plight of the people here.
But the biggest thing here is that Robocop isn’t Robocop any longer in this tale. Alex Murphy is now retired, only kept active by OCP out of some strange nostalgia and misplaced respect by the head of the company. With this comes a new retirement protocol that has essentially crippled Robocop, turning him into a sad shell of his former self. He’s alive, but at the same time not truly alive.
This is a world with no heroes left to save those who can’t save themselves against the power of OCP. But while Alex Murphy is trying to live his life and leave behind his past as Robocop, OCP once again sees him as a threat as he begins living among the people of “The Shore,” an area of town OCP wants to tear down in its continued expansion.
But while Murphy can’t do anything to save himself, those around him can. Managing to override his retirement protocols, Robocop returns thanks in part to OCP and it’s desire for control over everything, forcing the people’s hand. RoboCop: Citizens Arrest #2 is an interesting story that sees the villains essentially create their own enemy.
I love the idea the Murphy was more than ready to live out his life in peace without any desire or want to take on OCP only to be brought back by those that essentially shut him down. I’m really excited to see where this one goes. RoboCop: Citizens Arrest #2 is a whole lot of fun for fans of the character and a book I can recommend.
“RoboCop: Citizens Arrest #2 is sure to please fans of Robocop with slick visuals and a solid story”
Final Score:
3.5/5
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