REVIEW: COMPU-MECH 1-4

Write/Artist/Colors: Theodore Riddle
Editor: Richard Vasseur
Publisher: Monolith Comics

It doesn’t happen often, but occasionally I get the pleasure of reading something new that’s fresh off the presses with multiple stories/issues ready for a reader to dive into. For Computer-M.E.C.H. Mr. Riddle and Monolith Comics had a total of four issues for us!

In issue #1 we get a bit of an origin story. Compu-M.E.C.H. was invented by Dr. Jason Green. The M.E.C.H. stands for Mechanically Engineered and Computerized Hero. It is a robotic weapon that can be transported anywhere in the world (like Centurions) as needed when there is trouble.

Tommy Chase is the operator of Compu-M.E.C.H. To operate the machinery he gets “plugged in” (like in The Matrix or Pacific Rim). At this point he becomes part of the mechanism.

During these four books we get to see Compu-M.E.C.H. stop a bank robbery, take on terrorists aboard an airplane, halt a runaway train, fight a villain called Death Shroud, deal with a time traveling mishap, as well as take on a renegade clone and some scientific experiments gone wrong.

Through everything I didn’t see anything that would make me feel like these stories are inappropriate for children.

Artwork:

.5 Stars

I liked how Compu-M.E.C.H. was portrayed. I would have liked more detail and crisper lines on the other characters. It didn’t keep the reader from being able to understand events as they unfolded though.

Story:

.75 Stars

Mr. Riddle came up with all sorts of adventures for Compu-M.E.C.H. I liked the variety. The story with Death Shroud was my favorite.

Jonathan Pitt’s origin story was good. The key characters could use some tweaking though. After four issues I don’t feel like I know our heroes, Tommy or Dr. Green. I look forward to seeing more development of their personalities in future issues.

Dialogue:

.75 Stars

Most of the dialogue was well written and helpful. I had to read the parts of the fourth issue a couple times to understand the conversation between Dr. Batton and her daughter.

Editing:

.75 Stars

There was one grammatical error I saw. Aside from that this one does a good job of making sure the reader knows where we are. The lettering is on point as well.

Mechanics:

.5

While Computer-M.E.C.H. has all sorts of adventures there’s almost never a sense of drama. Any conflicts our heroes are involved in seems to be over as quickly as it starts. It’s like a Superman story without kryptonite. Once in a while Rocky needs to take a shot to the kisser.

All in all I like how the first four books in this series start the story off. With a few adjustments I think the next four will make everyone sit up and take notice!