Armarauders: The Last Battalion Issue #1 Review
by Mecha Workshop
free comic available for digital download
link: http://www.mecha.ws/English_Wave01-04_Pages01-28.pdf
Intro:
Mecha Workshop release this comic online via their Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/#!/Armarauders?fref=ts). They plan on releasing a line of toys (model kits maybe.) based on their mecha designs. Armarauders: the Last Battalion is intended provide some back ground fluff for their kits. It does look like they'll eventually release this in printed form.
The Story:
After engaging in a ground campaign against an alien foe called the wasters, an unidentified group of humans pulls out of the planet Runera. A comedy of errors ensues after two mech pilots fall into a waster mine and their unit tries to rescue them. Unfortunately, this happens just as the last of the division (I'm guessing) pulls out. After arguing with the ship's captain, one of the company commanders gets the general's permission to lead a rescue mission. Meanwhile back in the enemy mine (pun intended), the two mech pilots run into civilians that the wasters have been using as slaves. While briefly argueing, one of the pilots is shot by a waster mech. On the surface the rest of the unit tries in vain to contact their fallen comrades(pun unintended). As the rescue team arrives, the wasters find the ship and begin attacking it. The rescuers return to the ship just in time to see the wasters bring it down. The issue ends with that last battalion stranded on runera and the mech pilot leading the slaves to freedom only to be brought down by what I guess are only Runerian freedom fighters. It's at this point that it's revealed that the mech pilot is the son of the battalion commander.My Review:
The Story seems to jump around. Destroying the ship trying to escape seemed a like forced dramatics. I do hope that the main fleet didn't wait around and got out of dodge before the Wasters got to them. It would have been nice to for the writer to not pull any punches and for the general to just leave the battalion on the ground as soon as the enemy showed up. I always wonder how a unit that's been left behind always seems to have more supplies than it should only to be saved time and time again due to plot magic.
The art kind of reminds me of Mech Destroyer (Image Comics 2001). Some of the lettering can be a bit hard to read at times. In places, it's kind of understandable. They were trying to recreate a sense that a transmission was breaking up, but in other place it was a bit blurry. That said, the coloring really gives the feel that you're on an alien planet. Also, the mecha design is phenomenal and keeps a faux-anime feel while remaining clearly western. Overall the art is really good.
It is a solid story even if it has the "ripped from the headlines" feel of pulling out of a seemingly endless conflict after an extended campaign. It is nice to see someone in the west trying to do an original mecha story that's not completely anime inspired. The commander looks a bit young to be a colonel and certainly doesn't look old enough to have a son in the military.
As a long time fan of giant robots, I have to say it's really refreshing to see something like this. I've already read most of issue #2 and I have to say that this is a very compelling story. It's nice to see a comic that doesn't have a protracted origin story arc. The story arc isn't without its holes of course, but they certainly give you more story than you get for comics cost $3.99. I really enjoyed what the guys at Mecha Workshop did. I hope it continues to improve. I'm giving this comic three and a half giants out of five.
