The Good
So, that physical upgrade RoboCop received a couple issues ago? It's once again put to use in such a fun and cheerworthy way. Okay, I don't think anything will ever top Murphy kicking a dude's head off like it's just a soccer ball, but the opening action sequence in this one is a total blast. Writer Joshua Williamson really puts the character's new speed and strength to use and Carlos Magno and Marissa Louise do the especially big moments a whole lot of justice. I don't want to spoil it for you, but there's one moment that had my jaw dropped. Float like a butterfly, sting like a RoboCop. That's all I'm going to say about that one. Also, the conclusion promises a whole new direction for RoboCop. I was wondering if these upgrades would be permanent, so it's nice to see that's answered and then RoboCop's future has a big ol' question mark. It's a familiar road, but it's one that I want to take again.
Once the dust has settled from all of the craziness, Killian's story receives some good developments. I'll admit, I was a little disappointed when it seemed like things wrapped up a little too easily, but the writer cast aside those concerns with a strong cliffhanger. It's a vague agenda, but it's enough to make you interested in finding out what'll happen next and certainly reminds you just how ruthless and dangerous this guy is. This scenario was also used to loosely address the topic of how some communities refuse to trust local authorities. It goes to show that, in some communities, it doesn't matter if the villain is blatantly the villain. If someone is standing up to the allegedly corrupt powers that be, they'll still rally behind him and believe him over anything the authorities have to say. After all, if they can build RoboCop, who's to say they couldn't potentially fake some evidence? It just goes to show how there's a serious lack of trust in RoboCop's city. They don't just need to take down the criminals; they also need to earn the public's trust.
The Bad
I understand why so many onomatopoeias were used in the shootout -- to make it feel as hectic and noisy as it should be -- but I couldn't help but find the big letters a little distracting. When there's so much detail going into a double-page spread to make us aware of just how savage the scene has become, having well over a dozen sound effects added to it made the scene feel a little too crowded.
This feels like a swift read yet an important one. I was surprised when I already reached the end of the issue, but it's a necessary step for the next phase in the story. Oh, and I guess all of the goons conveniently ran out of ammo at the same time?
The Verdict
ROBOCOP #8 is all about big action, showing off the brutal villain, and teasing what's to come. It's fun, attention-grabbing, and the visuals consistently match the tone of Williamson's story. Now that we've enjoyed some over-the-top and ridiculously fun action, I'm looking forward to what appears to be a very character-driven next issue. What will RoboCop's immediate future have in store for him? How will Anne respond to the news? What will Killian do next? You can bet I want to find out and, seeing as this series has yet to disappoint me, I'm really anxious to see how all of the follow-up will be handled. Seriously, you need to be reading this if you like Paul Verhoeven's RoboCop.