Magnus Robot Fighter #1

Magnus Robot Fighter has been around since the 60s. He's a character that I've known about but never gave a try. With the new comic by Jim Shooter and Bill Reinhold from Dark Horse Comics, now is the perfect time discover or rediscover Magnus. 
 

The Good 

Not having read a Magnus Robot Fighter comic before, I had the impression that this would feel like a throwback to the comics from the old days. Jim Shooter does a great job in writing the comic characters and the world they're in. Shooter captures that futuristic feel the way it was most likely written in the 60s without it feeling completely outdated. The brief retelling of Magnus' origin is done in a way that old and new readers should be satisfied. There is also a reprint of the 1963 Magnus, Robot Fighter #1.
 
The combination of Bill Reinhold's art with Wes Dzioba's colors makes this comic a nice experience. As with Shooter's script, the art has that old time feel, especially the way the robots and vehicles are drawn. Even though it has an old feel to it, the story retains a modern touch. 
 

The Bad 

Being that the story does have a 60s feel to it, I'm not sure if I can say it was the most exciting. Evil forces/robots kidnapping the daughters of rich and influential people doesn't necessarily put you on the edge of your seat. It's great seeing Magnus in action but it may take another issue or two for new readers to really care about his mission. 
 

The Verdict 

I wasn't sure how I'd feel about finally reading a Magnus, Robot Fighter comic. I am glad I did. The story and art made the experience enjoyable. It will remain to be seen if I can fully commit myself to follow his adventures on a monthly basis since I wasn't a fan before. I'll be curious to see if there is more to his backstory told in terms of what his full motivation is. Overall, if you're looking for something new or if you're a fan from his previous appearances, you should get a kick out of this comic.