Atomic Robo vol. 1: Atomic Robo and the Fightin’ Scientists of Tesladyne

Now here’s a series that’s easy to describe:  It’s basically the comedy version of “Hellboy.”  The title character is a creation of Nikolai Tesla who, instead of going around the world to fight bizzare monsters from the pages of myth, he goes around the world fighting monstrosities of science instead.  Artist Scott Wegener’s style also has a lot of sharp, angular look that’s a trademark of Mike Mignola’s, but there’s also animated look to it that makes it all come off like the love child of the latter and Michael Avon Oeming’s.

Writer Brian Clevinger has no shortage of mad science for Robo to confront, with this first volume pitting him against evil organs, giant ants, mecha pyramids, and the bastardry of Stephen Hawking.  His script is frequently funny, drawing mostly on the main character’s zen-like detachment from the absurdity of his situations and the whims of the supporting cast.  Those usually involve something along the lines of arguing about imaginary science.  The writing could be a little bit tighter, there are plenty of dry stretches between the jokes in some issues, but it’s an amusing effort that makes me interested in seeing more.