Comic zine, issue 2, Jef Bambas, slgcomic.com
The professional look and clean layout of this half-size comic zine quickly drew me in to 24 pages of this almost wordless robot story. It’s clear from these pages that Jef Bambas is talented. The artwork is crisp, and it’s a bit surprising how successfully he conveys emotion through his robotic characters. The inking is fluid, with solid lines and good shading, and the panel structure, though basic, is very intuitive keeping the story flowing seamlessly. The story in Model A is a bit simple, but considering the scarcity of words that’s probably a good thing. The charismatic protagonist Model A has been snatched up and placed into storage by a newer- looking nemesis robot. Unlike his passive duplicate brethren, Model A is not interested in standing around, and trouble ensues. The plot is a tad juvenile, with some cartoonish antics and double takes, and the narration near the end is surprisingly distracting and feels like a bit of a cheat. The story wraps itself up fairly quickly, ending with a clichéd cliffhanger pitching to the next issue. If you do pick up Model A, stock up on a few issues for a more substantial read. (Rodney Dickinson)