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Dave Scrimgeour and Kevin McCluskey   Created by Andre Lima Araujo Colours- Arisa Rozegar Letters- Tom Williams Editor- Tom Williams Designer- Rob Farmer Published 08/07/2015 by Titan Comics SynopsisAn escaped Jiqiren ERD-1 android, a team of corporately funded, cybernetically enhanced mercenaries, an investigation led by Olissipo City's Special Operations Force, and a conspiracy that reaches from the streets of the bairros de lata, all the way to the skyscraping heights of corporate and political office. Welcome to Man Plus: Electric Memory. Dave So, here we are, venturing away from "The Big Two" and into Titan Comics for ‘Man Plus.' Every other review we have done over the past 10 years has been DC or Marvel, with the exception of the ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' 1990 movie which wasn't any of them either. Was this published as a graphic novel or as separate issues? Kev Ha, ha! Yep, it only took us a decade, but we've finally broadened our horizons by venturing outside of “The Big Two,” eh? This was originally a four issue mini-series, yeh. In fact, I believe it was published as a webcomic first, actually. It's is a proper 10th anniversary celebration for us, as we venture back to the very first review I did for Ben-Day Dots, bringing it full circle, and, once again, dragging you into my nonsense, as usual. Saying that a lot has changed in that time would be a massive understatement. For starters, comics are at least £2 more expensive per issue. Yet conversely, much has stayed the same over that same period of time. For example, this starts with a sentence that includes the sentence, “.....incompetence and corruption plunged countries worldwide into crisis after crisis,...,” although, it’s probably safe to say that this statement is actually even more true now than it was a decade ago. This was still a pre-post-truth, pre-COVID, and all that entailed, and a pre-Donald Trump presidency, and MAGA, world. Not to mention, the climate crisis didn’t seem quite as inevitable as it does now (see our recent heatwave here in the UK), and A.I. still seemed like something out of a cyberpunk comic, rather than an inevitable facet of our everyday existence. Dave It’s an interesting cover on this graphic novel edition. I’m getting ‘Akira’ and’ Weapon X’ vibes. The cracking artwork, and the blood red background colour amplifies the main image. Kev Yeh, that piece of tech covering Rodrigo's “Man Plus” is certainly reminiscent of ‘Weapon X,’ that's for sure, and the spiralling, snake, or tentacle-like machinery certainly represents one of the themes of the story, which is the smothering, omnipresence of technology in this world. Smothering, even to the human body itself. There's body horror here, alright, and some of the machinery is even forming double helixes. Dave Which is why the blood red background is fitting with the theme and tone you mentioned. Kev Definitely. Dave I do like the first page, with its aerial portrait of Olissipo City.  ".....God blessed the Earth....." Kev Yeh, that aerial rendering of Olissipo City is fantastic. You can tell Andre Lima Araujo's background is in architecture, can't you? Dave Yeah, it's very detailed and well presented. It's 2042, so 16 years from now, and Araujo gives us a little narrative to explain how damaging the corporate dystopia can be. Corporations are the blood, and life, suckers of the world, so I like how this is showing technological evolution, but certainly no evolution of humanity. I also think it’s bang-on when it talks about "incompetence" causing more problems. I don't think any corporation grasps how badly incompetence can cause real problems, especially when not addressed and just allowed to continue.  ".....but buildings block out the sky....." Kev Yeh, and particularly when they are being run purely for shareholder profit. Either that, or they simply do not give a shit about the destruction they cause. We open with two contrasting scenes spliced together; one with an android on the run through the early morning streets of Olissipo City, and the other as our protagonist, Rodrigo, rises to begin his day. The former is very reminiscent of the replicants being on the run in ‘Blade Runner,’ whereas the latter is a clear homage to Masamune Shirow’s ‘Ghost in the Shell.’  ".....up on a rooftop yawnin', meditatin' upon it, Dave Even the structure of the panels on the next two pages is great. And the light colours work so well on them. The two bottom panels on those pages are fantastic as well. I do like a bit of storytelling with no dialogue. It does have a noir element to it, that’s for sure. Also, I’m getting more ‘Akira’ vibes on those pages with the android on the run. It levels-up the pacing very quickly.  "Lookin' over a city that's gritty, and rather pretty....." Kev Yeh, there's definitely an ‘Akira’ influence on this. Dave Nice clothes line by the android as well. Straight off the ropes. Kev Ha, ha! And a double one at that. Like a double Doomsday Device. There’s some good android parkour here as well. Dave That’s five pages of straight-up action after we are introduced to Rodrigo, setting the scene for the manhunt for the escaped android, and all the corporate processes that have to be adhered to within said hunt. Kev Yeh, the sheer force and violence with which the task force pursues the android is eerily reminiscent of similar tactics and excess that we have seen employed across the pond by ICE agents to round-up and detain immigrants. This scene is also very reminiscent of ‘Blade Runner,’ which is, of course, one of the granddaddies of cyberpunk. Dave I do like this little set piece. It's well presented, and full of energy. Kev It's a well choreographed set piece, alright. It’s interesting that we clearly have some anti-android sentiment here, as shown by the placards held by the protesters, and the graffiti on the walls etc. etc. Dave Oh yeah, with human beings, there was always going to be some form of conflict and resentment, like you said, the placard with, "Robots are evil" being a prime example. Also, the little gadgets and tech they have are designed and rendered so well. Kev Yeh, so as much as we are seeing the ever encroaching hand of technology, and a seemingly universal uptake of it, there are those who are resistant to it, including our main protagonist, Rodrigo. He does not appear to have any of the cybernetic upgrades that many of his, notably younger, colleagues have. Plus, he also has a tattoo on his right shoulder that simply says, "Humanos." So Rodrigo's feelings on that particular matter seem pretty clear. After all, he is almost literally wearing them on his sleeve. Being that he is Portuguese, the influence of a more European comic aesthetic on Andre Lima Araujo's art style has occurred to me a lot more whilst reading 'Man Plus' this time than it did 10 years ago. Previously I had been so focused on the Japanese/manga influence on his work, that the Euro stylings had escaped me a bit. Dave That bottom panel, with the protesters in the background and the placard saying, "Jiqiren is not God," is fantastic. And it's an interesting use of colour to have those protesters not stand out too much, so that the focus remains on the two main characters in that panel. The colouring also represents how inconsequential the protesters are to the powers that be. They are there, but they’re essentially non-persons/ background people.  ".....caught up in a tune from rockin' fat cap, I told him it was art but just got laughed at." Kev Yeh, the little people. The commoners. Dave It’s also interesting how it gets very procedural, and delves into the crime scene aspect next, with a heavy amount of dialogue. The panels and storytelling are very meticulous and it's really interesting to see this type of storytelling in comic book format. Kev I love the procedural nature of it. I’m glad you’ve pointed it out. I think this would have made for an excellent case-of-the-week animated show. Or live action, for that matter. “The off-planet model," line is also very reminiscent of ‘Blade Runner.’ Dave You can definitely see the European aspects to these characters. They are all distinctly different from each other. I’ve just realised the chief in the specs and the green looks like Linda Hunt. Kev Absolutely. Particularly from her days as “Hetty” Lange in ‘NCIS: Los Angeles.’ Which ties back into the procedural vibe of it all. Can’t say I blame Araujo for lifting her likeness. She’s got a great look. Dave I do like how we have gone from a fast paced, chaotic set piece, to the aftermath of the crime scene, which establishes our main players, and their relationships with each other. It occurred to me while reading this that it feels more like a TV show/anime adapted into comic book form. Kev It definitely has a network TV show feel to it, doesn't it? “Also, these implants are top shit. They make mine look like 20th century rejects.” Is this the future we’re all skidding towards now with our “wearable tech?” For now it’s our smart watches and Meta glasses, next it’ll be Neuralink chips embedded in our heads. Subscription based, for a monthly fee, of course. And regular upgrades will be available at higher tiers and price points. Dave I love that shift to the next scene, after we get a little CSI stuff again. The look of the city is a real standout, and as the cyborg strike team arrives back at the meeting spot, you can see how little money is invested in them and their shitty outfits as well. Corporations spending very little and essentially treat the minimum wage staff like shit and present them with shit tech to work with too. Kev Yeh, there is a stark contrast between the modern plushness of the big city tech buildings we see our heroes working in, and the “bairros de lata” that we see the hit squad operating out of, isn't there. I suppose this inequality is always going to be the result of corporate overlords running rampant and unchecked, in a late-stage capitalist society.  "Manipulating they minds in the alleyways. These dizzy and shitty rats, the sizes of kitty-kats" Dave The cyberpunk element is also very strong here, as we move into the next scene, and that panel, as the tests are being carried out, on page 15, is very good. Plus, on page 16 and 17, the video call with Lui, again, goes for the muted red colour, which helps to make those panels stand out and look more aesthetically interesting. There is a slight element of the Nostromo’s interiors from Ridley Scott’s ‘Alien,’ and the Discovery One from Stanley Kubrick’s ‘2001: Space Odyssey’ as well. Also, with the European setting, there is also a hint of Luc Besson’s visuals to it.  "Where food is just a necessity between sitcom watchin'." Kev Ah, that's a really good shout, actually. Yeh, this is a lovely looking book, alright. We've already sung the praises of Rozegar's work, and Araujo has this fantastic blend of John Romita Jr, Frank Quitely and Moebius, as well as the manga influences that we’ve already referenced, in a style that he still manages to make his own somehow.  "Soak up quick image instead of black marks on papyrus....." Dave The cyborg strike team leader is a bit of a bad apple, to say the least. I like the first panel on page 19, of the helicopter flying above the overpass. Again, the artwork, and visuals of the city are really striking.  "Look how it falls down. Falls down upon everybody. This is it." Kev She sure is. Nu Juren is completely unsympathetic as a character. Some might even argue that she lacks a certain amount of humanity, and is more like a machine. Or maybe even that she is robotic, and more like the android that she is hunting than she is human. Dave She is a corporate machine. Just the way her employers like her. Kev She certainly seems that way, yeh. "Just another brick in The Wall." Dave I am really liking how this is taking a procedural approach all the way through the in-the-search-of-the-android case. And the technical jargon is free-flowing, which is the way it would be. Steps and processes have to be followed. Kev They certainly do, and Araujo does an excellent job of keeping the professional back and forths hard boiled, and snappy enough, so as not to feel like they are there solely for the purposes of exposition. Dave They are an interesting looking team. They all look quite distinct. As we’ve mentioned before; very European in style. The bottom two panels on page 20, as they approach the droid, are great. It has a great build-up, and it’s very cinematic looking.  "They cross paths when traffic subsides....." Kev Yeh, that whole scene of Rodrigo's team approaching the android, over pages 20 and 21, is so well constructed. The panel layout, the choice of perspectives, and the building of tension through the silence, it’s all exceptional. You’ve often mentioned just how important distinct looks for each of the members in a team book is, and how they should be instantly recognisable whilst also being immediately discernible from each other. Rodrigo’s jacket is definitely a call-back to Kaneda's from 'Akira.'  ".....somewhere some brothers is overstanding on a hot black rooftop....." Dave He definitely has that European look, with the dyed blonde hair and the stubble. Although, he reminds me of the British actor who was in Luc Besson’s ‘Kiss of the Dragon,’ Max Ryan. Kev I see what you mean, actually, yeh. I often wondered if his hair was a reference to Batou from ‘Ghost in the Shell.’ Dave Could well be. I tend to go for movie references as they are my stronger subject. I’ve just watched too many. The last couple of pages are another excellent example of storytelling, as we get to see each of the characters' reactions in a separate panel, as well as another build-up of tension, and all at different angles as well. That's a good pair of panels on the last page of this first chapter. It would be fair to say our android has a few loose wires. Keeping the background colours simple helps to keep the focus on the main visual in these panels again, and that is yet another great colour choice by Arsia Rozegar.  "And the children are over-sexualized, media-wise....." Kev It's a good build-up to the reveal of her injuries. And her finally speaking, by pleading for help, is an excellent cliffhanger to end the first issue on. What did you make of this first issue overall? Dave This issue has firmly established our main team, and also the cyborg strike team, plus the main plot line of the manhunt for an android. It’s also told in a very stylized, procedural way, which I think is very fresh storytelling for a comic, and Andre Lima Araujo has good knowledge of structure and how to present a noirish/sci-fi/punk/dystopian (but not too heavily manga) story. To be fair, I thought it was going to go down this route, but it has still been a bit of a surprise that the story flowed so well. And here we are, still in the age of corporate greed, with the inequalities and resentment born from these companies and the damage they cause. It's very intelligently written. What do you make of it, coming back to it after 10 years? Kev Kind-of relieved, to be honest. It was basically the comic that made me want to start this whole We See The World In Ben-Day Dots nonsense that we've been doing for a decade now, so I'm glad that you're liking it so far, and I'm happy to report that it has really stood the test of time for me. In fact, I'd go as far as to say that it has aged exceptionally well, with many of its themes only becoming more pertinent in the time that has passed since it was published. (D) & (K) Next: 'Circuits & Lies...'  "Brutalized by parents at the tender age of five."
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