There really is nothing quite like sitting down with a good book, and with the weather starting to cool down, it's the perfect time to sit back and lose yourself in a good story. Thankfully, the Mega Man series has plenty of good stories to tell, including the Archie Comics Mega Man run.
Is this hardcover release worth the price of admission? Join me after the break to find out!
Review sample provided by BigBadToyStore
Udon has revived the Archie Mega Man series under the new title Mega Man Adventures, collecting all of the previous issues minus the Sonic crossover stories, with a continuation of the series planned for release in December. Needless to say, Ian Flynn's take on the Blue Bomber's early adventures has been a fan favorite for more than a decade, so it is great to see the series return.
This book is hefty. Volume 1 contains the first 12 issues, as well as a brand-new original story at the end. The quality of the book is excellent with very glossy pages and a sturdy cover.
For those who are not familiar with this telling of the story, you're in for a treat. Mega Man Adventures tells a surprisingly deep and emotional version of the Mega Man story, while still remembering to have fun. It's a delicate balancing act, but I remember being extremely impressed when reading the original run, and I am very excited to revisit these stories. The art is also something to really appreciate, with some of the best depictions of these characters ever put to page.
The book is noticeably larger than the size of the original comics and the older graphic novels. This new release is very well-made and seems like it will easily survive multiple readings. Like with any book, treat it with respect, but you don't have to worry about it just suddenly falling apart in your hands.
The old crew is back to tell an original tale at the end of the book, and it's wonderful to see. The story is a quick 6-page addition, but it's a really fun 6 pages. I won't spoil it here, but it's a very fun read, and a great way to cap off the book. Strangely, the Short Circuits segments from the original issues seem to be missing. Let's hope that gets rectified in the following releases so we can see those return; they were a lot of fun!
There's not much else to say, this is just a wonderful release. No sense & skill this time, just a high recommendation for a story that is definitely worth reading for the first time or re-reading after so many years. If you missed out on the original Archie run back in 2011, then you're in for a treat. Enjoy the ride!
Mega Man Adventures Vol. 1 A Hero is Built is available now at BigBadToyStore! Be sure to use our special links so they know we sent ya!
Curious how often they'll be releasing these. Given their plan to pick back up where the series left off, you'd think they'd want to get them all out the door before that launches, but it doesn't look like there will be time for that at all.
ReplyDeleteUdon can be all over the place sometimes, it's by far my biggest gripe with them. While they're announcing new comics pretty steadily, ones that were advertised months ago either continue to get delayed or just put on hiatus. I'd say Volume 2 of this even coming out is a coin-flip, it's still in the back pages of the comics coming out today but nowhere on their site or their distributor's. The Mr. and Little Mega Man manga are two other examples. I just want to see a commitment to actually finish something before launching another mini-series or one-shot.
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