The training begins in Metal Society #3. After Rosa has accepted WOL-421313’s challenge which has both fighters beginning to prepare for their fight. They also each get a sense of the importance and impact of the fight which is far different for each. Rosa is fighting for all of humanity to show they should have a seat at the table. WOL is tempted with wealth and upgrades, success dangling in front of it.
Metal Society #3 continues the intriguing series that works on so many levels. Humanity is now a slave caste to robots who genetically engineer them to help build and clean. Rosa is fighting for them, but it’s that fighting aspect that’s intriguing. The chances of her winning are low and there’s debate if fighting is the best course of action. Writer Zack Kaplan delivers an interesting philosophical debate in this issue about human nature and how we fight from the moment we’re born. We fight to survive, to make gains, in pretty much all we do. And, we’ve fought for freedom and progress. Rosa encapsulates that all and in Kaplan’s writing has the reader debate what is in our innate nature.
With WOL, Kaplan takes another route showing the corruption of material. The robot is tempted with upgrades, not just in its own form but also living arrangements and who it may live with. This isn’t so much a fight to prove anything now, it’s a fight for self improvement and the individual. The two fighters together create an interesting dynamic with underlying motivations that are opposites in many ways.
The art by Guilherme Balbi is great. Joined by colorist Marco Lesko and letterer Troy Peteri each robot and human is full of personality. The designs for everyone is unique and tells a story about who they are and their roll in society. What’s also interesting is the issue is the “montage” training in some ways. We get conferences in between training sessions for both. While I’m sure there’s more the visuals feel like they play into that narrative structure we see in these types of stories.
Metal Society #3 is another great entry in the series. It entertains with a futuristic take on MMA but also has an underlying aspect to it that explores so many themes and concepts. It’s a comic that can be enjoyed on multiple levels. For those that enjoy “sports” comics, this is one that’s not to be missed.
Story: Zack Kaplan Art: Guilherme Balbi
Color: Marco Lesko Letterer: Troy Peteri
Story: 8.5 Art: 8.4 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy
Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Purchase: Zeus Comics – TFAW – comiXology/Kindle
Source: Graphic Policy
