Written by: Joe Keatinge
Art by: Khary Randolph & Dave McCaig
Publisher: Image
Tech Jacket’s newest issue maintains all of the sci-fi glory that the first two issues established. This is a simple story so far, but it’s a solid story and being easily digestible in no way detracts from all of the good things happening in the comic.
Joe Keatinge’s writing is definitely more focused on plot development and character quips than it is on character depth, and that’s okay. The inclusion of Zack’s worrying parents in the story line may be predictable, but the dynamic between his folks helps establish more information about how Zack grew up and how he became the young man that he is. Zack’s witty, carefree personality was clearly handed down from his father, as his mom is a worrier, and I enjoy seeing the similarities between the two characters. Their attachment to their son helps to increase the reader’s sympathy for all of the characters in the comic.
The universe in this comic is growing in scale, as now the President of the United States is involved and we learn that the United States has faced threats from extraterrestrial forces before. Keatinge doesn’t spend a ton of time on back story in this issue, but the bits and pieces that are dropped in the dialogue are effective in giving the reader a steady foundation for understanding the story.
The best part of Tech Jacket is the art. Keatinge constructs an entertaining story, and Khary Randolph takes it above and beyond with the art. The armor is cool, the ships are cool, the aliens look nuts: it’s everything you want from a sci-fi comic. The anime style he employs does not get old, and it’s clear that Randolph is drawing inspiration from anime classics like Akira. The vivid color palette used by Dave McCaig makes the whole story pop.
Tech Jacket is a quick and enjoyable read. It’s not a comic that’s bogged down by big ideas or strange, wild concepts, but there is a solid plot line and characters that are easy to like. It’s a fun comic, and the amazing art alone make it worth the price of purchase.
