Warning: Potential Spoilers Ahead
I want to start this off by saying that I think Rust (one of the mains of this here story) is one of the most scariest characters I’ve ever come across. This is a Robot who will stand by and discuss automated systems like its just another day at the office while entire civilizations are being systematically destroyed. Hats off to Matthew Hardy for pulling that off and Hats off to Clark Bint as well for everything he visually brought to life from start to finish. Cyberarchy is essentially when Robots basically say ‘screw it’ and stop doing things for Humans. Which… Is terrifying and honestly? The folks of this universe kinda have it coming considering how lazy/overly reliant they’ve become on AI and Cloning. Get hit by a Mack? New Clone in time for Dinner! Get eaten by something problematic? Don’t worry, we got a Clone! Its stagnation in a way and really, is it any wonder the Robots do what they do?
It also kinda throws basic Common Sense/Survival Instincts out the door where Cloning is concerned. And as we get to later see, this is apparently part of a cycle that’s been going on a long time between the Humans and Robots.
Ash’s Awakening!
I also want to say that I need to read Summaries more considering I went into this without having read the Summary and pretty much expected things to go one way. But I can’t say I’m disappointed, even if it is a little jarring with the jump arounds to different locations as you aren’t quite sure when exactly an event is taking place. And really, you just gotta love little ol’ Ash, who’s basically the Pinky to Rust’s Brain but a lot smarter. He’s basically the Protagonist to Rust’s Antagonist and well… A lot more personable much to the likelyhood of Rust’s displeasure. A lot of what we see is essentially Ash’s perspective, even if he does get wrecked a lot as we see the horrors Rust is willing to go through to wipe out Humanity.
Those first meetings can be a real on the floor experience!
Rust is essentially Apathy Incarnate in Robot/AI form with only one thing he cares about and that’s the end of Humanity. This guy could care less if he and the rest of his Robotic friends get deep fried in the Sun they’re orbiting and its horrifying. Especially since no one else aside from Ash on the Cecil is even aware of this and wants to do something about it!
And in a way, he does do something about it in ways you don’t expect to happen but damn is it great! Tho given the ending, I’m curious to see if he’ll manage to return to be a thorn once more for Rust. While Cyberarchy doesn’t exactly reinvent the wheel when it comes to warnings of AI usage, Cyber-Apocalypses, and why complacency is bad, it still serves not only as a damn good story but also serves to remind folks not to be so dependent on certain things.
Am I Crazy, Or Is This A Riot?
I’m also loving what looks to be an homage/cameo/whathaveyou of the cover of Quiet Riot’s ‘Metal Health’ album. Of course… I could be wrong! Cyberarchy is out now wherever Comics are sold! And you can always grab it here at the Cave in Print or Digital!
Cyberarchy – Vol. 1
Mad Cave Studios
Writer: Matthew Hardy
Artist: Clark Bint
Letterer: Rob Jones
Reviewer: Rob Wrecks
Summary: Ash is a newly ‘born’ robotic life-form, created as the newest denizen of a space liner run solely by mechanical life. Ash’s creator, a robot called Rust, explains that all mechanical life and artificial intelligence on the ship decided they no longer served the human crew. In its place arose a CYBERARCHY, a more efficient mechanical society. But Ash soon realizes that all is not well–this Cyberarchy is a fractured society, with a secret hidden at the heart of it all that will one day pit all organic life against robots like himself…
