Mega Man: Fully Charged #1: More Like a Weapon than a Hero

Spinning out of the animated series, Mega Man Fully Charged #1 is the latest comic featuring the blue bomber, taking a surprisingly heartfelt approach to capitalize on some truly remarkable visuals. The result is just an awesome first issue!

What makes this issue so much fun is first and foremost the spectacular artwork from Simeone and Monti with Dukeshire on letters. The sci fi aesthetic is clean and dynamic, bringing a more serious look to mix with the family friendly atmosphere the franchise is so well known for. It’s a fresh take on the titular character that is distinctly different from the animated rendition this comic spins out of. It’s got a more modern design that works well in the comic medium and honestly has a “cool” vibe that the show tended to lose in the more kid-friendly look.

If you are looking for a comic to tackle deep and complex issues, Mega Man Fully Charged #1 isn’t going to be your choice. However, if you want to jump in to the character with an exciting story that has some interesting twists, this one delivers. The artwork is good enough to pull you in, keeping an engaging pace thanks to concise lettering and packing a punch visually at just the right time. From the announcement of this book, I thought the book would have solid art and it was nice to see every page deliver.  What I didn’t expect was to care so much about what comes next at the end of issue #1 though.

Marchisello and Rinehart craft an interesting story that will have just about any fan curious enough to dive into the second book when it comes out. Dr. Light is mysterious and though I didn’t follow the animated series as closely, it’s easy to see how he is setting the stage for Mega Man’s rise. It gives the story a feeling of something new happening in the long running franchise and the ending cliffhanger seals it. It adds just enough character drama to make this more than just any other sci-fi action comic on the shelves.

As a longtime fan of the games, it’s easy to appreciate this more elevated approach to Mega Man. It’s a comic that I can easily recommend to any fan of the character or otherwise. The artwork alone will make it a worthy addition to anyone’s collection as well. It looks like Boom! Studios could have something really fun on their hands with Mega Man Fully Charged #1.