Review: Cyber Force 8 Scores 8/10

Cyber Force #8

Creator, Writer, Character Designer and Art Director: Marc Silvestri
Artist: Marco Turini
Colorists: Andy Troy, Arif Prianto of Stellar Labs
Letterer: Troy Peteri
Editor: Betsy Gonia
Publisher: Top Cow Productions

On Sale: January 29, 2014
Price: $2.99
Format: FC
Rated: Teen Plus
Pages: 32

STRYKER UNARMED
What humanity remains of Morgan Stryker? Is he more man… or is he more a machine of death?

Once again the solicit blurb for a book doesn’t align well with a specific issue, that happens with how far in advance these get written.  This doesn’t lessen the enjoyment one will have reading the issue though.

A better description for this issue is found on the TopCow site:
As you can see, Marc Silvestri’s Cyberforce #8 surges on strongly midway through the acclaimed-series’ second story arc, as the team races against time to save the mortally wounded Ripclaw – but as you’ll see in the preview belong, the gang’s having some trouble, and it’s only going to get worse with Ripclaw’s old enemy, the murderous Killjoy, on the loose.

If you even glanced at the cover to Cyber Force #7 you know that Ripclaw is in a bit of trouble.  If you haven’t read that issue yet, you may not wish to continue reading this review as I am about to refer to an event from that issue that could be considered a spoiler. (Though how it can be one considering that issue’s cover I can not say.) Marc Silvestri has put Ripclaw through some tough times, physically and emotionally.  But issue 7 has him at the brink of death.  Why am I talking about issue 7 when this is a review of Cyber Force 8?  Because what I have to say has much to do with where Silvestri left us at the end of 7.  Ripclaw on the brink of death, Velocity racing for a miracle and perhaps the scariest of all… Killjoy returned.

Though issue 8 appears to begin innocently enough (for the most part), we all know it wouldn’t be Cyber Force if events were to remain innocent.  The story quickly brings us back to the present.  Silvestri manages to keep the story balanced on a very fine edged blade, moving from the various locations and events of the key players smoothly and with just enough of each portion of their stories being told to leave the reader wanting more.

I will tell you this much of the story… If you know anything of Killjoy, you must know things are going from bad to worse for everybody involved.  Blood will be shed, whose blood? Well that I am not about to tell you.

It is easy with a story that is dealing with people that have the type of cybernetic parts that some of the characters in these pages do to forget that it is actually set in the present time.  I am guilty of forgetting this myself even though I have been following the story all along.  There are moments in each issue that bring this home, and this issue is no different.  This time it is an event that happens during part of Velocity’s mission that will remind the reader of the fact that this is not set in some distant future.

Marco Turini is settling in with the art for Cyber Force, though he does seem to do a better job with the gritty and harsh scenes than some of the prettier ones.  Velocity’s expressions appear less youthful than her in earlier issues. I would like to attribute this to having something to do with the mission she is currently on, and do hope we will return to her appearing as the teenager she is.  Even in the flashback panels she was looking older than one would expect an eleven year old to look.  On the other hand, he handles Killjoy’s expressions perfectly, managing to convey that she is a psychotic killing machine in a single glance.

It is hard for me not to go on about what each party is facing as there is so much that is happening in this issue.  But I will resist, as best I can.  I will say that when I got to the end of this issue I was a little upset with Silvestri for what he has done to my favorite guy.  But that seems to be nothing new with this series as I do believe that he enjoys torturing me by making him suffer.  But he best beware that there are penalties to be paid for what he has done.

How to score this issue?  This is a tough one.  For story, I should deduct points for what Silvestri has done. However, as much as I would love to exact my own revenge on behalf of my favorite guy, it was an excellent read so Silvestri shall escape that penalty for the time being.  Art I do enjoy Turini’s art, there are just a few aspects that I struggle with, such as Velocity’s expressions making her appear older than she is. Killjoy, I would say he has a firm grip on artistically.

Final score? 8/10

Check out the following preview pages: