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Sean_001

Mon Mar 12, 2007 12:57 pm


Dark Horse's RoboCop

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This one covers all the Dark Horse Releases.

-Dark Horse Presents (a comic with 4 different stories. RoboCop was amoung these, Indiana Jones, Aliens, Predator, Terminator, etc.)
-RoboCop: Prime Suspect
-RoboCop: Mortal Coils
-RoboCop: Roulette
-RoboCop vs Terminator (by Frank Miller)

Let's begin.

While the art in Prime Suspect was sketchy at best, the story was awesome. Awesome enough for Rysher Entertainment to adapt into a storyline for the RoboCop TV Series.

Much the same as the series episode, RoboCop is framed for a murder he didn't commit by one of the orginial scientists that helped create his systems. Which was a great idea. 

It followed continuity of the films and left Lewis to be gone from the comics and we see how RoboCop dealt with his life after Lewis (without even mentioning Lewis at all). He found his ground in Dr. Marie Lazarus. She held him down to earth is what I mean. Much the same way that Lewis did.

Dark Horse's comics were dark, gritty, and not really kid-friendly. Which was a welcomed return to the world of RoboCop.

Before i say too much more and kill this topic before it begins, I'll let you guys chime in.

Cause I've got more to say about the rest of the series Dark Horse Comics put out.


---Sean


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murphy38

Mon Mar 12, 2007 1:07 pm



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:mrgreen: Hi sean_01 :mrgreen: 

me I liked the comics Dark Horse, 
but I find that the drawings are too coarse step much of details too caricatural of robo,  :| 
which is interest indeed it is that one can see the life of robo after the death of Lewis and I find that good! 
this strange mixture and sinks!!  :wink:

It's just my opinion :opps:


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Josh

Mon Mar 12, 2007 4:12 pm



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Pics damnit...


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Yarbles

Tue Mar 13, 2007 1:27 am



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you know what, I think Dark Horse made my favorite Robo comics.  They were consistently good.  the worst of them all was Mortal Coils, but the rest of the series were top notch in my opinion.

First off, I just don't think any Robo comic can beat the RoboCop verus The Terminator series by Frank Miller.  That series was perfect, I especially loved how they got the character of Robo/Murphy down, and played with his humanity a bit as he came in contactt with the killing machines that were the terminators.

I also liked th ePrime Suspect Series, and the artwork even grew on me.  It was different, but I appreciate that.

The last series, Roulette was also great, I liked how the story incorpoarted plot points that went back to the first film, with Murphy's death and conversion to RoboCop.

Plus, Dark Horse printed one of my dorky fan letters in the back of Mortal Coils #4, so that made me a happy camper....


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Burnout

Tue Mar 13, 2007 2:40 am



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You know I have all of these series but have yet to read them, originally the idea was just to collect them, but I think with your guys opinions all pointing towards great I may just crack them open and chime in myself when Im done!


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Yarbles

Tue Mar 13, 2007 8:35 am



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You own them all, but haven't read them?  Why not????


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Sean_001

Tue Mar 13, 2007 1:01 pm



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Because he's not HardCore!

Not really. Read them all. Then come back.

They go in the order I posted above.

I actually liked Mortal Coils. As I've said in another topic, Mortal Coils has the right ingredients for a good RoboCop story. 

Plus, it took Murphy out of his familiar environment, and placed him in another one that was as equally or more violent and chaotic as Detroit. The US Government also made him a US Marshal to go after someone outside of his jurisdiction. Good touch. The back story to Mortal Coils happened in some of the Dark Horse Presents comics. But it works as a stand-alone story without even reading them.

Plus there's a twist to the RoboCop/ED-209 battle at the end. 


----Sean


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Nika Silwerra

Tue Mar 13, 2007 2:02 pm



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While the art in Prime Suspect was sketchy at best, the story was awesome. Awesome enough for Rysher Entertainment to adapt into a storyline for the RoboCop TV Series.

I had not the chance read the Prime Suspect .. but I have seen the part in the Robocop series .. and the part was really good and thrilling because we really dont knew who killed the man ...I can to say this was one of the best part of the series ..  :wink: 

the only and whole comic from Dark Horse what I was read  is the Roulette and this was very good .. also this has good story and very good style of drawing I think ..  :wink:   heh I begin to be a DH fan  :mrgreen: But I always will be love the Marvel covers


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David

Wed Mar 14, 2007 9:07 pm



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I bought and read Robocop Vs. Terminator and loved it.

The order these comics are listed... is that they order they were released, or they order they took place? Further, how do they fit into the movie chronology... if that's the chronology they fit into?


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Sean_001

Wed Mar 14, 2007 9:35 pm



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All the principle characters (except for Lewis) are there. Continuity is still present.

Read them in that order cause that's the way the were released.

Mortal Coils is a stand-alone story for the most part.


---Sean


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Yarbles

Wed Mar 14, 2007 10:31 pm



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all of the DH comics take place after RoboCop 3... (except for the film adaptation...that takes place at the same time of course....)

Which reminda me, the RoboCop 3 comic adaptation was also done by DH, although it wasn't listed in this thread's original post...


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Sean_001

Thu Mar 15, 2007 12:47 am



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all of the DH comics take place after RoboCop 3... (except for the film adaptation...that takes place at the same time of course....)

Which reminda me, the RoboCop 3 comic adaptation was also done by DH, although it wasn't listed in this thread's original post...

You got me tere Yarbles. That is true.

But, that was just an adaptation. And I guess I blocked it out. I try to do that with the third movie all together. 

But for the purposes of the topic, let's not count that one anyways.


-----Sean


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Mephisto

Thu Mar 15, 2007 1:02 pm



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I have the R VS. T series and i think it's awesome. As for the rest of Dark horse's series..they all had good stories, but the artwork was complete ass.


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Burnout

Thu Mar 15, 2007 4:19 pm



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I like to think of myself as a hardcore Robocop fan, unless you ask my wife, she may replace the hardcore with "Obsessive". I had not read the books for collecting reasons, I was keeping them sealed and mint. BUt fuck it, not like Im ever actually going to sell my Robo collection so why not read em?

Starting today after work with the suggested book.


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Yarbles

Thu Mar 15, 2007 11:35 pm



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Good choice.  Unfortunately, even mint conditions of RoboCop comics probably aren't in worth enough anyway, so go ahead and ENJOY THOSE SUCKERS!!!


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Stan The Man

Sun Mar 07, 2010 3:33 am



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Bah, can't believe I never found this before now. Well, I'll chime in a bit. Especially since they're re-releasing the Dark Horse series.

Now I myself for the most part very much enjoy the Dark Horse comics, or at least the ones I have read. Granted, I haven't read practically any of the Marvel ones, but I have to agree with what the others have said - The Dark Horse series, while having some admittedly inferior artwork, had excellent stories to them, and followed in the same dark, gritty and harsh feel of the original RoboCop world.

I remember reading the premise to Roulette, and thinking it was going to be kinda corny. But it actually had a nice and engaging story to it, and I thought it fit well in the realm of the RoboCop universe. I especially liked how it connected to Murphy's death in R1 and all that. The machines Robo had to fight looked pretty wicked, and RoboCop being an investigator was a neat aspect. The art I automatically thought was kinda iffy in places, but it isn't the mucked-up mess that was the Avatar comics, and doesn't at all detract from the story or action for me.

RoboCop Vs. Terminator is of course an excellent comic series. The artwork may not be utterly fantastic but it is plenty good enough for me, and again, it certainly helped tell the story, rather than detract from it. 

The story was done very well I felt, the action and look were done with such a good dark gritty feel that I felt respected both RoboCop and Terminator. I liked the deal with RoboCop 'commanding' the Ed-209s, that was kinda neat. It also had good emotional aspects - I like how it touched on Robo's humanity as he pondered how he must act when he was faced with the prospect that he would usher in the Terminator world's future where humans are all but wiped out and machines ruled. It also showed, albeit in a small part, Robo combating with the remainders of his human feelings and desires as the head Terminator uses them against Robo/Murphy, an element I haven't really appreciated until recently.

Anyway, just a great series altogether. 

Prime Suspect I only read in parts, and not for a long time at that - I don't even remember any of it now. But if the Series episode that it was based off of it was any indication, it must have been pretty good. RoboCop being framed and forced into being a fugitive is a decent and somewhat interesting story idea by itself anyway. I really need to check them back out again.

Mortal Coils I've never read, like Roulette I too thought it just sounded kind of corny. Robo is a Fed and gets sent to some other place? Bah. But, I gotta say my opinion has been partially changed by the posts I've read here. I'm especially intrigued by Sean's emphasis about how it not only took Robo outside of Detroit and into an unfamiliar setting, but did so pretty well it seems. Not to mention where he goes doesn't seem to be any less dark and harsh. In that regard, it reminds me of Corporate Wars - The aspect of RoboCop being in a radically different world and all. Definitely have to give that one a chance now.

Anyway, even though I ain't been acquainted with all the Dark Horse comics, those Dark Horse comics I have read - Roulette and RvsT - I enjoy very much. The art may not be marvelous, but the overall feel of 'em follows quite closely to that of the original R1 and R2 films, and the stories are pretty good and compliment the early films style and world.


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Superquad7

Wed Mar 17, 2010 5:55 am



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When those DH comics first came out, going to the comic shop was difficult.  That being the case, I missed out on quite a few of them.  From the ones I have, I'm glad that what I remember the most are those wonderful covers by Nelson.  Going to the comic shop on any kind of regular basis still proves difficult.  I was able to get the Avatar series, but that's for another thread.  :)

Robocop vs. Terminator on the other hand, I was able to get, and absolutely love it.  Walt Simonson's artwork is a little wonky, but the guy knows how to illustrate a story well.


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Thats It Buster!

Wed Nov 16, 2011 4:50 pm



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Ok guys dont go mad at me for bumpin' an old thread but I couldnt find anywhere else where this might be posted.

In dark horses RoboCop v Terminator series there is a page at a basketball game (issue 1 or 2) and skynet sends a Terminator back to kill flo, when it appears the Terminator has a woman and a child next to him. 

Serious question are the woman and child Terminators? If so What The Fuck? Am I missing something here? Child Terminators? If im wrong then please feel free to bring forth the Hammer!!

BTW, this series is the best thing to come from the Robo franchise (apart from R1 and R2 obvs). The story is genius, artwork is sick (the panel showing the head of Murphy hanging from wires hooked up to skynet is my personal fave), the cardboard centre folds are breathtakingly good and I personally really felt some emotion for Alex Murphy as a human mind trapped in the machine OCP built, that is only usually felt while watching Robo1. 

I also think (or wish) the series could of been played out a little more maybe 6 or 8 parts instead of the 4. I just wanted more!!!

Once again apologies if what I have posted is discussed elsewhere.


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Archive

Wed Nov 16, 2011 8:36 pm



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Serious question are the woman and child Terminators? If so What The Fuck? Am I missing something here? Child Terminators? If im wrong then please feel free to bring forth the Hammer!!

Yup, they are terminators, and in issue 3 they battle it out with RoboCop in their endoskeleton form. I guess the idea was that they went disguised as a family or something...?

Another child terminator as well as a dog terminator also show up in issue3.


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Sean_001

Wed Nov 16, 2011 9:31 pm



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for what it's worth, it was a nice plot twist that worked, but not to the greatest advantage.

I'm guessing the general idea Frank had was close to James Cameron's original idea. A terminator that is completely disguised. In this case, a family unit of Terminators. Besides, who would suspect a child as a terminator?

Sadly, the idea fell short, and was only used to try to talk RoboCop out of killing himself.

And the Dog terminator? Bad idea.

All in all, the DHC RVT was good, but lackluster in storytelling. A lot of plot devices were only used to further the story, and not used beyond that.

To say that that series was good, is like selling reading glasses to a blind man.

The story worked, but just barely.

On the other hand, Simonson was the best artist DHC had for the job. 

But I seriously think Frank Miller doesn't know, or care, too much about the Terminator to write it well.


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Thats It Buster!

Thu Nov 17, 2011 9:53 am



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Ok I need to go back and read again because I can not remember a child endoskeleton but definately remember the dog.


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Josh

Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:55 pm



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I liked the child Terminator idea. I like the way that it shows skynet using human empathy to It's advantage. After all, if you see an injured child and an injurd adult who are you going to fell more sorry for.

It reminds me of the story "Second Variety" and the small part involving a boy known as "David".


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Thats It Buster!

Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:57 pm



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Hey having female and child Terminators would have its advantages over big, hulking Arnie looking things. Nobody would ever suspect them. I just remember thinking where the hell did that idea come from. The dog Terminator was genius though!!

Does anyone know how this series is perceived by Terminator fans? I cant imagine they really enjoyed having another character from a different franchise destroy theirs. 

I think the comic compliments both sets of worlds as Miller makes the T's even more cerebral than the movies do and RoboCop somehow becomes even more of a legendary character, even though he isnt really given much choice (being the hero of the story), his level of self sacrifice knows no ends.


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Josh

Thu Nov 17, 2011 5:17 pm



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Does anyone know how this series is perceived by Terminator fans?

That's a damned good question Buster, after all no one thinks of how the losing side must feel.

Seriously though, I don't think they would be as fussed as we Robo fans would be. There is only one Robo but an infinite (well, as many as can be produced) number of Terminators. Hell, the T-800 and the T-850 from the second and third Terminator films while looking the same were different models and they both got destroyed.

But as for the Terminators in the comic they are hardly poster boy images of Terminators. Arnie is the iconic one so seeing him get destroyed would probably push their buttons a little more but as for three random ones who gives a shit? Terminators are cannon fodder even in the films when it shows glimpses of the future.

Think of it in the way if RoboCable got destroyed. I don't think anyone would care. If the T-800/T-850 model was the only operational terminator they might give a damn but as it is, "he's" pretty expendable if you know what I mean.


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Superquad7

Fri Nov 18, 2011 8:44 am



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The "family unit" disguise is a good idea . . . . 


 . . . . had they not teleported right in the center of a basketball game viewed by hundreds of people.

Regardless, I have always really like d both Miller and Simonson's work on this.


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RoboPimp

Tue May 19, 2015 6:04 am



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I just finished reading Robocop Roulette and was definitely a little disappointing. I did have really high expectations though. For years it was always the one thing I had never read and as a kid I thought the ED-209 on the first issue cover looked awesome. I finally got around to buying it online and while it was an interesting tale it felt incomplete. I think John Arcudi planned on continuing the story, which was already a continuation of Prime Directives, but never got the chance to. The mystery is left unresolved. This would have been a great start for an ongoing series as I do think Arduci's take on Robo as a character is great. I also would have liked to see more about the stolen ED-209's that are popping up on the streets. While it looks like  Dark Horse cut Robo off a little too soon, he did have a good run there for sure.


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Superquad7

Tue May 19, 2015 10:49 am



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I just finished reading Robocop Roulette and was definitely a little disappointing. I did have really high expectations though. For years it was always the one thing I had never read and as a kid I thought the ED-209 on the first issue cover looked awesome. I finally got around to buying it online and while it was an interesting tale it felt incomplete. I think John Arcudi planned on continuing the story, which was already a continuation of Prime Directives, but never got the chance to. The mystery is left unresolved. This would have been a great start for an ongoing series as I do think Arduci's take on Robo as a character is great. I also would have liked to see more about the stolen ED-209's that are popping up on the streets. While it looks like  Dark Horse cut Robo off a little too soon, he did have a good run there for sure.

I can certainly appreciate the artwork much more now as an adult.  When I was younger, I was always so frustrated for how artists took so many liberties with Murphy.  Sullivan did well, and hit his stride towards the end.  I still dislike Mark Bagley's artwork on the RoboCop 2 movie adaptation.  Dark Horse's work seemed to hit a balance, I suppose.  Even as much as I like Simonson's work, he took similar stylistic liberties.  Because comic book artwork?


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RoboFan_93

Tue May 19, 2015 12:39 pm



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I can certainly appreciate the artwork much more now as an adult.  

I hear ya! As a kid, I couldn't stand the artwork in "Prime Suspect", but now it doesn't bother me nearly as much as it did back then.


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Stan The Man

Tue May 19, 2015 7:11 pm



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I finally got around to buying it online and while it was an interesting tale it felt incomplete. I think John Arcudi planned on continuing the story, which was already a continuation of Prime Directives, but never got the chance to. The mystery is left unresolved. This would have been a great start for an ongoing series as I do think Arduci's take on Robo as a character is great. I also would have liked to see more about the stolen ED-209's that are popping up on the streets. While it looks like  Dark Horse cut Robo off a little too soon, he did have a good run there for sure.

That's well said, Pimp. Much as I like Roulette I do think feel like it was just the start of a saga that never got to soar on.. I would have liked to see it continue forward into something more, too. Oh well.

As for the art, I think Roulette has some of the better stuff in the DH run.. It's not excellent but it works well and doesn't take too many liberties. Balanced, like much of DH's stuff, as said.


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KidGoesWild

Mon Dec 26, 2016 2:38 am



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Does anyone know how this series is perceived by Terminator fans? I cant imagine they really enjoyed having another character from a different franchise destroy theirs. 

You know, Im a huge Terminator fan as well, but Ive never heard any fan mentioning it ever. Even Jim Cameron's fansite that has some connection to him doesnt list it in their Terminator comics (http://www.jamescamerononline.com/T1printed.htm), then again, they didnt list any other crossovers either. 



_____________________________ 

http://robocopmovies.blogspot.com/


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NOF

Mon Apr 17, 2017 7:00 am



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I've always thought the Dark Horse comics were the only ones where Murphy was given sufficient respect and suitable story lines from people who had an understanding of what makes the character.

Prime Suspect is a fantastic read, as is RvsT. Roulette was cool as was Mortal Coils.


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NOF

Sun Feb 05, 2023 12:35 am



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It's a shame the DH collection never came out, as they done other omnibus collections for the likes of Barb Wire, Terminator and Star Wars. 

One query about RVsT: 

what was the point of going back and killing Robo, considering Cyberdyne Systems were already ahead on Skynet?


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Stan The Man

Fri Feb 10, 2023 4:32 am



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what was the point of going back and killing Robo, considering Cyberdyne Systems were already ahead on Skynet?

They quasi-retconned the Terminator timeline/lore with some bullshit about how RoboCop's breakthrough and how he 'works' was the 'missing link' needed to creating the neural net tech to give SkyNet proper operation and ultimately sentience. It's never really elaborated on much.

(Heh I now have a crazy image of a Terminator version of 'failed prototypes', with them uploading prototype SkyNets only to have them decide to kill themselves lol.)

Anyhoo I agree it's a shame they never did a collection for Robo. Always getting the short end when it comes to these things. Bah.

