gen:LOCK #1 Brings Back All of Our Favorites
Gen:LOCK was Rooster Teeth’s latest hit animated series, and as such, fans have been dying for more. While the second season is still a bit off, at least there is a new comic series to hold us over in the meantime. And thus, I fangirled all over the place with the release of gen:LOCK #1.
Gen:LOCK is set in the future, with a significant dystopian edge. It combines a hostile force with seriously advanced tech and has made quite the impression. The leading characters are part of a new team that allows them to fully integrate with their mechs in a truly iconic fashion.
This new series aims to help bridge the gap between seasons. It’s set shortly after the first season’s conclusion and presumably will help set the tone for the next season. Though without knowing more about season two, we don’t know how much, if any, overlap there will be.
Writing
Seeing a TV series get turned into a comic is always hit or miss. On the one hand, it has a lot of the groundwork already done for it. On the other hand, it doesn’t always translate well into a new format. And it does partially depend on the writers and artists, naturally.
By all appearances, gen:LOCK will be a worthwhile read for fans. Gen:LOCK #1 brings us directly back to the characters we all know and love – and the struggles they’ve been facing. But the series isn’t lazy, and that’s a good thing.
Two writers teamed up to bring us this adapted form of the series, Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing. Together they’ve come up with all-new challenges for the team while answering the question: ‘what have they been up to since we last saw them?’
Right away, we’re brought into the life and memory of one of the leading characters, bringing us the emotional connection the series probably needed. From there, it seemed to flow smoothly.
I love that this series is advancing ground instead of simply rehashing events from the first season. Their new adventures are already proving to be interesting, though perhaps I have a slight bias. As I read, I can’t help but hear the characters’ voices in my head. But I’m counting that as a good thing.
Art
The artwork in gen:LOCK #1 is worth writing home about. The series isn’t a direct match for the animated version – but that’s okay. The characters are still clearly identifiable. And that goes for all versions of each character; human, mech, or avatar.
The comic does an excellent job capturing some whimsical elements, such as Cammie’s adventures – killing time in her games. It is, perhaps, just a touch brighter and more vibrant than its counterpart, but I am enjoying the change.
The other decision I’ve found myself loving was altering the lettering for some of the characters. I’ve seen it before, where the lettering’s color changes along with the language. And that was done here, with Kazu’s speech coming in as a deep red.
The creative team behind gen:LOCK #1 was a large one. Carlo Barberi provided the pencils, while Walden Wong did the inking. Then there was Protobunker, who did the coloring for this issue. And finally, Tom Napolitano did the lettering.
Conclusion
Gen:LOCK #1 is going to be an issue that lives up to fans’ expectations of the series. Though perhaps we’re all still reeling from DC picking up the series (along with RWBY, for those that are curious).
As a fan desperate to see more of the series, I couldn’t be more excited by the comic book version coming out. I’ll gladly take anything they’re willing to give us, and I imagine I’m not the only one feeling that way.
This review was originally written for Word of the Nerd, but has been ported over to Quirky Cat’s Fat Stacks now that the site has shut down.
Quirky Cat’s Fat Stacks | Quirky Cat’s Comics | The Book Review Crew | Monkeys Fighting Robots | Storygraph | Bookhype | Bookstagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Reedsy
Quirky Cats Comics 
Leave a comment