Many fans were pleased when a sleek new RoboCop debuted in the 2014 reboot film RoboCop, but others still missed the original version that debuted in the classic 1987 film. Well, we’re happy to inform you that that version is coming back; albeit in a very unfamiliar setting.
A new limited comic book series from Boom Studios, whom you may remember from their Big Trouble in Little China sequel comic, is resurrecting another beloved ’80s franchise with RoboCop: Citizens Arrest. The new comic miniseries takes place 30 years after the first film and sees Alex Murphy in a world shockingly similar to our own. In this time period, the bulk of policing is done by citizens themselves, who report crimes via an app on their phone that gives them the chance to “be their own RoboCop.” In this strange new world, the original RoboCop lives as a bit of an outcast, searching for his role in a society that has moved on without him. And while the concept definitely sounds interesting and very of its time, the main goal of the book is to capture the satirical spirit of the 1987 original film.
Image courtesy of Boom Studios
“It’s modern, slightly futuristic even, and brings in a lot of modern social themes that were not present in the original film — immigration issues, toxic celebrity, crowd-sourcing, mob rule — but the goal, something everyone agreed on day one had to happen here, is the tone of that original film,” series writer Brian Wood told io9. “Not just the visuals, not just the violence, but that biting social commentary, the dark humor, the media jabs.” Speaking of the visuals, the series features artwork by Jorge Coelho, who definitely managed to capture the look of the original cyborg hero, right down to Peter Weller’s unmistakable jawline.
Image courtesy of Boom Studios
We’re definitely excited to see RoboCop return, especially if it’s going to be as culturally relevant, funny, and violent as it was 30 years ago. And by all indications, Citizens Arrest is going to be all of those things. “RoboCop hits a whole bunch of topics and themes that are important to me, that feel relevant and feel like good drama. And that stand the test of time — think about that original film that was all about union busting, the militarization of police, privatizing public services, and abusive media. In some ways it feels more topical now than in the ’80s,” Wood told io9. “I want to talk about that, I want to hit that hard.”
The first issue of RoboCop: Citizens Arrest will hit newsstands this April.
