Advance Review: ‘If Destruction Be Our Lot’ #2 Showcases Artist Andy MacDonald’s Talent
by Tom Smithyman
Overview
You don’t need a high concept to have a successful issue when you have witty dialogue and outstanding visuals. Despite the simple plot, this issue wows with amazing illustrations of our dreary robotic future.
Overall
9.5/10Andy MacDonald’s name isn’t likely the first one that comes up when discussing great comic book artists. But based on his work in If Destruction Be Our Lot #2, perhaps readers should start rethinking their list.
From the opening splash page, with a single hand reaching out of a pile of parts, to one cavernous room after another filled with murderous robotic creatures, McDonald consistently wows. What is perhaps most impressive is that, aside from a robot version of Abe Lincoln, McDonald has virtually no humans to draw in this issue.
Humanity, we learn, has been wiped out and the robots have taken over. The mere whisper of humanity surviving whatever finished off the race, is punishable to torture and reprogramming. That’s why we find Abe in this re-education center.
Writers Mathew and Mark Elijah Rosenberg give McDonald plenty to work with despite telling a fairly simple story. The whole issue revolves around Abe claiming he saw a human. The robot authorities try to reprogram him through a series of increasing uncomfortable methods, with no success. Too simple? Maybe. But it’s still entertaining.
The Rosenberg’s dialogue is particularly fun. Most of the robots take on human personalities — primarily sarcasm. But Abe is Abe, even when he’s a simulacrum.
And the creative team keeps things moving along, particularly with MacDonald’s visuals. There’s no chance of getting bored here. It’s like a Hollywood blockbuster. There’s not enough time to think because the hero is whisked off to another adventure.
This chapter proves that single issues don’t need to be high concept to be successful — or even just entertaining. Some terrific artwork and even a relatively flimsy premise can make an issue an memorable one.
If Destruction Be Our Lot #2 — written by Mathew and Mark Elijah Rosenberg, illustrated by Andy MacDonald, colored by Francesco Segala, and lettered by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou — will be available Wednesday in comic book stores and on digital platforms from Image Comics.
