Review: The Killing Machine
Richter is an Autonomous Robotic Commander (ARC), leading the Battleship Viggo with its crew of 39 towards a hostile alien planet. As the ship nears its target he begins the process of thawing out his 'biological components' - otherwise known as humans - to begin their mission.
The most senior biological on board is Lieutenant Coni, a highly motivated young woman with a regrettable past. Poor choices led to some unfortunate incidents and she still bears the scars. Nevertheless she has turned her life around and is now a very capable officer. She has no apparent problems taking orders from a robotic commander, although she has some misgivings regarding his plan to infiltrate the alien planet...
The Killing Machine - Book One of The Hand of God issue 1: The Second Crusade by writer Darin S. Cape and artist Michel Fortin delves into the philosophical questions surrounding artificial intelligence and its place in society. Robotics designer Dr Gupta presents his work to an admiral, who has some serious qualms about putting a machine in charge of his soldiers. We learn that Richter has organic human eyes to help him relate to his subordinates. Gupta has provided him with 'windows to the soul' ... but does Richter have a soul?
When you have created so many machines to do all the fighting for you, it only makes sense that another machine is the natural choice to coordinate them, but where does it end?
The war between humans and aliens was sparked by the discovery of an ancient artefact called 'the Hand of God' which appears to be the source of all life on Earth. Why do the aliens want this object? What is its power? These questions remain unanswered for now.
The artwork is slick and there is a lot of action, with some neat spacecraft designs and no shortage of combat. Our robotic hero is locked in battle with an enemy over a prize that may prove the existence of a Creator... or, in his terms, the creator of his creators.
Richter is programmed to be the best possible commander and a more than capable fighter, but is an artificial being capable of fulfilling a role that could shape the destiny of all human life?
THE KILLING MACHINE on Kickstarter
Zak Webber
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