Review: Think Tank comic’s awesome debut’s a no-brainer

Reviewer: Abdulkareem Baba Aminu

Publisher: Image/Top Cow

“When I was six, Fibonacci coding was my passion for two weeks.” When a comic book starts with that, you expect a lot. And boy, does Think Thank #1 deliver. Written by Matt Hawkins and illustrated by Rashan Ekedal, it’s the story of Dr. David Loren, a young genius-inventor-slacker (I know, an awful oxymoron, but hey...), who makes new weapons and creates new ways to kill for the government.

The story really begins when Dr. Loren (revealed to have gone to Cal Tech when only 16) pisses off Colonel Harrison for being a slacker, moping around piles of unfinished projects. During his soul-searching after the unpleasant army officer’s harassment, he decides to go a different, morally-upright path. But then he invents a device that ramps up the fun on the book many notches up. It’s also a gizmo that every human being would love to own.

But what didn’t work for me are the Schindler’s List and Spielberg references. Someone as smart as Dr. Loren should be able to work out moral battles without getting a Eureka moment gotten from watching a movie. But, oddly, the Channing Tatum reference worked.

Many comparisons with Marvel’s Tony Stark (Iron Man) will be pointed out, but I see it more as Dr. Loren’s character taking the talented Mr. Stark further. The tropes are familiar in some places, but many readers will relate to him, strangely. Our hero also, towards the end, shows some entertaining James Bond tendencies. And that’s a lot to say about a book that warns – on its cover – to “make you smarter” when you read it.

Memorable moments abound. Best line ever? When Dr. Loren checks out his employers’ ‘wish list’ of weapons to be created, describing it as “Santa’s death list for the naughty.” Of course there are other nuggets like “Ultimately, the problem with the military is they have no sense of humour.”

Memorable moments abound. Best line ever? When Dr. Loren checks out his employers’ ‘wish list’ of weapons to be created, describing it as “Santa’s death list for the naughty.” Of course there are other nuggets like “Ultimately, the problem with the military is they have no sense of humour.”

The art, while absolutely gorgeous to behold, could have been senses-shattering if it were in colour. Yes, a book about tech was made in black and white. It’s even more painful when you behold the gloriously coloured cover. Come on, guys!

But Hawkins and Ekebal made up for it with the DVD-extra-style ‘Science Class’ bit at the end. The writer, clearly, has done his research and after the breath-taking ride that Think Tank #1 is, he reveals how real-life experiences with science helped him shape the tale and the characters within. The kicks within this slick debut are many. But the main one is a deliciously fresh mix of theoretical science (invoking 80’s Byrne Superman reboot flavour) and actual, existing tech that make this one a keeper.