The Surrogates is one of those comics that I tried to follow as it was coming out, but failed. I missed this issue and that. In a five-issue series, any one absence is substantial.
But that’s just as well, ’cause the collected volume is a terrific product, like a great DVD loaded with extras. The actual story of The Surrogates is better conceptualized than it is executed, but the interesting explorations of the setting’s futuristic mega-Atlanta are worth your time. In the world of the comic, lifelike robotic avatars, called Surrogates, naturally, are used by people sitting in their homes to go out and explore the world through a kind of VR interface. Like internet avatars, your Surrogate(s) might look nothing like you, and are certainly good at things you’re not. Want to go bar-hopping as a gorgeous blonde girl, but you’re an obese dude with Cheetos in your beard? Want to go rock-climbing, but you’re confined to a wheelchair? Send your Surrogate.
This is, of course, a speculative cautionary tale, and so we have a rogue antihero out to wake the population out of their misguided ways. It’s Steeplejack, the dude on the cover over there, who’s out ruining people’s Surrogates in the hopes that they’ll get out of their homes and live their lives for real. On his trail is a grizzled cop who interfaces with the world through his real, banged-up, fleshy body. A mystery involving corporate interests and mistaken identities ensues, and while some of the storytelling is predictable, the setting evoked throughout the book is pretty well imagined.
Script pages, a “deleted scene,” author’s notes, sketches, pin-ups and a collection of fake Surrogate ads from within the fictional world round out this terrific package from Top Shelf. A classy folded cover goes the extra mile, for bibliophiles. This is what I want all collected comics to be like.
Music: Syrian, “Musika Atomika”
