Comic Book Review: Copernicus Jones: Robot Detective

September 11, 2023

by Blake Hill, Reporter

Hey Comic Book Publishers! Are you looking for your next original concept?

A classic gumshoe story with a robotic twist, Copernicus Jones: Robot Detective delivers an old-school zing to your circuits. Thanks to creator Matt D. Wilson, we had the opportunity to check out several chapters in this original series.

Official Synopsis:
Copernicus Jones: Robot Detective follows a fully synthetic private eye as he takes on cases and often finds himself in over his head. In the first story arc, which will be collected here, he takes on what seems like a simple case: Find out what a local tycoon is doing meeting with some mobsters. It seems like an easy way to pay off some gambling debts. When he sees more than he should, the case becomes something entirely different, and when Copernicus starts thinking he knows the answers, someone changes the questions.

Creative Team:
Writer: Matt D. Wilson
Artist: Kevin Warren
Letters/Design: Dylan Todd

Cover Art by Kevin Warren. Images provided by Matt D. Wilson.

Jones is an ex-police bot with some bad habits, like gambling and finding the truth. In a world shared by humans and robots, he ranks somewhere beneath the trash bots, but that doesn’t stop a dame in need from waltzing into his office. Taking the job may get him scrapped… but if he can solve a murder it’ll be his ticket to the big times. If you like an old school detective mystery, Copernicus delivers a rapid stream of hints and twists before you can say ‘sweetheart’.

Wilson delivers some solid updates on the private eye trope, and shakes it up with fun robotic elements without being heavy handed. Makes me want to put on my short pants and ride the trolly downtown to pick up this week’s edition of my favorite serial robot detective. Warren’s robots are enjoyable for this futurist, a blend of current and expected style. Plenty of panels are simple, but sometimes the noir touch is strong and excellent – and I wouldn’t have the book any other way than black and white as it adds to the classic sensibilities.

As of today, Copernicus Jones: Robot Detective is currently without a publishing home. Wilson has confirmed plans for a digital only release (Issue 01 is currently available here, with the remaining issues to be released weekly moving forward), but they are looking for a new partner to distribute physical copies of the robot-noir.

Check out the preview pages from Copernicus Jones: Robot Detective Issue 01 below:

Rating:
ComicsOnline gives Copernicus Jones Robot Detective (Issues 1-9) – 4 out of 5 servos for a fresh take on an old favorite, with more upgrades still to come!