ID-10T ERROR, from Matt McGrath on Kickstarter, tells the tale of an eccentric computer programmer who builds a self-aware robot that he can kill over and over to vent his frustration. Unfortunately, the robot isn’t fond of the plan.
The Details
- Written By: Matt McGrath
- Art By: Otavio Colino
- Colors By: Kay Baird
- Letters By: Frank Cvetkovic
- Cover Art By: Otavio Colino, Kay Baird
- Cover Price: CA$ 7 (digital pdf)
- Release Date: January 2021 (estimated)
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Was It Good?
ID-10T ERROR does a lot of things right to tell a strange-but-engaging science fiction story about an emotionally frustrated computer programmer and his seemingly well-adjusted creation. That said, this indie offering from Matt McGrath doesn’t fully pass the Question Test.
“What is the Question Test?”, you ask. Good question (pun intended). Stories keep readers engaged by introducing questions to the reader’s minds. Good questions are questions that are forward-thinking such as “What happens next?” or “How will they escape this threat?” Bad questions are clarifying questions because one or more points aren’t clear, such as “Why would he do that?” or “How was that supposed to work?” Good questions build curiosity and anticipation. Bad questions are fallout from lack of clarity or plot holes. ID-10T ERROR has more good questions than bad, and what down points come from the bad questions are smoothed over by some really fine character acting.
You’ve already got the basic premise, and we’ll cover more plot details in the next section, so we’ll cover the open questions, why they work or don’t, and the art.
The main, bad question that acts as a constant distraction is “Why?”. Why would a programmer go through all the trouble of building a self-aware robot, giving it memories to make it think it was once human, and keep this miraculous invention a secret, just so he can “kill” it. The inventor, Bradley, is a failed programmer struggling to make lucrative use of his skills. His failures (mostly his own fault) drive him to manic levels of anger and frustration, yet, he has the skills to create sentient life. Bradley’s creation is historic and ensures his patent rights and wealth beyond his wildest dreams. There’s no indication in this comic that Bradley is capable enough to build the robot, or if he is, why he would do anything but leverage the robot for the success he desperately craves.
In short, Bradley’s actions and motivations make no sense.
The good questions all surround the robot. McGrath deftly creates a character who perfectly captures the same confusion and panic anyone would feel in the same situation. The robot thinks and acts human, and it’s very easy to relate to the Hero’s actions once he tries to escape. A second robot, Burpo, acts as a sort of sidekick/pet who endeavors to help the robot escape. The interactions between the robot and Burpo are genuine and heartfelt, and when their escape goes awry, McGrath maximizes the amount of emotion for memorable moments.
The art is on par for an indie offering. Colino’s pencils/inks are above average in most panels but lack detail in a few others. Baird’s coloring is excellent for a comic with a very small palette. What the art lacks in the color range is made up for with excellent use of shading and contrast, and Cvetkovic’s lettering is top-notch.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
We begin with a man appearing at the top of the basement steps, responding to a call from help below. We see the source of the voice is a robot strapped to a chair. The way it speaks gives you the impression it thinks it’s a man. The man from the top of the steps, Bradley, smashes the robot’s hand with a hammer and promises to return later to finish the job after he takes a phone call.
We soon learn the robot wasn’t a man in any way but that Bradley programmed it to think it was once a man to make its suffering during its destruction more lifelike. Meanwhile, Bradley is struggling to deliver programming code to a client for a Fart app.
As Bradley struggles with the frustration of his past, failed programming jobs, and the pressure of his current assignment, the robot makes every effort to escape. Another robot in the basement in the form of a small, furry animal named Burpo, recognizes the robot’s plight and resolves to help it escape.
We conclude the issue with a view into Bradley’s mistakes, a clever escape, a painful loss, and a promise to keep.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
ID-10T ERROR is a decent indie offering with good art, an interesting premise, and strong emotional beats. That said, the antagonist’s actions and motivations make no sense, so you’re left with a heavy dose of frustration to go along with your enjoyment.
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