The Bionic Man #4
Based on a story by Kevin Smith
Script by Kevin Smith & Phil Hester
Pencils by Jonathan Lau
Colors by Ivan Nunes
Letters by Simon Bowland
Covers by Alex Ross & Jonathan Lau
Dynamite Entertainment
Release Date: November 16th, 2011
Cover Price: $3.99

THIS. IS. IT. The Bionic Man #4 is the issue that everyone’s been waiting for!!! This issue is ALL Steve Austin. And while there’s really no fighting, there’s some great action. This issue is, so far, my favorite one, and it’ll be yours too. Most of the plot threads in the previous three issues come together and our hero is ready to be turned loose to tackle all the things that haven’t been resolved. This is where the fun starts.

Script writer Phil Hester, whom I had the great pleasure of meeting for the first time about three weeks ago, does an excellent job of making this issue, which takes place mostly in an operating room, one that’s packed with humor, emotion, story, and moments that will have fans of the TV series cheering out loud. This issue is the very definition of “page-turner.” I’m not sure who to give the credit to, so I’ll give it to both Kevin Smith and Phil Hester in making this incredibly important chapter in this comic so much fun. There’s some VERY fun Easter Eggs in the book for fans of the TV series, so make sure you read it twice. Or, buy two copies.

I’m beginning to think that Jonathan Lau, the incredibly talented artist for this series, must have spent some time in a hospital researching this book. There is a LOT of hospital, bandages, nurses, etc., in this issue and Lau pays great attention to detail in those scenes. Don’t get me wrong, this issue isn’t without its share of action scenes, which he also excels at. Great art all around. And Mr. Lau, if I ever meet you at a convention, I’m buying you a drink for fitting in the red track suit. Well played.

Strangely, THIS may be the issue that you want to read if you’ve never read The Bionic Man before. This is the issue that you want to give your dad or uncle or anyone that’s old enough to fondly remember the TV show and who doesn’t normally read comics. It’s also the issue that you’re going to read more than once. And it’s also by far the BEST issue of the series so far.