Issue: Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? #12
Release Date: June 30, 2010
Writer: Philip K. Dick
Artist: Tony Parker
Colors: Blond
Cover A: Bill Sienkiewicz
Cover B: Moritat
Letterer: Richard Starkings of Comicraft
Backmatter: Jonathan Lethem
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Deckard is turning out to be an interesting combination “naïve kid making his way through a gritty world” and “talented killer outdoing his competitors and enemies.” This installment really brings that point home.
Now that Resch has sprung our hero Deckard from the fake, Android-run police station, we still have the drama of tracking down Luba Luft before she realizes that Deckard is still after her. We also have the drama of Resch helping to “retire” an Android when it is not entirely clear that he isn’t one himself.
Deckard and Resch go to the opera house where Luft was performing, but she has already left to visit a museum. This is a strange choice, of course, since Luft is an Android and therefore doesn’t have the required empathic sensibilities that drive humans to enjoy art. Perhaps that is why Luft has come here. To puzzle through the reasons that humans empathize with others.
At any rate, Resch and Deckard track down Luft. Once she realizes she’s got no escape, she goes quietly, and Resch “retires” her in the elevator. He’s apathetic enough to not care about killing her in cold blood, although it unnerves Deckard a bit. I say a bit, because Deckard still has the sense to remind Resch that he’s the one who will be getting the money for this Android’s retirement. There’s the naïve kid/talented killer dichotomy for you. He’s shocked that Resch killed the Android, but he was going to do it himself anyway. And he’s determined to get the money, regardless of who did the actual killing.
This issue could probably have been rolled into the last issue. In fact, the thematic structure and the rhythm of this part of the story would have made this issue and the last two fit together nicely, but with all the extra wording that a direct adaptation requires, that probably would not have been feasible. That had to split it up somehow. It makes me look forward to the trade paperback complete story that hopefully will be published in the end.
This issue’s “backmatter” is a continuation of the story from the previous two issues. Like those, it’s pretty good.
Rating: 3 / 5 Stars
You might also like:
