Warning: the following review contains spoilers
The best comic being put out right now is back for its twelfth installment. After the touching and refreshing character development of the previous issue, The Manhattan Projects latest issue has the same great
character work with a tinge of sadness. After witnessing the great friendship
between Enrico Fermi and Harry Daghilan in issue eleven, issue twelve takes that apart
as the truth about Fermi’s alien origins is revealed.
Like every other member of the Manhattan Projects, the Italian physicists life is reinterpreted in the wildest way
possible. Like a few of the other members of the Manhattan Projects, this Fermi
is not the real Fermi. Instead he is an alien drone sent to observe humans for
some unseen alien race. As I said before this isn’t the first time we’ve seen
this move in the book, as it’s been revealed both Oppenheimer and Einstein are doppelgangers
of their more famous selves. Under a lesser writer I would criticize this as
being a retread, but Hickman has presented the theme of duality as a constant
one. Whether it be in the scientist pretending to be something they’re not, or
the secret truth that this group of seemingly milquetoast scientists are in
fact major badasses and the ones running the world, the idea of deception is
present in nearly every character’s backstory.
The issue also presents previous scenes we’ve seen in other
issues through Fermi’s now alien drone eyes, seeing how he sizes up General
Groves and working for the Manhattan Projects to encountering other alien
races. One of the tragic moments in this issue is a flashback to a flashback.
The accident that resulted in Harry Daghilan’s irradiated body was revealed to
have been engineered by Fermi. This reveal paints the last issue in a whole new
and tragic light. Speaking of tragedy, it’s also a very nice touch to have
Fermi disgusted by his own treachery of his best friend. The fact that he is a slave to his nature
and his creation can almost work as a direct mirror image to the rest of the
Manhattan Projects scientists who, like Fermi, are also slaves to their baser instincts, specifically their greed
and desire to push the boundaries of science no matter the cost.
Also, Einstein rocks a motherfucking chainsaw.
Pictured: Exactly what it sounds like
Rating:
5 out of 5
Review by Matt Johnson
