My Rating
“Operation Disguise”
Magnus returned to Senator Clane’s mansion after spending the day investigating the mysterious robot designer named Mekman. That very morning Leeja Clane had been attacked by a group of robot assailants intent on kidnapping her. Magnus had stopped them of course, but these were no standard domestics. These machines were heavily armored and equipped with some new type of anti-gravity propulsion. As one of the robot attackers fled the scene Magnus had picked up its radio chatter using the Robot Receptor Chip his mentor had implanted in his head. The last word the robot spoke was Mekman.
As Magnus entered the estate Leeja’s father began to bombard him with questions about his daughter. Where did you take her? Is she okay? Did she help find the missing North Am counsel members? Magnus had no idea what Senator Clane was talking about. The last time he saw either one of them was in the morning after returning to the mansion with Leeja. It must have been an imposter!
What does the mysterious engineer named Mekman want with Leeja Clane? Is there a Magnus doppelganger causing mayhem in North Am’s Sector-8? Why are the city council members so pro-war recently?
“The World Of Robots… Today!”
Do robots exist in the everyday life of 1960’s America? You bet they do! This is a nice editorial covering various examples of low tech robotics used to serve the betterment of mankind. If the fast paced world of home thermometers, parking meters, and traffic light signals trips your trigger, then definitely take a meander.
“The Aliens – Space Derelict”
Captain Johner had ordered their starship back to Earth after encountering a new race of aliens the previous week. There was a brief exchange of weapons fire but thankfully their technologies were evenly matched. The two sides agreed to call a truce, and in a historical moment of clarity both sides agreed to exchange crew members. Each would take four guests to their homeworlds to promote peace and trade opportunities. Now the Earth ship is en route to Sol with a very curious group of ad hoc alien ambassadors.
On Thursday the alien commander Zarz was invited to the bridge to observe their counterparts command and operations systems. As they watch the humans go perform various equipment checks and scan the internal structural integrity a proximity alarm triggers. Incoming meteor mass! “Raise the Anti-Meteor Shields! Brace for impact!”
Precious seconds go by as Johner’s bridge crew jump into action. Zarz was very impressed at the earthlings’ discipline. They must follow strict training cycles during their travels. In the matter of moments each of the large meteorites hit the energy field and bounce off harmlessly into a new trajectory. Both crews had been saved from a cold death in the blackness of space. However, not all would be so lucky. The next solar day Captain Johner’s crew would find a derelict ship left adrift in the wake of the same meteor field.
Will Captain Johner order a full investigation of the ship before destroying the wreckage? What lurks among the decks within? Do aliens believe in ghosts? Collect the series to find out!
Reviewer Notes
Do ident-robs dream of digital sheep? This was a very cool Magnus story with some new robots and a twist ending. You have to love make-up-robs. There must be robot beauty parlors dotting the North Am landscape as far as the eye can see.
I have so many questions about this issue. Is the Magnus and Captain Johner stories set in the same universe? It would be nice to think so, but wouldn’t there be robots on the earthlings’ spaceship? Inquiring minds want to know. If you’re a Magnus fan and have the answer leaving in the comments section below.
There is some cool tech in this issue even if it is outdated by today’s standards. My fav is the air-cars. I love the vintage designs of each vehicle. The only one that doesn’t make sense is Magnus’ ride. Why does he have to lay down on his stomach to drive? All the other cars are standard sit and steer models. That makes no sense.
I’m giving issue two of Magnus Robot Fighter 4000 A.D. four out of five stars. Check it out if you are into vintage science fiction settings. It’s a blast!
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