Comics review - Alex + Ada

This is my first comic review here. I'll be reviewing some series that are on going and others that are complete. This review is of the ongoing series Alex + Ada.  There'll be some mild spoilers in the review; nothing that will inhibit your enjoyment of the story. If you don't want to read any further then let me say now; this book is great and worth your attention.

Alex + Ada issue #1 cover by Jonathan Luna

Alex + Ada is a creator owned series co-written by Jonathan Luna and Sarah Vaughn with art by Jonathan Luna. It's published by Image and currently has 7 issues released. I think, based on the way Jonathan Luna's previous works with his brother Joshua Luna, that Jonathan Luna & Sarah Vaughn plot the overall story and individual issues together and Sarah Vaughn scripts the dialogue.

Alex + Ada takes places in the very near, and recognisable, future USA. It's set in a world where technology has progressed in not too outlandish ways except, perhaps, for the prolifiration of robots. Basic robots that perform household chores and other more advanced robots that are companions, basically sex slaves. (There's no sex or nudity in this book)

Mild spoilers from this point on.

A year before the story starts AI has been banned. Robots with AI had become self aware and violence followed.

The story starts with Alex. Recently broken up with his girlfriend and drifting along going through the motions. If you've been through a break-up you'll know the state he's in. Not wallowing in grief, just recovering and trying to move on. It's his birthday and his wealthy grandmother decides to buy him, against his protestations, a Tanaka X5; the most advanced robot around. She has one, Daniel, that is her adoring sex slave and she thinks it's just the thing Alex needs to cheer him up.

Ada arrives and is completely subservient to Alex. He has no desire to have her but is unable to bring to return her.

Art by Jonathan Luna

Alex  comes to believe that it is possible for Ada's AI to be unblocked in such a way that she can have her own personality. Despite it being illegal he resolves to pursue this. It shouldn't be too much of a spoiler or a shock that his attempts are ultimately successful.

Art by Jonathan Luna

So, that's the plot. What makes the story great is how the obvious themes are explored. Sci fi meditations on the nature of humanity, freedom and morality are pretty common but in Alex + Ada they are explored in subtle, non-preachy ways. Alex wants to do the right thing but that makes him a law-breaker; something he's obviously not comfortable with. Ada gaining full awareness puts there relationship at risk; she's gone from a servant to a friend. He can no longer command her, only try and teach her. Her new freedom comes with significant dangers; the truth must be kept secret from everyone. Ada's explorations of life and its experiences are portrayed with a childlike charm that is almost impossible not to appreciate. But it comes with a price. As Ada learns more she wants to experience more. Given that her existence is highly illegal she has so far been mostly confined to Alex's house. When she wants to go out into the wider world a whole new set of problems with present themselves. As much as Ada has learned about the world she hasn't experienced much at all. She has no idea how to interact in company. She could not pass as a human in dealings with the real world. Yet, she will need to experience the real world at some stage.

A final word on the art. Luna's work is so beautiful. He has a knack for knowing what to draw and how to draw it that comes across as realistic rather than hyper-exaggerated. Alex acts as a decent guy and this is believable because that's how he looks. His grandmother is drawn to be loving towards him and slightly eccentric. It's no surprise that the characters personalities match the way they are drawn so well, Luna is co-writer after all, but it is still worthy of praise.Again, the key word is subtle. The same is true with the colours. Everything has a beautiful muted touch to it. This is very much the not at all distant future rather than some fantastical future.

The first 5 issues of Alex + Ada are available in a collected trade paperback now 9in the US at least, the UK edition is released at the end of July) and I heartily recommend checking it out and picking up issues 6 and 7 while you're doing it. I don't think you'll regret it at all.