Alex + Ada
| Alex + Ada | |
|---|---|
|
Issue one cover | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Image Comics |
| Format | Limited series |
| Genre | Science fiction |
| Publication date | November 2013 |
| Number of issues | 15 |
| Creative team | |
| Writer(s) |
Jonathan Luna Sarah Vaughn |
| Artist(s) | Jonathan Luna |
| Creator(s) |
Jonathan Luna Sarah Vaughn |
Alex + Ada is an American comic book series by Jonathan Luna and Sarah Vaughn.[1][2] It was published by American company Image Comics starting from 6 November 2013, for a total of 15 issues. Alex + Ada centers upon the relationship between a lonely man recently left by his girlfriend and an intelligent Real Doll-esque robot that he begins to develop feelings for.[3] A collected volume of the first five issues of the series was released on 16 July 2014. It was announced through Image's June 2015 solicitations that the series' 15th issue would be its last.[4]
Story
The series follows Alex, a young man that is still suffering after his fiancée breaks up with him. He spends much of his time being depressed and going through the same routines without making much effort to change. Tired of seeing him unhappy, Alex's grandmother sends him Ada, a Tanaka X-5 android which is the latest and most advanced form of companion robot, capable of intelligent human interaction. The robot is initially incapable of self-awareness, as each android has a program that blocks any potential free thought or consciousness.
As the series progresses Alex decides to remove this program and grant Ada her own mental freedom, as he is uninterested in a partner that cannot truly interact with him and have free will. As removing the program is illegal and discovery can lead to harsh consequences for both Ada and Alex, they have to pretend Ada is not self-aware. A jealous love-interest of Alex reports Ada as sentient to the FBI. Alex and Ada attempt to flee the country, but are intercepted by the FBI. Ada gets shot by the police, and Alex is arrested and convicted to 25 years of prison, but Ada is not found to be sentient.
During his time in prison, laws are passed that give rights to sentient robots. On Alex's release 25 years later he receives Ada back, who appears to be completely non-sentient. Alex finds Ada has locked her consciousness away to prevent her from being able to incriminate Alex and is re-united with her after unlocking her again.
Reception
Critical reception for Alex + Ada has been positive and Bleeding Cool has made favorable comparisons to the 1982 film Blade Runner and the 2013 Her.[5][6] The reviewer also noted that what made the series so entertaining for him was its realism, as it "feels like our world, but 20 minutes into the future, full of technologies that don’t exist now, but will very soon."[6] Reviewers for Comic Book Resources also praised the series for its realism and wrote that the "metaphor of artificially intelligent beings living out their secret lives, unsafe and insecure, yet potentially stronger and smarter than humans is potent."[3][7] IGN gave the first issue of Alex + Ada a mostly favorable review, commenting that while Luna's artwork was "a touch too simplistic" it also "works in the book's favor on occasion" and that "Luna and Vaughan have taken what could have been a derivative story about androids and the humans who love them and turned it into a promising debut."[8]
References
- ↑ "AICN COMICS Reviews: UNWRITTEN: APOCALYPSE! HARBINGER! DAREDEVIL! ALEX+ADA! & MORE!". AICN. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
- ↑ "Comic Review: Alex + Ada #7". Geeks of Doom. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
- 1 2 Harris, Sonia. "Committed: The Unfolding Layers of Alex + Ada". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
- ↑ https://imagecomics.com/content/view/image-comics-solicitations-for-june-2015
- ↑ Thompson, Zac. "Review: "Alex + Ada" #7". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
- 1 2 Dissanayake, David. "Image Watch: On Alex+Ada Being The Most Underrated Series Being Published". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
- ↑ Thompson, Kelly. "ALEX + ADA #1 (review)". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
- ↑ Grey, Melissa. "Alex + Ada #1 Review". IGN. Retrieved 20 December 2014.