I would say that it is somewhere between the already published volumes, although both in terms of interesting intrigue and lines, it is closer to the Trauma Team. I think this is largely due to the script written by Bartosz Sztybor, who recently also gave us some pretty good comic-book stories in the world of The Witcher. Thus, after a slight breathlessness, the third volume of Cyberpunk restores hope that the series will provide us with more interesting stories set firmly in the ruthless and morally corrupt city of the future.
This time, the main character is a journalist named Wallace, who, despite adversities and life problems, tries to fight and reveal scandals that the Arasaka Corporation is hiding. For example, smuggling illegal immigrants from Korea. The title of this volume is also no coincidence – the action takes place long after the events of the game, right after Johnny Silverhand blew up the Arasaki skyscraper, which we witnessed in a memoir in one of the missions in Cyberpunk 2077. But the story itself is autonomous – no you need to know not only the previous volumes of the comic, but also the events of the game, because Silverhand himself is only a shadow here, followed by an investigative journalist.
Or rather, not with a shadow, but with the body and the status of an icon fighting against corporate politics. Silverhand’s corpse is allegedly under the rubble of a collapsed building, and Wallace is tasked with finding them. At first, the investigation, which is not very interesting, begins to take on a blush with subsequent interrogations, the character also changes, and the twists and turns provide an interesting, new perspective. The mystery begins to chase the mystery, and the reader sinks into the story very quickly. It is a pity that this volume is only 68 pages long. One can get the impression that the excellently built tension escapes a bit towards the end, because the narrative starts to rush to the finale, which leaves a little unsatisfied without revealing all the pages. Although it’s hard for him to deny that he has provided us with the next chapter of the story showing how broken Night City is in its roots. When considering whether one man’s fight against the corporate machine makes sense at all.
Although we already know the image of a journalist who does not avoid alcohol while fighting for a good cause in a criminal style from many films and books, the atmosphere of social insensitivity is very strongly influenced by the reader on the following pages. The authors managed to show that destroying a corporation is one thing – a separate issue is society, which instead of worrying about Korean refugees or problems that destroy the city from the inside, prefer to indulge in entertainment and watching their “sports” idols on TV. It is quite a sad but real picture.
This time, Giannis Milonogiannis (“Prophet”) is responsible for the drawings. originally from Greece. It is better, clearer and simpler. The following frames are followed with pleasure, we have no problems recognizing well-written characters, although for a criminal background, sometimes I miss a bit of reflection in the darker side and greater attention to detail. It’s just correct, decent, but after the illegible and somewhat pseudo-artistic form of the previous volume, it’s a very positive change that comic book Cyberpunk needed. Trauma Team still remains a model for the next volumes in this cyberpunk category, but it’s good that the comic is back on the right track graphically.
“Where’s Johnny?” it is a story that can, but by no means needs to be known. Correct publication that once again expands the Cyberpunk universe, which, due to the threads taken, will surely appeal to game fans. For the rest, it will be just a decent story like many in comics. But it certainly does not embarrass the brand.
Publisher: Egmont
Screenwriter: Bartosz Sztybor
Ilustrator: Giannis Milonogiannis
Translator: Zofia Sawicka
Binding: soft with wings
Number of pages: 68
Cover price: 34,99
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