SP4RX /

Hacker SP4RX just wants to do his jobs and get paid, but when a rogue hacker steals tech from him, he and his contact find themselves in the cross-hairs of a mob of cybernetic zombies. McDonald's futuristic tale posits a grungy future in which the have-nots are sold cyber implants that will increase the amount they can work. Though his basic plot isn't overly original, his writing is engaging enough to overcome that hurdle. SP4RX seems to be a cold, cut-off person, but as he faces more trials and losses, his true heart emerges. He's being used by a variety of people, but he remains determined to do things his own way and for his own reasons. McDonald's light, cartoonish style, composed of rounded shapes in black outlines and shades of purple, contrasts compellingly with the dirt, violence, and occasional sex in the story and slightly softens the grim realities of the plot. Fans of sci-fi or dystopian comics will enjoy this fast-paced volume and will likely hope that the ending hints at a sequel.--Wildsmith, Snow Copyright 2016 Booklist

In a gritty future, hackers must fight an evil corporation trying to turn humans into mechanically altered zombies. SP4RX is a bitnite, or a hacker for hire, barely keeping himself and his best friend, CL1PP3R, afloat with the odd freelancing job. The pair is commissioned by a profiteer to steal a beta botnet program from the prestigious Gaius Corp. The purloined program can control the existing Elpis Program, a dubious free procedure that bionically modifies humans to increase efficiency. However, when a mysterious female bitnite steals the botnet program from SP4RX, he soon finds himself falling down a terrifying rabbit hole of corporate greed that seeks to use the Elpis Program to turn the modified persons into controlled zombies. Told through visually active panels awash with a spectrum of blacks and purples, McDonalds tale has a wonderfully indie feel that marches in smart synchrony with its nonconformist antihero. For exposition, McDonald intersperses bits of television ads or interviews, creating a depth to his world without awkward infodumps. Teeming with rogue robots, political and corporate corruption, and raw, unflinchingly violent action, this is a must-read for fans seeking a smart sci-fi graphic offering that's a bit off the beaten path. A pulls-no-punches techno-thriller; think Mr. Robot meets The Stepford Wives. (Graphic science fiction. 15 up) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.