REVIEW: ‘Mega Man: Fully Charged,’ Issue #2

Mega Man: Fully Charged #2 is published by BOOM! Studios. It comes from the creative team of writers A.J. Marchisello and Marcus Rinehart, illustrator Stefano Simeone, colorist Igor Monti, and letterer Ed Dukeshire. The issue begins immediately where the previous one left off. After the battle against Skull Man, Mega Man finds himself confused. He sees visions of the fabled “Hard Age,” a time when humans and robots went to war against one another. He seeks answers from his father, Dr. Light, but none are given.

Frustrated that his father is keeping secrets, Mega Man goes out in search of someone who may be able to explain. To do so, he attends a lecture by renowned scientist Dr. Wily. As Wily speaks, Mega Man notices his estranged brother Namagem in the audience. Before he can confront him, the wall behind Wily explodes seemingly from a Robot Master attack. Still, Mega Man is determined to continue his search for answers, but he may learn more than he expected.

In my previous review, I spoke about some misgivings I had with the first issue. I can safely say that after reading Mega Man: Fully Charged #2, everything clicked for me. The script from Marchisello and Rinehart had me feeling remarkably nostalgic. But, interestingly, the nostalgia wasn’t for the video games I adore. Instead, it was for Saturday-morning cartoons. The pair has infused this comic with the hyperactive, gritty yet fun energy that was shared by so many of my favorite shows in the 90s.

The more I read the more I couldn’t help but think of shows like The Mighty Ducks and Sonic the Hedgehog. The playful, tongue-in-cheek dialogue laid out over a more serious canvas felt just right. It isn’t easy to nail a comic about post-war tension and fallout where a character is named Namagem (Mega Man backward). As I mentioned before, it doesn’t seem like it should work, but it does. When you pair that with an interesting reimagining of this beloved franchise, and a twisty-turvy story, you hit the jackpot.

The art and colors from Simeone and Monti really grew on me in the second issue. They were always dazzling but once the cartoony feel of the writing lined up with the art, everything clicked. Every panel feels stylish and has legitimate flair. When you combine that with the winks and nods to the various Mega Man games hidden throughout panels, especially when some Robot Masters show up, it gets even better. The action is clean and easy to follow, not to mention gorgeous.

Meanwhile, the colors are exceptional. They run a spectrum from the neon-tinted cityscape of Silicon City to the oranges and browns for Skull Man’s desert hideout. The letters from Dukeshire do an excellent job of guiding your eyes through the action all while being clean and perfectly easy to read.

Overall, I couldn’t be happier that I read Mega Man: Fully Charged #2. It perfectly captures the style, attitude, and energy of my favorite childhood cartoons. For a series based on an old property that still struggles to break into the modern era, this is a brilliant move. I’m excited to see what will happen next with this series, and you should be too.

Mega Man: Fully Charged #2 is available now wherever comics are sold.