Tech Jacket Volume 1: The Boy from Earth

by Robert Kirkman

The Geldarians are a race of incredibly intelligent, yet physically weak and fragile beings. To compensate for their frailty they have invented the Tech Jacket, a vest that every Geldarian is equipped with upon birth. A fully developed Tech Jacket is considered to be one of the most powerful weapons in the universe. Zack Thompson, through an event of sheer chance, has come to possess a Tech Jacket of his own. Now it appears that the fate of the entire...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1582407711
• ISBN13: 9781582407715
• Release Date: December 2007
• Publisher: Image Comics
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 6.8" x 10.2"
• Age Range: 13 to 16 years
• Grade Range: Grades 8 to 11

Customer Reviews

Try this one on for size.

Teenage loser Zach on his way to school one day runs across a crashed alien spaceship piloted by a dying Gerldarian. He passes on to him what is called a Tech Jacket, which is a special biomechanical harness that gives its wearer enhnanced strength and other capabilities, as well as becoming a full covering body armor. Zach then gets abducted by some of the Geldarian authorities who think of him as a criminal, but he gains their trust after helping to fight the warring race known as the Kresh. The Geldarians allow Zack to go back to Earth with the Tech Jacket, since it can't be removed once activated. Once there, Zack leans that six months have gone by on Earth and has to fight the mafia and more Kresh invaders to find his missing parents. This graphic novel collects the first six issues of the hit Image Comics manga-styled series in black and white.

Good book found, not lost

I happened to get a hold of a preview copy of this book, and I must say it is pretty amazing. I had read the story in serial format, but seeing it again in this new manga style digest was like seeing it for the first time.The story is a nice twist on the old teen superhero trope, mixing elements of Spider-Man and Green Lantern, with nice elements of science fiction thrown into the mix for an epic space feel. Not only that, but it is a story accessible to readers of all ages, which is rare for graphic novels these days.Particularly accessible, I would say, is the art of EJ Su, who should appeal to fans of traditional Japanese sci-fi manga. He mixes Japanese traditions with American sensibilities without relying on the cliches of either. And while Ron Riley's colors were amazing in the original serialized version, EJ's zip screening really brings the book alive.I would highly recommend this book to someone looking for a great space adventure, or just a book with Silver Age sensibilities with a modern day feel.Great for all ages!

A brilliant adventure

I'm a big fan of Robert Kirkman's recent Image comics. This one, Tech Jacket, is the story of a teenager who ends up with a powerful alien battlesuit. It appears to be a mix of Green Lantern and Iron Man early on but what Kirkman does best is focus on the person, not so much the heroics. There's a lot of Zack, the main character, going through his everyday life. This is where the book excels. There's a knack for dialogue that makes it believable, fun and interesting.Plus, E.J. Su's authentic manga-styled art is just gorgeous. There are some epic shots of battles and alien architecture that just boggle the mind. It looks like stuff that would take months to draw. Anyway, the first 6 issues serve as an exciting introduction to the character and provide a complete story. If you enjoy stories about coming of age, adventure, or galactic soap operas - well, this mixes it all together and the result is a lot of fun.