Ben Fischer helped build the world’s greatest surveillance system, Golden Shield, which utilizes every camera, cell phone, and computer in San Francisco to battle crime. There is only one problem: Golden Shield can’t properly function without a human mind to operate it, resulting in a controversial melding of man and machine.

Written by Eric Garcia, with art by Javier Fernandez, City: The Mind in the Machine delivers an action-packed story that questions the roles of security and technology in our modern society. Almost ripped from the headlines, the comic does what comics do best, reflect modern society and makes us question the world around us. The series comes courtesy of Darby Pop Publishing and IDW Publishing.

The series is an intriguing one with the potential to reflect and act as a parable to stories ripped from today’s headlines. For as long as it takes to put together a comic series, that’s impressive to be so timely. There’s really two roads the series looks to explore, that of technology and its role in our lives as well as the use of technology to spy on our activities. Garcia has deftly packaged both of those hot button issues into an entertaining first issue.

Garcia’s writing is backed up up by Fernandez’s art which grounds the story. The visuals are ones we can relate to. Instead of over the top sci-fi like technology what we see are things that might be around our office now. That choice of visuals helps make the story easier to relate to and frighteningly more realistic.

Pop entertainment is strongest when it entertains as well as makes you think, and it looks like City: The Mind in the Machine will succeed in doing exactly that.

Story: Eric Garcia Art: Javier Fernandez
Story: 8 Art: 8 Overall: 8 Recommendation: Buy

Darby Pop Publishing provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review