Geoff Johns is one of those comic book creators that always seems to have his finger on the pulse of new and exciting ideas. His time with major comic book publishers like Marvel has given him a lot of clout in the industry.
For example, the announcement of Junkyard Joe, a new character in his acclaimed Geiger series, has already been met with excitement. What exactly is Geiger, and why is Junkyard Joe a big deal?
Who Is Junkyard Joe?
Johns’ Geiger series already has a fascinating array of distinct characters and storylines that make it a great and interesting read. However, he recently released the Unnamed Universe Timeline. A complex and in-depth guide showcased various moments and occasions throughout this new and engaging comic book world.
One of the biggest moments in this series was the creation of Junkyard Joe during the early 1970s. Junkyard Joe is a robotic warrior created to fight in various wars and is a major relic of the Cold War era. He became something of a celebrity after his creation. Because of his robotic design, Joe remains online even after the Unnamed War completes.
Junkyard Joe is a patriotic and moral robot who protects innocents and helps support American idealism. His programming is specific, and he is driven to do what he can to help the weak and improve the American Way of Life. However, the country’s destruction in the Unnamed War has left him without a cause to defend.
This fascinating idea adds a lot to the Unnamed Universe. Johns is, as always, intelligently expanding his comic book universe to produce more engaging stories. Just as importantly, he uses his natural intelligence to comment lightly on America and provide the world with insight into this country.
What Junkyard Joe Says About America
Junkyard Joe’s patriotic stance and his unwavering belief in the American Way of Life create a fascinating dichotomy between the world around him and us. In a sense, Junkyard Joe represents the challenge of achieving the American Dream. While America has many amazing opportunities for its citizens and is a place where people can build themselves up from nothing, many people still struggle.
After all, it’s hard for Geiger and others to hold the kind of idealism that Junkyard Joe possesses. His optimism represents the promise of America and its ability to deliver so much to its citizens. However, the destruction around him and the challenges Geiger faces create a unique contrast that Johns intelligently explores with his usual panache.
Staying on Top of This Series
Johns has been publishing Geiger independently and has released issues since it debuted. Junkyard Joe has already been explored and discussed throughout the series, meaning it’s worth starting at the beginning and exploring the complete run chronologically. This step is smart because it can help learn as much as possible about the Unnamed War and Junkyard Joe.
