In this review of Synthetics Volume One #4, Montoya and Yuri seek success in their synthetics experiment, while Blake Wohl, as well as the cops, look to stop them. Who will prevail?
Synthetics Volume One #3
Writer: J. Michael Straczynski
Art and Main Cover: Tony Parker
Page Count: 32 pages
Release Date: February 4, 2026
This review contains spoilers
Synthetics Volume One #4 opens with a packed neuralcast from Blake Wohl. Blake informs the constantly growing number of viewers of the plans that Dr. Montoya has to birth synthetic humans and broadcasts the location of the lab. The neuralcast is meant to incite fear and anger in the crowd of people and they quickly swarm the lab building.
As the cast is happening, Montoya and Yuri prepare to activate the synthetics, a process that will take four hours to complete. If it is interrupted after starting, the synthetics will die, so they’re in a race against time.
Nick and Denny prepare the police department for a raid on the lab in order to make arrests and shut down the birthing. An officer asks what will be done if any synthetics have been birthed and a quick debate ensues. There’s no resolution and Nick just hopes they can get there before any birthing occurs.
The massive crowd of people breach the security gates just as the police are making their way to the scene. This causes Montoya to panic, almost shutting down the birthing process, but Yuri holds him at gunpoint, delusional that his “daughter” must be born.
The detectives are able to make it through the crowd and breach the lab, but they’re too late to stop the birth of the synthetics, Hannah and Alexander. Hannah tells Nick that they’re here to save humanity, even if humanity doesn’t want to be saved. The issue ends on that somewhat sinister note.
Analysis
J. Michael Straczynski delivers a thrilling finale to the first volume, ending Synthetics Volume One #4 on a massive cliffhanger. There’s a lot that he leaves unresolved. We still don’t know if Nick’s dad’s remnants are in the Void. We don’t know what will happen to Dr. Montoya and Yuri for breaking the law. And we don’t know what the newly-born synthetics are really planning on doing for humanity. As long as we get Volume Two (and we are, at some point), then these loose ends are fine.
I’m hoping that with a second volume, there will be a little more time given to let these plot points breathe. At only four issues, this first volume felt slightly rushed. Ideally, I would have liked to have had at least another issue or two with this story.
Whereas Synthetics Volume One #3 focused on hope, Synthetics Volume One #4 revolves around ethics and law. Is it right or wrong for Blake to unleash the angry mob upon the scientists? Is Yuri’s quest to have another chance with a daughter going to be his undoing? What should the cops do with the new synthetics? Do they have the same rights as humans? These are the areas I’m anxious to explore in volume two.
The artwork by Tony Parker and coloring by Carrie Strachan. The page layouts change throughout the issue with a good mix of panels per page. Some of my favorite ones were during the police raid on the lab. Parker does a great job with the linework, shadows, and facial expressions to convey the sense of determination and struggle that comes with the scene. Strachan’s use of warmer tones on those pages is equally great, as they contrast with the cooler tones used on panels within the lab. I enjoyed their work in these first four issues and hope they return for the next volume.
Final Thoughts
Synthetics Volume One #4 wraps up a solid beginning to an interesting story. While the idea of synthetic humans isn’t a completely new one, the plot is enjoyable and the cliffhanger will leave you wanting more. Have fun, comic lovers!
