The Six Million Dollar Man – Fall of Man #1 – 5 (2016)
The Six Million Dollar Man – Fall of Man #1–5 (2016)
🧬 Genre
Science Fiction, Action, Cyberpunk, Espionage Thriller
This limited series blends sci-fi body horror with intense government conspiracies, delivering a high-stakes action thriller set in a cybernetic world.
🦾 Main Characters
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Steve Austin – The bionic man himself, upgraded beyond human limits, now hunted like an experiment gone rogue.
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Oscar Goldman – Director of O.S.I., walking a tightrope between patriotism and betrayal.
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Dr. Wells – One of the original minds behind Steve’s enhancements, now facing moral conflicts.
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Agent Jan Richards – A fierce operative torn between duty and loyalty to Steve.
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Project Kill Switch Operatives – Ruthless agents and scientists seeking to replicate Steve’s tech at any cost.
✍️ Writer
Van Jensen – Known for his work on Green Lantern Corps and The Flash, Jensen brings grit, complexity, and grounded emotion to this techno-thriller.
🎨 Artist
Ron Salas – His dynamic panel work, gritty textures, and retro-futuristic style elevate the tension and brutal atmosphere of the story.
✒️ Editor
Matt Idelson – A seasoned editor with experience at both DC and Dynamite, ensuring narrative cohesion and tone throughout the arc.
🏢 Publisher and Brand
Dynamite Entertainment
Part of Dynamite’s revival of classic licensed properties, blending nostalgia with a modern visual and narrative edge.
📅 Release Year
2016
📖 Brief Plot Summary
In Fall of Man, Steve Austin—once a miracle of modern science—becomes a target. Government factions and rogue scientists seek to dissect and reverse-engineer him to build an unstoppable army of bionic soldiers. As he tries to stay ahead of those hunting him, Steve must confront the terrifying possibility that his greatest enemy might be the very people who created him. With the lines between ally and adversary blurring, Steve’s only chance is to uncover the truth behind his own creation before he’s destroyed for what he is. 🧠⚙️
🔥 Notable Arcs or Storylines
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“Project Kill Switch” – A covert operation designed to take Steve offline permanently. The moral ambiguity of this plotline forces readers to question the price of technological progress.
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The Betrayal Within – Internal betrayal shakes the O.S.I., turning Steve’s once-trusted allies into his hunters.
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Man vs. Machine – A philosophical thread woven throughout the series—what defines humanity when you’re more machine than man?
🧠 Fan Theories or Interpretations
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Some fans speculate that Fall of Man is a loose prequel to a potential AI singularity within Dynamite’s universe, with Steve representing the last bastion of controlled enhancement.
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Others interpret Steve’s disillusionment with O.S.I. as a commentary on post-9/11 surveillance and the weaponization of human bodies.
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There’s also an underground theory that Agent Jan Richards was being groomed as a “next-gen” bionic prototype, making her conflicted alliance with Steve even more tragic.
🖌️ Review Summary
The Six Million Dollar Man – Fall of Man is a grim and gritty take on a once-optimistic sci-fi icon. Van Jensen’s writing gives Steve Austin moral complexity and psychological depth, transforming him from an indestructible hero into a hunted survivor. Ron Salas’ art captures the raw physicality of cybernetic warfare and the isolation of a man losing his grip on identity. Each issue raises the stakes, delivering intense action while posing tough questions about control, technology, and loyalty.
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Verdict: A must-read for fans of tech-noir, 70s nostalgia reboots, and morally grey espionage tales.
Comic Resource / Read Online (External Source)
