Rust: Death of the Rocket Boy by Royden Lepp is the third in the planned four part series. Jet Jones is nearly out of battery life and the army is closing in on his location.

As his life is running out, much of volume 3 is back story. We learn of his creator, his reason for his long life, and his flight from the war.

Along with Jet's history, we learn how the military keeps tabs on its soldiers and equipment. Those harmless repurposed war machines are killers lying in wait for the signal. ( )

Summary: Jet Jones saves Oswald from the robot that's chasing him, but Oswald also learns Jet's secret - that the rocket boy is really a machine himself. No one else in his family believes him, though; sure, Jet's a little odd, and he's clearly running from something more than the war, but he's been such a help around the Taylor's failing farm that they're hard pressed to let him go. But Jet has a choice to make - he's sick, and the oil cells he scavenges are no longer working to power him. Going back would mean facing his terrible power and history, but staying may be putting the Taylors in more danger.

This volume also contains a reprint of the Free Comic Book Day story "Chores", which helps build the relationship between Jet and the two young girls, Amy and Ava, that comes up again in the main book.

Review: Aaaahh, this series is so good. I mean, where else can you get killer robots PLUS all the emotional pathos you can handle? (Well, besides Battlestar Galactica. But where else can you get new episodes about killer robots plus emotional pathos?) This volume, like the ones before it, is this wonderful mix of action and story and heartache, all wrapped up in lovely sepia artwork. My heart broke for just about every character in this book, Jet and Oswald and Roman and Jessie and Ava and even Jet's creator/father, who was initially set up as a bad guy but now is shading more wonderfully gray. The text is fairly sparse, but what there is is wonderful. The lines "When is it time to call it quits? Failure seems like such a slow process." set over images of the Taylors working - together - at their failing farm… well, that's already pretty powerful, and then when you consider the fact that those words are in a letter that Roman will never send to his father who is most likely dead… That breaks the heart, in a quiet and wonderful way. And the thing is, the whole book (the whole series, really, but this book in particular) is full of bits like that. And killer robots and jet packs. Good stuff. 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Recommendation: Everyone? I suppose I should be more specific. People who like their steampunk gritty, broken down, with a hint of dustbowl flavor, and with some amazingly compelling characters should definitely pick this up. But honestly, this is the kind of series that I want to push on people. I'll stick with "Everyone." ( )

This is the third book in the Rust series. I originally thought this was the last book in the series but it is not. There will be one more book, Soul in the Machine, which is expected to release next year. It was very well done and I enjoyed it a lot.

Jet Jones wants to continue helping out on the Taylor farm but Oz has discovered his secret. As Jet Jones’s past start to catch up with him in a big way he is forced to face a decision. Should he stay on with the Taylor’s potentially drawing more trouble to their farm? Or should he accept that he may not ever fit in and find a family elsewhere? It seems that for Jet Jones the time to make a decision is running out.

I have really enjoyed all of the books in the Rust series and this book was no exception to that. They are science fiction type books but they are all set on a little farm. This lends a very nostalgic feel to the books. The fact that all of the illustration is done is soft sepia tones adds to this feeling.

This book reveals Jet’s origins and shows us a lot more about the man who made Jet. We learn why Jet has been seeking out that power cell so desperately and what might happen if he doesn’t get it.

Things are coming to a head at the Taylor farm. More and more of the drones are activating and turning violent. The Taylor farm is struggling to make ends meet and is questioning whether they should just shut down completely. There was quite a bit of action, lots of background, and some drama as well.

Overall this was an excellent installment in this series. I really enjoy the style this graphic novel is done in. I also enjoy the science fiction elements coupled with the nostalgic feel to the story. I love the characters and am dying to know how things will work out for Jet Jones. Recommended to graphic novel lovers of all ages. ( )