Pacific Rim May Be MIA, But an Epic New Mech Series Is Now Here to Fill the Void

When it comes to mech vs kaiju action, it's hard to beat Guillermo Del Toro's Pacific Rim. The franchise recently celebrated its ten-year anniversary in 2023, but sadly without a new installment of balletic robot vs monster action. However, for those starved of Pacific Rim's stylish mech combat, there's an option that turns all the dials up to 11.

In Pacific Rim, Kaiju threaten humanity, so humanity fights back with trained soldiers manning massive mech suits; however, these mechs are so big and powerful that one pilot cannot handle it alone. Instead, they must pilot their 'Jaeger' with someone they are mentally, physically, and emotionally compatible with. For fans of this premise, as well as fans of giant robots fighting giant monsters, there is now a comic made for them: Dawnrunner.

Dawnrunner comes from writer Ram V., artist Evan Cagle, letter Aditya Bidikar, and colorists Dave Stewart, Francesco Segala, and Gloria Martinelli.

Dawnrunner Has Its Own Take On Pacific Rim's Drift

Dawnrunner Brilliantly Explores Our Trauma And Fears Through The Past

Like in Pacific Rim, Dawnrunner's Kaiju - which are known as Tetza - have become a horrifying norm to society, as have humanity’s last line of defense, the mechs known as Iron Kings. Not only that, but the mechs and their pilots have become celebrities in Dawnrunner, with their battles being treated as public spectacle instead of an immediate threat on the level of a natural disaster. At the heart of Dawnrunner is the fan-favorite pilot, Anita Marr, who has been chosen for an experimental new mech, the Dawnrunner.

This Iron King has a few surprises up its sleeve though, connecting Anita to Dawnrunner and the past in a deep, transformative way. While this is not the same as the drift in Pacific Rim, it serves a similar purpose, using the giant mechs to explore the inner machinations of its pilot, as well as her trauma and the scars of the past. It's a high-concept, layered way to explore the history of this world, as well as the impact Dawnrunner's giant mech vs. Kaiju war has had on humanity and those trying to protect what they cherish the most - their loved ones.

Like Pacific Rim, The Mechs Are Cool, But Dawnrunner's Heart Is the Humans

Dawnrunner Tugs At The Heart Strings While Delivering One-of-a-Kind Mech Fights

Dawnrunner is a beautiful book, with unique mech designs that make these Iron Kings feel almost organic at times. This design choice makes the mechs stand out while also blurring that line between giant robot and pilot. They're an imposing, visual feast for the eyes, as are the fights with the other-dimensional Tetza. While jaw-dropping, Dawnrunner is more than just a spectacle. Like Pacific Rim, the heart of Dawnrunner is the humans fighting for their future. For Anita, this is her child.

Yes, Dawnrunner is a kick-ass comic about mechs vs. monsters, but at its core, Dawnrunner is about a mother willing to do anything for her child in need. It's about how hard it is to be someone's parent, protector, and role model in a society that feels constantly on the brink of destroying itself or being torn down by outside forces. It's about the mental strain all this heartbreak, pressure, and loss can put on not just one individual, but everyone else connected to them. Dark Horse Comics' Dawnrunner is completed and collected in a gorgeous hardcover edition, and it is a mech series that should not be missed out on by any fan of Pacific Rim.