Skip to main content

REVIEW: 'Time Before Time' #1 by Declan Shalvey, Rory McConville, Joe Palmer, and Chris O'Halloran

 'Time Before Time' describes itself as 'Looper' meets 'Saga' which is a lofty aspiration but it does have a cool neo-noir crime thriller vibe that upends time travel tropes. Issue one will grab you and deserves a first arc commitment from fans. 


TIME BEFORE TIME #1
Writer: Declan Shalvey, Rory McConville
Artist: Joe Palmer, Chris O'Halloran
Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Publisher: Image Comics
Release Date: May 12, 2021
Cover Price: $3.99

The year is 2140, and to escape a world with no future, many turn to the Syndicate, a criminal organization who, for the right price, will smuggle you back in time to a better life. After working for the Syndicate for years, Tatsuo and Oscar decide to steal one of their boss’s time machines—but soon find that the one thing you can’t run from is your past.TIME BEFORE TIME is a brand-new ongoing series where writer/artist DECLAN SHALVEY (BOG BODIES) joins forces with the WRITE IT IN BLOOD team of RORY McCONVILLE and JOE PALMER. Looper meets SAGA in this extra-sized debut issue.

Score:
★★★1/2 (3.5/5)

I'm always up for a good time travel story and what Declan Shalvey and Rory McConville have conjured up here in 'Time Before Time' #1 is an intriguing set-up with a solid premise. Imagine things are so bad that you'd give up everything to return to another time and place to seek out a better life. A refugee of time and space. Your only hope is a criminal organization who can smuggle you back in time in one of their time machines. The agents in charge of your travels are indebted to the big boss and are paying off their debts in service. One agent has had enough and plans to steal one of those time machines and skip town and time. Is it a heist story? A sci-fi story? A crime thriller? Yes. 

Shalvey and McConville take what would normally be a straight forward heist story and throw in some consequential sci-fi elements that elevates it. The risks of messing with time travel are real and we get that described in two ways in the very first issue. Working for the mob is inherently dangerous but time travel takes a toll on the body plus whatever is awaiting you on the other side of the timeline. However,  the consequences for agent Tatsuo are even worse. There's a surprising escalation that could make this series a must-buy. 

Joe Palmer and Chris O'Halloran create a gritty shadowy atmosphere. It has a bit of a noir vibe even as O'Halloran's rich colors cut through the shadows, the underworld of 'Time Before Time' is a dark place. Palmer's designs are era appropriate for the past but forward thinking for the 2140 setting and beyond. The comic eschewed a glossy, futuristic aesthetic to a more grounded seedy world that these criminals inhabit from night clubs to the time machine itself which looks rather pedestrian.  

'Time Before Time' #1 is off to a strong start. The neo-noir time travel crime thriller ends with a bang taking a familiar plot line and upending all expectations. This story could go anywhere moving forward and that's exciting. It also looks properly grimy and sordid thanks to the art team. Issue one does enough to recommend getting on board now. 
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

PREVIEW: THE ART OF INVINCIBLE SEASON ONE Companion Hardcover Offers a Behind the Scenes Look at the Hit Series

  Today Skybound debuted an all-new look at  The Art of Invincible Season One,  the behind-the-scenes companion to Prime Video’s hit animated series,  Invincible.  This hardcover marks the first animation artbook produced by Skybound Entertainment for the landmark franchise’s jump to television and will be available everywhere books are sold on March 27, 2024.     The Art of Invincible Season One  features never-before-seen production art, and exclusive commentary on the hit Prime Video series from key creatives, including  Invincible  comic co-creators Robert Kirkman and Cory Walker. Superfans of the hit animated series will be happy to find exclusive characters, backgrounds, vehicle designs, key art, and more inside this volume!    The critically acclaimed adult animated superhero series is currently airing the first half of its eight-episode second season on Prime Video, with new episodes airing weekly on #...
Post a Comment
Read more

REVIEW: 'Little Monsters' #1 by Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen

  LITTLE MONSTERS #1 Writer: Jeff Lemire Artist: Dustin Nguyen Publisher: Image Comics Release Date: March 9, 2022 Cover Price: $3.99 They are the last children on Earth... who also happen to be vampires. For longer than they can remember, these child vampires have lived a life of eternal wonder amongst the ruins of humanity. But shocking events fracture the group and set them on a path of discovery that will shatter their innocence forever. Score: ★★★★1/2 (4.5/5) There are certain comic book creators whose books I'll pick up without hesitation. One of those creators is Jeff Lemire. He instills confidence knowing that his stories will be thoughtful and engaging. You add a talented artist like Dustin Nguyen on another collaborative effort and well, 'Little Monsters,' is a must-buy. I know, shocking.   They team up again with an intriguing post-apocalyptic vampire tale featuring "the last children on Earth" who've been left to their own devices among the ruin...
Post a Comment
Read more

PREVIEW: 'Fire and Ice: Teegra' One-Shot by Bill Willingham and Gabriele Di Caro

 FIRE AND ICE: TEEGRA writer: Bill Willingham artist: Gabriele Di Caro covers: Dan Panosian (A), Meghan Hetrick (B) FC | 40 pages | Fantasy | $5.99 | Teen+  In Stores February 28, 2024 When you go to war against the dark forces of the frozen north, there are some things you can’t do without — like warriors, weapons, and the will to fight. You also need strong allies if you want to have any hope of victory. But how do you cement the kind of alliances that help to win wars? Well, if you have a daughter of marriageable age, a strategic betrothal might be a good way to go. And that’s just what King Jarol of Firekeep has in mind for his beautiful, headstrong daughter, Teegra. But what happens when the eligible princes of many kingdoms line up to compete for fair Teegra’s hand, only to find that the promised princess is suddenly nowhere to be found? Find out this February in a story we almost called “Teegra’s Big Run”! Renowned writer BILL WILLINGHAM and fan-favorite ar...
Post a Comment
Read more