As a seasoned gamer with countless hours logged into time-traveling games, I can confidently say that Time Waits #1 has taken the concept and brought it to life in a refreshing way. The story’s focus on the human element is a breath of fresh air, reminding me of those heartwarming moments when you form connections with NPCs (Non-Player Characters) in games, only to have them unexpectedly impact your journey.
Is it possible to let go of your past, or does it continuously follow us into our destined future? This question serves as the core theme in Time Waits #1, the first installment of the new DSTLRY series by writers Chip Zdarsky and David Brothers, featuring artwork by Marcus To with additional contributions from Marvin Sianipar, colorist Matt Wilson, and letterer Ariana Maher. The narrative revolves around Blue, a weary time traveler who is trying to settle down in the present with his wife Grace, whom he met in her hometown. However, as disputes emerge regarding the adoption of Duke, a bright but shy foster child, Blue’s health deteriorates and he experiences flashbacks to his violent past. The tension reaches its peak when agents from his past – or perhaps his future? – employers pay an unwelcome visit, disrupting the tranquility he had worked hard to achieve.
The storyline of Time Waits revolves around the common theme of an ex-violent individual being forced to return to his old ways, symbolically representing the past haunting someone. To give this concept a more tangible form, the creators use time travel as a tool. This narrative structure shares similarities with Mattson Tomlinson and Lee Bermejo’s recent Boom Studios project, A Vicious Circle, where a time-traveler established a family in an earlier era, but their peaceful life was disrupted by another vengeful time-traveler.
In contrast, the approach could not be more contrasting. While A Vicious Circle concealed its emotional depth under complicated sci-fi machinery and rapid tempo, Time Waits prioritizes the human experience, structuring its first issue around portraying a day in the lives of its primary characters (making five if we include Baker the baker).
A significant portion of their time is spent reflecting on battles past and those they ultimately couldn’t resist. Grace shares with Duke her tale of attempting to create some space from her parents for self-reliance, but in the end, she mirrored her mother’s role as the sheriff of their hometown – a way to maintain family ties under her own conditions. Baker narrates a parallel experience, aspiring to distance himself from the family bakery, yet his mother’s demise drew him back in. In due time, he embraced the predestined role suggested by his name, finding it more suitable as he grew into it over time.
However, Blue’s past and future are tangled due to the brutal aspects of his job. His unwillingness to act mercilessly or strategically when handling the lives entangled in the skirmishes of his temporal missions often led to conflicts within his team, culminating in him being stranded in the present era. Despite this, there’s an intriguing twist as Blue appears drawn to managing the unmanageable, developing a fixation with gardening to assert some control over nature.
This story could lead to deep, contemplative narratives about life, death, and time, yet it maintains a vibrant, engaging atmosphere. The dialogue is filled with humor stemming from character traits – Grace playfully teasing Duke over his old-fashioned hobbies or Baker’s anxious but endearing paranoia. The narrative flow remains swift, with many pages featuring 6 to 7 panels, creating a sense of activity and momentum even in dialogue-heavy scenes. While the use of bleed is minimal, the artwork is clear enough for easy reading, and the story moves briskly. To’s style here appears more detailed compared to his previous work at DC and Marvel, possibly due to Sianipar’s contributions or Wilson’s usual vivid colors, but it complements the more intricate material that differs from superhero comics.
In the first installment of “Time Waits,” we’re introduced to a charming group of characters, a captivating enigma, and visual narration that is both understandable and enjoyable. Can our protagonist, Blue, defy his destiny, or are we merely postponing an ending predetermined far in advance? “Time Waits” #1 certainly makes a persuasive argument for unraveling the mystery.
Published by DSTLRY
On September 11th, 2024
Written by Chip Zdarsky and David Brothers
Art by Marcus To
Colors by Matt Wilson
Letters by Ariana Maher
Cover by Marcus to
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2024-09-11 17:09