Review: Time Before Time Volume 1

Let’s get one thing out of the way; as soon as I saw the title of this comic, I had Cyndi Lauper’s ‘Time After Time’ stuck in my head. Hours later, it’s still there. I’m fairly sure the creators did this on purpose. Aside from the obvious play on words, the ’80s pop classic does have some resonance with the book here. For one thing, the first chapter kicks off in 1987, albeit briefly; this is, if you didn’t already know, a time travel story. But secondly, coming after ‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun’, ‘Time After Time’ was an emotional sucker punch out of nowhere. And so is this book.

Time Before Time wears its influences on its sleeve; Rian Johnson’s Looper jumps out prominently, as does 2000 AD (on which some of the creative team cut their teeth). Our protagonists are time machine operators in 2140, essentially living in indentured servitude to the shady Syndicate. Tatsuo and Oscar are a great pairing, and their closeness comes across clearly through the dialogue. Their hopelessly dystopian lives will really strike a chord with many people, being a horribly logical extension of many current social issues. Image make the first issues of most of their books available for free on their website, and I strongly recommend checking this one out. Rarely am I so invested in a story so soon, so huge props to writers Declan Shalvey and Rory McConville. Once you’ve sampled #1, it’s pretty likely you’ll want to buy this trade.

Joe Palmer’s art for this book grows on me more the more I look at it. It’s simple, and pretty retro; but characters are distinctive, and layouts are clear and very cinematic. Colorist Chris O’Halloran does a great job distinguishing between different eras, giving each one a unique feel. It’s a subtle touch that may not be apparent on your first read, but it is there, quietly affecting your emotions.

This first volume of Time Before Time is a fantastic, gripping start to a story that still has places to go. The plot and characters will completely pull you in and have you desperately waiting for the next instalment. In the meantime, I’m likely to go back and check out McConville, Palmer, and O’Halloran’s previous Image collaboration, Write It In Blood.

Writing – 5 Stars
Art – 4.5 Stars
Colors – 4.5 Stars

Overall: 5 Stars

Writers: Declan Shalvey and Rory McConville
Artist: Joe Palmer
Colorist: Chris O’Halloran
Publisher: Image Comics

Author Profile

Yavi Mohan

Yavi Mohan is a comic writer (and more frequently, comic reader) based in London. He is frequently overwhelmed by the number of comics in his reading list, to the extent that it sometimes delays his reading. This list includes every issue ever published with Spider-Man as the main character.