Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews
Chrononauts #1
Image Comics
Millar & Murphy
Millar and Murphy launch their mini-series about time travel. The book races through scenes at a pace that can be confusing at times but it does help to jump to the heart of the story. The comic has two primary characters and one has a very distinct personality while the other feels thin and lifeless. The artwork brings this comic book to whole other level that will bring the reader back for more. There's nothing in this story that you haven't seen before but it is a decent read nonetheless.
The lead character, Corbin, invents a time machine for NASA. His motives appear to be that he simply wants to do this. He enlists the help of his friend, Danny, to design a discreet vessel to use when traveling back in time. Danny is a wildcard and immediately has qualities that make him stand out and raise a grin from the reader. He basically steals the show despite Millar's attempts to add a personal interest story to Corbin's background.
The comic quickly moves through the invention phase and gets to the prototype then the press conference and live launch. The whole world is watching as first Corbin heads to the past. Of course something goes wrong and the story follows Danny as he attempts a rescue.
The comic has a lot of oddities that make you scratch your head. Things like why this has such appeal to the masses or why NASA wants this device in the first place. The personal story of Corbin follows some odd turns, such as the ex-wife taking a phone call during a surgery. Even events such as a random guard pulling a gun on Danny aren't explained and seem to be added simply because they seem like they need to be or are just cool. I'm still not sure how journalists feel about jumping into the arms of someone they are covering but that's in here too. The highlight of the comic is the artwork and it's a big one.
Sean Murphy is a star and he shines brightly on this comic book. Every panel on each page is loaded with details. The Civil War scene looks like as authentic as a painting. His press conference panel is loaded with gems including familiar time machines from other stories, but those are just background items. The scene where Corbin looks at his watch is a powerful one for an underdeveloped character. Murphy brings this book to life in a way the words never could match. Murphy's art is worth the price of admission.
Chrononauts is a great read if you turn off your brain and don't question much of what you read. If you sit back and look at the art and follow along with the basic story you will get the bang for your buck. This isn't anything terribly original but it entertains and that's probably what most comic book readers are looking for.
3 out of 5 Geek Goggles
