Comeback #1

Written by: Laura Hong-Tuason, CC2K Comics Editor

1.21 gigawatts? 1.21 gigawatts! Great Scott!!! Back to the Future jokes aside, Ed Brisson and Michael Walsh have an all-new kind of time travel crime story that’s just waiting to be unraveled. It’s called “Comeback”, a 5-issue mini-series published by Image Shadowline.

Writer: Ed Brisson
Artist: Michael Walsh
Colorer: Jordie Bellaire

“Comeback” follows two Reconnect agents named Mark and Seth, whose jobs are to go back in time to save loved ones taken too soon by the hands of death. Of course, you’d need to have loads of money to hire guys like them because time traveling isn’t cheap… or legal. Now before you shout, “Hey, it’s like Looper!”, let me stop you right there. It’s not like Looper at all. I repeat, NOT like Looper. While Looper deals with killing people in the past and then getting all high (literally) and mighty off the money they rack in, “Comeback” is about saving people. Or at least, that’s the twisted justification for doing it. Unlike Joseph Gordon Levitt’s more ignorant character, Mark and Seth appear sophisticated and know what they’re getting into.  

“Comeback #1” begins with a bang. The opening pages introduce us to Mark and Seth “kidnapping” their client, Mr. Fields. It’s seriously like an intense scene from the TV show Dexter when he captures and kills his prey. We later find out they’re actually sending him safely to the future before his early demise to be reunited with his family. You would think these agents would be subtler and kinder by telling him what’s going on at some point, but that’s part of the mystery and charm of the series; every page has an unsettling quality. Either way, Mr. Fields deserves a little scaring. 

The rest of the issue gives us a better idea of Reconnect. This first issue never mentions the agency, nor how many days its agents are able to go back in time, but the suggestion that time traveling has its limitations is there. I’m sure issue #2 will have more details. In addition, Mark and Seth have a new assignment to bring back a woman killed in car accident. Seth claims this is his last hurrah with Mark, but he’s kidding himself. There’s no doubt about that.

The art is pretty cool. The penciling combined with the coloring creates a very noir and pastime effect. I like how all the characters look, although I did get Seth confused with a yet-to-be-named character. Mark on the other hand looks like a guy I can back up 100%, but then again I have a thing for dark trench coat and tie wearing characters. Feel free to ignore my fixations.

“Comeback” is definitely a must-read. I usually hesitate to read time-traveling stories because of the time paradoxes involved, but I have a feeling Brisson will have a good hold on the situation. He sets limitations and maps out the effects early on.

Trouble is on the horizon for Mark and Seth and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for the rest of the series. Happy comic reading, folks!