Every now and then, a company will release an anthology one shot that anyone can pick up and enjoy.
This week DC’s Vertigo imprint releases “Time Warp,” an anthology featuring sci-fi stories from talent such as Peter Milligan (“Hellblazer”), Ray Fawkes (“Justice League Dark” and “Constantine”) and Jeff Lemire (“Green Arrow,” “Constantine” and “Justice League Dark”). In addition, Gail Simone (“Batgirl”)and Damon Lindelof (co-creator of “Lost”) make their Vertigo debut. The issue boasts nine stories with a $7.99 price tag, but the amount of content here is worth the money.
For the most part, the stories presented here are of high quality for simple stories no more than 15 or so pages long. The bigger standouts are the ones that done by some of the better known talent. Lindelof and Lemire team up for the first story “R.I.P.”, which involves the time-travel Rip Hunter. In addition Simone’s is also a stand out since it can be read in a continuous loop. In addition there’s a shocking amount of content involving Hitler dying. One of the stories involves his sister coping after a premature death of his. Another involves two guys trying to stop time travelers from killing him and ruining the future. They’re bizarre, but interesting at the same time.
The misses here mostly involve concepts that aren’t really fleshed out. The story “Dead Boy Detectives” seems to be the main offender since it feels like it’s should have lead in from something and its ending wants the reader to pick up the rest of the story in another book.
The art here is generally good. From someone who hasn’t picked up a Vertigo title before, the art here may have lacked the polish that superhero comics have, but at the same time it was a nice break experiencing artwork that’s more gritty than polished. Plus the grittiness adds a level of character to the stories that isn’t present in other comics being published.
Overall “Time Warp” is a solid anthology one-shot issue that takes bits of sci-fi and makes it into something that is fun and enjoyable. The biggest drawback here is the $7.99 price tag, but it shouldn’t stop anyone from checking it out. It’s definitely worth the money.
