Oni Press 2014
Written by Joshua Hale Fialkov
Illustrated by Joe Infurnari
Flatted by Jason Fischer
Three issues ago: Future Natasha met up with Daniel. Two issues ago: Billy requested an audience with Grady before he’d confess. One issue ago: Heidi Ryder was arrested, presumably for the murder of her uncle. Now: start reading.
Well Grady, the young one, is caught up on the whirlwind that is his older self and he’s not strong enough to get out of his grasp. Not that he really wants to mind you, the thought of becoming this strong, confident and take action President of the United States appeals to the man he is now. I also have this feeling he’s more than a little afraid of himself. He’s not able to face the reality of what’s happening and while Billy may be ready to tell the authorities everything and implicate Grady it’s a far fetched tale.
Daniel and Future Natasha are complicated as well. I’m not sure any of their future selves should, could, can and even MAY be trusted.. Meanwhile young Natasha is called to Heidi’s where she sees the cops surrounding the place and meets Heidi’s girlfriend. Natasha isn’t so ready to accept Heidi has a girlfriend and I love the dialogue between the two and even more so. Natasha doesn’t trust anybody and she shouldn’t and when she calls Grady yeah it’s another example why Joshua is such a talented writer and why I will read anything he’s working on.
If you are Natasha and you just had the most cryptic conversation with the other Grady what do you do. You try to get ahold of your boyfriend, well if you can still call Daniel that. So calling him doesn’t work, his mailbox is full, so she zips over to his place. Yeah well older Natasha is there as well so you know things are going to get even more complicated in a hurry. To make matters even worse Heidi’s girlfriend shows up at Daniel’s sees the two Natasha’s and yeah that’s how we leave all that.
So what happens to between the two Grady’s? Do we see Heidi this issue at all? Well these questions as well as others come to the forefront by the last page. All this leaves us with one hell of an interesting next issue that personally I cannot wait to get a hold of. I mean it’s all hitting the fan and while you kind of wants to see Grady grow a pair and stand-up to himself we know it’s not likely to happen.
This series is awesome. The characterization is constantly evolving changing the bigger picture that we seem to have lost at this point. Now the story and what Grady’s doing to make the future a better place well who knows what that really is and if they are in the past and actually change it do they have a future to go home to or are they now here permanently? So many questions that boggle the mind.
I love Joe’s ability to bring this series and these characters to life. His unique style and approach to the pages, panels, and how he tells the story visually really leave such a high impact on the reader. I love the almost grainy imagery we get and i’ve grown to really appreciate his talent and what brings to the table. The series wouldn’t be the same without what he does.
Seriously some of the finest storytelling around today.