Black Mask Studios 2015
Created & Written by Michael Moreci
Created & Illustrated by Ron Salas
Coloured by Tamra Bonvillain
I have to say this is one hell of an interesting series. It seems in life, movies, tv and books that things run in cycles, for instance vampires or werewolves have their time to shine and right now we see a lot of time travel stories hitting stands but it’s what the writer, in this case Michael, does with that sets it apart and makes it uniquely interesting so that the reader wants to come back time and again.
On a routine mission to the past Colton and his team return home with one less team member. That’s not the only thing that’s changed Colton’s life was erased as well he went from being a man who sobered up got married and had a son to find out that that part of his life had been erased by some mysterious figure. The ramifications of that means someone else out there has the same technology and playing an unknown game to disrupt the team and possibly change the timeline for their own purposes.
Colton now has to live with what’s happened knowing that he will have to do whatever it takes to get that life that means so much to him back against seemingly insurmountable odds. The fact that those closest to him believe him to still be an alcoholic and that’s abundantly clear when we see his chat with Nolan in the beginning. With few to turn to that he can trust without coming across as some delusional drunken idiot, he’s going to try and play this game solo keeping his team in the dark and that can help him or be his downfall.
That Michael doesn’t shy away from both intense characterization and action this story moves along at a wonderfully fast pace not giving the reader a moment to really catch their breath. Instead you’ve got to keep up with what’s happening here and try to calm yourself down and see if you can spot clues or think ahead to what Colton is being put through and for what purpose. Of all the team why him? Is his discrediting and destruction going to put an end to the team and the program? Why not just go after whoever it was who creative the technology, steal it and ensure that Colton got a chance to clean up his life and use it in the first place?
Questions galore arise as you read this story including when they think they’ve found someone who can give them answers instead it turns out to be something of a red herring and that alone raises the stakes and really widens the cracks in Colton’s facade even more. Jordan knows something's up but will she keep digging and help or will she hinder him from using the technology or help him fix what’s been taken from him?
As if everything that’s happened thus far isn’t enough we still get one more massive surprise and it is definitely something huge and game changing but than real question is for better or for worse? There are ramifications for mucking about in time and this chase may just be what unravels everything and sets the world on a destructive course or should Colton prevail it could mean he saves the world in ways no one will ever know!
Non-stop action and characterization wrapped in some very detailed and expressive interior artwork this is a roller coaster ride of a story where you can’t see the turns, drops or spins coming and that’s why it’s thrilling.