Edited by Owen Watts
Assistant Editor Geoffery Crescent
Cover – Carl Pearce
Contributors:
Andrew Scaife, Bolt-01, Blas Bigatti, Bob Molesworth, Carl Pearce, Chris Mole, Chris Redfern, Daniel Bell, David Broughton, Gavin Johnston, Geoffery Crescent, Georce Coleman, Gibson Quarter, Greg Meldrum, J S Adams, Jim Lavery, Jim Woodall, JT Pegg, Mark Herstal, Mark Keenan, Matt Herbert, Mike Scrace, Owen Watts, Nathan Webb, Nich Angel, Roland Bird, Sean Avery & Simon Bird
Available soon
This is the third Journal from Owen and Geoffery and I’ve reviewed all three. A very good editing team.
Some names in the line-up of creators are very familiar to me, a few not so familiar. That’s always good. Small Press is a living breathing thing where old names are reassuring and new names are refreshing. But wait, that’s the same in any anthology.
I’m a big 2000AD fan and as a Brit I’m very used to anthologies, that’s been our standard format in comics for decades.
When I pick up an anthology I flip through it, too fast to read the stories, too fast to get spoilers. I just flip through to see the type of story, the lengths. I did that with this edition, harder as I’m reviewing from a digital copy, but I managed it and my first impression was; ‘It is a pretty issue’.This is a very well balanced anthology with all the stories sharing the central concept of time travel.
So on to the stories. Given that in many cases there is a wee twist in the story and the stories are one to four pages long I can’t say much about the story without spoiling it, so the individual reviews are short due to this.
The Boy Who invented Anti-Time
Written by Greg Meldrum
Drawn by David Broughton
A classroom and a boy with ideas that could end the world, universe and everything.
Excellent concept that really delivers. Bold and engaging art with very well thought out lettering.
Call Time
by Jim Woodall & Bob Molesworth
Letters by Dan Bell
Telephone pranks, they can go wrong. Four pages with four time periods… or are there?
Nicely toned art with each setting having its own feel.
Event Horizon
Written by Mike Scrase
Drawn by Matt Herbert
Letters by Bolt-01
This story is dark and moody and a little gloomy. The art really matches the story, which I can’t even sum up in a sentence without spoiling, so I won’t.
The Film Theory
Written by Blas Bigatti
Drawn by Mark Herstal
Prediction or memory? Can you avoid something you know to be true?
An interesting use of the same amount of same shaped panels on each page. Usually doesn’t give a good look but in this case it adds to the inevitability – and obviously the title. Nice.
Primitive Possibilities
Written by Chris Redfern
Srawn by JT
Two pages of swift travel, perhaps not as planned.
Very funny translation… The art does most of the talking, let your eyes do the listening for a change.
The Terminal Solution of Alan Smith
Written by J S Adams
Drawn by Jim Lavery
Letters by Bolt-01
Dying of cancer Alan Smith gets the chance to visit the past.
A great twist on the Grandfather Paradox very well played.
Time Piece
by Shaun Avery & Roland Bird
letters by Dan Bell
A Policeman and a Mad Scientist, what is the old man hiding?
A script that reveals all slowly, in a bucket.
Timeholes and Teaspoons
Written by Tim West
Drawn by Andrew Scaife
Don’t step on a butterfly, no one does in this story but it is still good advice.
Some very nice panels, or lack thereof in this quite eye pleasing piece.
Tony The Last Man
by Gavin Johnston & George Coleman
Letters by Dan Bell
The last man is being rescued by friendly aliens. But if he is the last man who else is there on Earth?
I can’t put my finger on whose art this reminds me of but this story would not have been out of place as a Future Shock in 2000AD.
Turn Back the Clock
Written by Mark Keenan
Drawn by Nathan Webb
Letters by Bolt-01
The future’s version of I’m a Celebrity, puts celebrities in a campsite in the past. This time they are sent to the time of the dinosaurs – how could this possibly go wrong?
Entertaining take on Reality TV ‘entertainment’ and a great twist that I didn’t see till a panel ahead.
The Undying City
A city where, if you are rich enough, you can live almost for ever.
A great example of where cartoony art can keep great perspective and give excellent motion.
Lockjaw’s Coming
Written by Geoffery Crescent
Drawn by Gibson Quarter
Coloured by Owen Watts
Letters by Andrew Scaife
One page story post credits. A feisty time-heroine puts the world to rights!
Judge-Tutor Semple 