Review: CHRONONAUTS #1

Writer & Co-Creator:  Mark Millar
Artist & Co-Creator:  Sean Gordon Murphy
Color Artist:  Matt Hollingsworth
Letterer:  Chris Eliopoulos
Published By:  Image Comics

Over the last two years, Mark Millar has made a concerted effort to bring the comic book reading audience more of his creations.  Publishing his comics through Image allows Millar to work with some of the best artists in the industry today.  For Chrononauts, Millar is teaming with co-creator Sean Gordon Murphy to document the adventures of Corbin Quinn and Danny Reilly as they become the world’s first time travelers.  The twist – the world is watching.

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What I Liked

It doesn’t get much simpler than “two best friends want to create time travel”.  And I say that not in a negative way.  Many times a new comic can seem like a chore to get up to speed with.  They introduce new characters and grand ideas, while leaving some things secret.  This can be a lot to digest for the reader.  Millar does a great job of familiarizing the reader with the protagonists, their world, and their goals.

Dr. Quinn and Danny are hilarious together.  Quinn places the straight laced doctor to Danny’s narcissist.  You can tell they have a deep friendship.  I loved the twist involving reality TV to their time traveling adventures.  Speaking of viewers, Murphy and colorist Matt Hollingsworth crafted hilarious panels displaying their reactions during the television broadcast.  There is so much attention to detail in their work, from filling Quinn’s desk with the requisite desk clutter, to crafting the duo’s teleportation device, the Facilitator.

What I Didn’t Like

As fun as Quinn and Danny’s bromance is, it would be nice to find out how they first met and how they became best buddies.  A short reference here and there would have been enough.  It is hard to do this in just the first issue, but I hope their backstory is touched upon as the series continues.

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Summary

Chrononauts #1 has the makings of a fun Back To The Future style adventure.  Just think about the many predicaments they can be tossed into, the legends they can encounter, and events of the past they can become embroiled in.  The sky is really the limit.  Add in the factor of the public watching from the comfort of their couches and reacting along with us and this reminds you of something out of an adventure/comedy movie.

Rating:  5 out of 5

This review is written in partnership with Pop Culture Network.  They can be found at their website http://www.popculturenetwork.com/  

#ComicBookChronicles @CBChron founder. Editor-in-Chief of @thekliqnation. Comic book reviewer, podcaster #RABBLERABBLE