Review – Chrononauts #3 (Image)

Publisher: Image Comics
Writer: Mark Millar
Artist: Sean Gordon Murphy
Release Date: 13th May, 2015

In my review of the last issue, I stated that our two heroes tread a fine line between unlikeable douchebags and loveable rogues. Well, after finishing the latest instalment of Chrononauts, I now firmly believe it’s the latter. I mean c’mon, minus the filter of a Doc Brown figure to persistently remind me of the consequences of causality, I’m sure I wouldn’t be alone in doing some really crazy stuff. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, and with Mannix and Alpha Team hot on their heels, Corben staring down the barrel of Lucky Luciano’s gat, and a trusted ally set to betray them, our duo’s unbridled romp through time looks to be under serious threat.

The action doesn’t let up for a second in this the penultimate issue of the series, with dialogue only used sparingly throughout, allowing the dynamic, Manga-inspired artwork of Sean Gordon Murphy to take the weight of the narrative. Simply put, this is a creative team in lockstep. Mark Millar gleefully sets up the scenario pins, and Sean Gordon Murphy knocks them over in spectacular fashion, filling each page with enough detail to have you poring over the panels for hours. In addition, Matt Hollingsworth’s textured colouring gives the art a lived-in feel that lends balance to the hyperbolic nature of the images.

Aside from the art, the series’ comedic tone has been perhaps the been it’s most endearing feature, and this issue features some of the funniest moments so far, from Danny sowing the seeds of discontent between Morrissey and The Smiths, to Corben’s barely contained dignity through the strategic placement of objects and shadows, a la Austin Powers. This choice of direction is a masterstroke by Millar, given the alternative would be to become mired in loopholes and paradoxes like so many other time travel stories. Sure, there are inconsistencies, but the thoroughly entertaining juggernaut narrative he’s crafted thankfully never allows you to ponder such things for too long.

As I mentioned before, this story has Hollywood blockbuster written all over it, but there’s plenty of scope for further development into an ongoing series, so hopefully next month’s concluding issue won’t be the last we hear of Chrononauts in comic book form.

Rating: 5/5.

The Writer of this piece was: Martin Doyle
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