The good thing about comics is that stories can be woven out of films that would otherwise be impossible to make. Case in point: Biff to the Future, which shows us how Biff got so powerful in Back to the Future 2. We check out the second issue, which focuses on Biff leaving Hill Valley to become a movie producer. Is it good?
Back to the Future: Biff to the Future #2 (IDW Publishing)
So what’s it about? Read our exclusive preview!
Why does this book matter?
Anyone wanting to see how Biff went from small town bully to casino owner and all around supervillain needs to read this book. It also has the light hearted nature of the films, which should suit the fans of the series.
Fine, you have my attention. What’s good about it?
Those are some fun klicks.
The art continues to be in the same vein of the IDW Back to the Future series due to Alan Robinson’s balance of cartoony characters amongst a realistic backdrop. Sadly this issue isn’t very funny, but it captures the silly nature of Biff being a gullible dummy throughout the story. Two classic actors pop up (and Ronald Reagan) and Robinson draws them quite well. There’s also a great montage of Biff throwing his money at a producer friend with a neat cash border that wraps down the page. There’s also a fine double page spread of Biff’s big movie premiere that uses film draped across the page in an interesting way.
Derek Fridolfs and Bob Gale manage to make the issue somewhat interesting. Biff attempts to make it in Hollywood after meeting a producer at a party. Unfortunately for him the guy wants to take advantage of him. As the story progresses there’s a clever tie in to Biff’s ancestor who lived in the old west, Mad Dog Tannen, and Marty’s parents are weaved in at one point too. By the end you can certainly see he’s that much more evil due to his exploits in Hollywood.
It can’t be perfect can it?
Unfortunately this issue has the same problems as the last: it ultimately feels skippable. The events in the comic don’t really add up to much and once again you can see that a backstory on Biff in this timeline isn’t all that important. Much of this book he’s basically being used and his sports almanac isn’t even a part of the story. It’s a more overview look at his tim as it never digs deeply into the character. Luckily he’s going back to Hill Valley next month, because his complete separation from the place we know isn’t helping things.
Something ain’t right.
Is It Good?
Another okay, but not great installment of the spin off series nobody asked for. The biggest gripe is how it seems to prove page after page it’s not a necessary story. Alan Robinson shouldn’t go unnoticed, though–the art is great, and helps punch up a rather uninteresting story.
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