All Tatsuo Edwards wanted to do was steal a time machine from his job at The Syndicate. After that, he was planning to retire and do things he’d never done in life, like swimming in the ocean or seeing the Eiffel Tower. But thanks to an FBI agent named Nadia Wells showing up to try and steal the same time machine, The Syndicate gets wind of what he’s doing and tries to murder the two of them. So instead of being finally free of The Syndicate, Tatsuo ends up stranded in an unknown space and time with Nadia. The two must figure out when and where they are to get back to their time — if they don’t kill each other first.
Issue #2 is a fun read. The bickering and awkwardness between Tatsuo and Nadia are hilarious. It reminds me of the chemistry Robert Deniro and Joe Pantoliano shared in the movie Midnight Run. Most of the issue transitions back and forth from two different situations that coincide with one another.
The first being Tatsuo and Nadia dealing with their ongoing stranded situation. The second is Helgi, Syndicate Crime Boss and the story’s antagonist, using all his resources to find Tatsuo and Nadia. Tatsuo is a soft-spoken, avoids-confrontation type of person, while Nadia is a bit straightforward and aggressive. The two together should make for some exciting issues going forward.
The illustrations remain on point with a solid layout and transitions throughout. What I love most about Joe Palmer’s work on this book is his direction — he knows the best place to position the characters to make each panel stand out from the next. He’d make an excellent film director.
Time Before Time #2 is easy to read, well-paced, and introduces a new group of characters to the story called The Union. Tatsuo is a likable enough character so far that you feel for the guy and hope he comes out of all of this drama on top. Hopefully, we get some clarity going forward on who Nadia Wells is and why she wanted to steal the time machine. If my gut tells me anything, it won’t be suitable for Tatsuo.
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