Next month, Dark Horse will release Past Tense, a full-length graphic novel by Jason McNamara (writer), Alberto Massaggia (pencils/ink), and Paul Little (colors). They were also kind enough to send over an advance review copy so we could let you know if it’s worth stopping by your local comic shop on June 21 to pick it up.
There will be very light spoilers in this review, but nothing that will give away the story’s many twists and turns.
What It’s About
Before scrolling down to the official synopsis by Dark Horse, I should warn you that the book reads a little better if you don’t know what it gives away. It’s a fairly predictable twist, but still had a greater impact on me when I read the story without a preamble:
Dark Horse Books proudly teams up with writer Jason McNamara (The Rattler) to bring you the neo-noir thriller, Past Tense. A chilling futuristic tale exploring our ever-evolving technological world and the struggles of maintaining personal privacy. McNamara is joined by esteemed indie comic veterans Alberto Massaggia (Hotline Miami: Wildlife), who did the ink and pencil work for the graphic novel, and colorist Paul Little (Bomb Queen), with cover art by Alberto and Sonia Harris (The Bounce).
Ashley is a tour guide at PAST TENSE, a company that sends camera drones into the past to view history’s most depraved events. When Ashley discovers Silas Green, an unknown serial killer working in the past, she begins hosting “exclusive” tours of his murders. The only problem? Silas is still alive in the present. And when he learns of his newfound infamy, he is inspired to come out of retirement to make Ashley his final victim, now and forever.
That pretty much covers it, although they’re completely underselling Silas, who’s absolutely terrifying. There’s also some fantastic world building that not only happens organically, but makes the impossible technology feel downright mundane. That’s not a knock on the narrative’s framework, by the way — it just ends up serving the story instead of overshadowing it.
What Works
Past Tense (Dark Horse Comics)
As I stated before, the story’s main antagonist is absolutely terrifying. In a world where things are definitely not right, his presence still feels decidedly wrong. What begins as a psychological cat-and-mouse game between him and Ashley becomes a fight for her life along with her very sanity.
Ashley holds her own in both battles, but barely. Every time Silas appears on the edge of slipping, he finds a new way to make her life hell. Thankfully, Ashley is smart and resourceful enough to throw everything he gives right back at him.
The story’s many twists and turns are supported by kinetically charged artwork that relentlessly moves the plot forward. McNamara’s knack for crafting damaged protagonists and depraved antagonists is augmented by Massaggia’s ability to portray every ounce of her psyche. Whether it’s a chase scene or dialogue inside a room, the narrative pulls your heart rate up right along with the page count.
What Doesn’t Work
As much as I loved the twists and turns in Past Tense, there’s a big one at the end that made me roll my eyes a bit. The moment is definitely earned and makes sense — it just didn’t feel like as big a deal as the story made it out to be.
Also, Ashley is hard to wrap your head around or even root for. Keep in mind that I say that as someone who considers Miriam Black from Chuck Wendig’s Blackbirds series to be my favorite fictional character. For every one thing Ashley does to make her sympathetic, she does three things that make her completely unlikable. This eventually balances out by the book’s third act, but the impression is still there.
As for the art, it’s never bad at all, but there were a few times when Massaggia didn’t appear to take the same care with a character’s facial expressions or movements as he had previously.
The Verdict
Part of me wonders if Past Tense would’ve read differently as a monthly release. Despite being a full-length graphic novel, the story still felt a tad too compressed. That said, what’s on the page is still a thrilling noir tale that’s equal parts fun and terrifying. The story’s great premise and complex characters weave a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat until the last fantastic panel.
Past Tense will be available in comic shops on June 21. If you’re okay with waiting a bit longer, you can preorder it for delivery on July 11 here.
Join the AIPT Patreon
Want to take our relationship to the next level? Become a patron today to gain access to exclusive perks, such as:
- ❌ Remove all ads on the website
- 💬 Join our Discord community, where we chat about the latest news and releases from everything we cover on AIPT
- 📗 Access to our monthly book club
- 📦 Get a physical trade paperback shipped to you every month
- 💥 And more!
You must be logged in to post a comment.