It’s that time again, as Marvel Comics is publishing its third annual Timeless one-shot. It has become a tradition for them to release the special at the end of the year to tease what’s to come, and this year is no different. That is, unless you count its creative team changing, with Jed MacKay taking a break as Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly take over. The new one-shot is all about Luke Cage in a possible end-of-universe scenario.
This issue is an absolute blast. It opens with Luke Cage and Iron Fist back in the old days, connecting in a friendship and in a heroic way. The two are young and hopeful, but we soon smash cut to the “present,” and Moon Knight has taken over the Earth. Heroes seem to be gone, and only Luke Cage stands in his way. This isn’t Luke Cage as you remember him, but a powered-up version harnessing the abilities of multiple heroes, including Iron Fist and Hulk!
He’s quite literally Power Man.
That sets in motion a badass character fighting alone, but in spirit, he’s got every hero behind him. This allows the creators to reveal flashes of what’s to come in our universe, or at least potential outcomes. Timeless delivers major reveals and teases that span the Avengers, Spider-Man, and the X-Men. It doesn’t feel clunky but natural for him to think of these moments as he fights Moon Knight.
Khonsu is like, the worst villain when given the opportunity!
Credit: Marvel
As far as his journey and struggle with the issue, the creative team nails the high stakes and great internal monologue of Luke Cage via captions. This is the best version of the hero that can be in spirit and power, and it’s pretty awesome to see.
There’s also a heartfelt story here about brotherhood, although it doesn’t quite hit the mark. That’s because the plot requires Iron Fist to take a back seat, but you do see the pain in Luke’s eyes when truths are revealed. Staying cagey here to avoid spoilers, but the emotional element of Luke and Danny doesn’t quite work.
Juan Cabal knocks it out of the park with art, whether cool double-page splashes or awesome energy effects. Colors by Edgar Delgado aid in the varying blasts of energy Luke gives and takes. Cabal’s ability to command empty space is used well throughout the issue, allowing for dramatic beats to land in a cinematic way.
Props to the creative team for ending this issue in a way that feels important. Past issues have teased things that never seem to pop up again, but here there’s a big promise this adventure isn’t over yet. That’s exciting, especially since it could mean big things for Luke Cage–an often underrepresented hero–in the future.
Timeless #1 is as epic as it comes, with a rewarding journey for an alternate version of Luke Cage to thrive and win the day. All the while, we get teases for Marvel’s 2024 projects, so by the end of the issue, you’ll be salivating in more ways than one.
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