EI8HT: Outcast

January 1, 2016
Sent on a secret mission with no memory of his life or even what his assignment is, chrononaut Joshua is transported to the Meld, a place in between time where past, present, and future happen simultaneously. As his memory gradually returns to him, he quickly discovers that those around him are mysteriously linked to both his past and future. In the spirit of comics like Black Science (2014), Albuquerque and Johnson create a smart and original play on the sci-fi genre while maintaining a quick pace that never truly stops for a breath, even during moments of exposition. Johnson's solid-colored backgrounds make it easy to discern the quickly varying time periods, which constantly shift from past to present to future. His detailed and heavily shaded yet cartoonish character design, only drawn in blue, serves as a sharp contrast to the monotone backdrops. They end the first volume with most questions answered and no strong cliff-hanger, and, while a future installment isn't necessarily guaranteed, it's a rich premise with plenty of room to grow.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)