The Infinite 1
Writer Robert Kirkman
Artist Rob Liefeld
Inker Adelso Corona
Letter Rus Wooten
Colorist Hi Fi Design
Published by Image Comics
Robert Kirkman, the creator of Invincible, one of the most entertaining super hero comics ever–and delving into the idea of the Evil Superman well before “Irredeemable” and “The Mighty” were even the gleam of pitches brought before a publisher’s eye–is trying his considerably talented hand at science fiction with the first issue of “The Infinite”. It actually, from the cover, looks to be space opera combined with time travel.
That said I wasn’t that blown away with the first issue. It struck me more like, to use teevee space opera as a guide, your usual dopey episode of Stargate Atlantis. Not in the recent high level Battlestar Galactica range, not in the stellar Deep Space Nine range, or even the best Star Trek: Next Generation range. I’m sure this will make Kirkman cry, as he bathes in hundred bills from all that “Walking Dead” money he’s making. Take one of those Ben Franklins and wipe away that tear, Bob.
But it could turn into something special. I recall that the first “Invincible” didn’t blow me away and seemed almost cute. That property just got better and better. Never judge a series by its first issue.
The premise is this: We’re taken to a future time where the world has been shaped by one time traveler. You’re introduced to a resistance cell of two, which is quickly whittled down to one who is named Bowen. He’s attacking someone named “Imperious” , perhaps a subtle way of saying that the future doesn’t look like the utopia of Norway. They have an argument about whether the world is tyrannical or orderly (Speaking of Star Trek…) and our “hero” Bowen–not exactly certain this is true–steals the time machine that Imperious used to change the world into his image and goes back in time to set it all right. Let the paradoxes begin.
Or: “And off we go” as my old English teacher and Pynchon scholar Terry Ceasar used to say. Now, there used to be a comic book that was based on the idea that time travel paradoxes fueled the universe. And the first thing this guy does is go back in time and changes his own timeline! This brings up all kind of weird questions such as if you change the things that shaped you–he seems to stop himself from an involuntary manslaughter charge and the prison time that went with it–aren’t you changing you? Sometimes the bad things that happen to you make you a better person. I mean, wouldn’t someone with a prison background be better at resistance than some ROTC recruit? I thought you blew up if you touched your past self like in Time Cop (which, admittedly, always felt dumb. But seriously: what would you really tell your past self?). Does this actually change the time line or like in the newest Star Trek movie does this simply create a brand new timeline, where Imperious just goes about his business? Or does “Imperious” do a “Back to the Future II” and unchange the evil Biff universe that Bowen will try to unleash…? Was Imperious right that he was actually saving the world from something horrible in the future? What time does Imperious come from? Is time travel a one way trip here? Is Imperious human or alien or altered human…?
I’m sure that Kirkman, superior Joss Whedon plotter that he is, will answer these questions in a very interesting and compelling way. The art is by Rob Liefeld so there you go. I find Rob to be the Mike Grell of our day but he certainly isn’t bad. He is an able storyteller. Just don’t hold your breath for any Promethea level layouts.
Three out of five stars but I’ll be checking back in a few issues and I’m sure they’ll be some wonderful surprises on the way. Related: the space opera in Invincible has been much more impressive. Or see three supermen destroy a planet. It’s like a readable version of Scott Mcloud’s “Destroy”.
