| Title | : | Epochalypse |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1937278492 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781937278496 |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 152 |
| Publication | : | First published July 7, 2015 |
When a mysterious space-time phenomenon causes 600 years of human history to collapse into a single era, societies from the past, present and future are forced to coexist in a dystopian civilization. To set the timeline straight, an elite team of Resynchronization Officers must rid the world of anachronisms -- futuristic artifacts that threaten the very laws of time. Everything and everyone from 1952 or later must be hunted down and quarantined.
As one defiant officer leads the manhunt for elusive scientist Dr. Tomorrow and notorious outlaw The Salesman, he is challenged by shadowy agencies, rebel militias and forbidden desire. Can our hero save history? Or will he doom the future?
• Written by Jonathan Hennessey (The United States Constitution: A Graphic Adaptation; The Gettysburg Address: A Graphic Adaptation; The Comic Book Story of Beer)
• This is the compilation of the 6 issue series
• Featuring interiors and covers by the critically acclaimed Shane Davis (Superman: Earth One)
• Includes bonus materials on the making of the comic
Epochalypse Reviews
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This is the first time I’ve read a graphic novel. A bit of fun. Could enjoy a few more in future.
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If I had known this was an incomplete story (and boy, is it ever) I'd never have started reading it.
Because frankly, this is a mess. There are some good ideas here, but the execution is failing them on so many levels, in significant part due to the art. At some point most of the pages start following the same layout (six small horizontal strokes), and this just makes things border on the unreadable. It is an absurd choice from an artist who is often struggling to put down lifelike scenes even when given adequate space.
But the scenario is a mess as well. It seems like this was expected to become some long-running series and thus a lot of mysterious elements are introduced -- and almost none of them get adequately covered throughout this first volume. -
Details of a dystopia in which past and future have been compressed into a singular now unfold gradually across the issues collected here, ending in a cliffhanger that demands continuation. Just when I felt like I had my bearings on the worldbuilding surrounding the work of the Resynchronizers tasked with tracking down anachronisms for eventual resettlement into their proper timelines, "Chapter One" abruptly ended. There's a lot to infer about this world in the gutters, and many subplots and intrigues are set up without resolution. Three years down the road from the original publication date, I'm wondering if further issues are in the offing? Please?
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This tale of multiple timelines all collapsing into the same, simultaneous timeline is an interesting premise, but in execution, just became a real mess. Wondering why the artist couldn't finish the last chapter of the book - the change in style was a disruptive one.
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It took to long to get to the point.
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Jonathan Hennessey was previously known for his graphic non-fiction, with books on the Battle of Gettysburg and the U.S. Constitution. Thus, this is a wild departure.
Unlike books with a dystopian future, this is technically a dystopian past, since the authorities have frozen everything in about 1951. Time has broken a bit, and people, places and things from various points in time have all mooshed together. According to the wisdom handed down from the powers-that-be, people and things from after 1951 are making things even worse, so only proper authorities should have advanced tech, and only in limited quantities.
So, who is the mysterious artifact-smuggler who sells advanced drugs and microwave ovens? And are the authorities even telling the truth?
This story asks more questions than it answers, but as a reader I found myself wanting to read more, and to get those answers, which is a good sign. The quality of the artwork varied a bit, but was generally good. Not great, but good.
