REVIEW: ‘Timeless (2022),’ Issue #1

Timeless (2022) #1 is written by Jed MacKay, illustrated by Greg Land with Jay Leisten, Patch Zircher & Salvador Larroca, colored by Frank D’Amarta, and lettered by VC’s Ariana Maher. It’s published by Marvel Comics. Throughout the centuries, Kang the Conqueror has built a formidable empire and vanquished countless enemies. Yet one thing has eluded him: the “Missing Moment” — a period of time that even he’s been unable to witness. While pondering how to access the Moment, Kang is attacked by the mysterious Myrridin and his Twilight Court. The Court intends to end Kang’s tyranny, even if they have to cross all of time and space to do it.

Last year saw the release of a Timeless one-shot that also saw Kang traveling through time and space while grappling with his legacy. It served a dual purpose: to reinforce Kang as one of the deadliest beings in the Marvel Universe while also setting up future stories for this year’s crop of Marvel comics. This process is repeated here, though MacKay decides to place the focus more on Kang’s conflict with the Court and less on the upcoming stories. That being said, eagle-eyed fans will notice more than a few hints about upcoming events, especially where Spider-Man and the X-Men are concerned.

And Kang is facing a formidable threat in the Twilight Court. As befitting their name, they take inspiration from Arthurian lore, especially the Knights of the Round Table. Daniel Acuna provided the designs for the Court, which lean toward the same mix of bleeding-edge tech and medieval armor that Kang wears. Perhaps the most intimidating figure is Myrridin himself; his armor is a shining silver and covered in ornate patterns, and his helmet is a reflective surface that covers his entire face – adding both mystery and menace to his very presence.

Where the issue stumbles is in the art. Last year, MacKay managed to score a huge win by working with Mark Bagley and Kev Walker, who’ve turned in some amazing work on Spider-Man and the Predator respectively. Of the three artists this year, only Zircher has a sequence that presents any oomph. The aforementioned sequence takes place in the “Impossible City,” which looks like a mirage come to life. Buildings shimmer, wave, and shift as Kang battles the swordswoman Lancelot, making for a visually impressive fight. Larroca, on the other hand, can’t keep his proportions straight and the less said about Land’s increasingly tired art style the better.

But D’Amarta and Maher both deliver when it comes to the coloring and lettering. Throughout the entire issue, especially when Kang jumps through time, D’Amarta makes heavy use of purple and green. Not only does this represent Kang as he mostly wears those colors, but it also helps sell the insane sci-fi edge of this story. Maher utilizes a simple, yet striking lettering style for the captions, which serve as both a way to catch the reader’s eye while also informing them where and when Kang and his opponents are fighting.

Timeless (2022) #1 puts Kang the Conquerer through the wringer while also setting up Marvel’s wave of stories for 2023. It’s only fitting that one of the last comics of the year focuses on a time travel odyssey, and the last page teases that Kang’s journey is far from over. Honestly, I wouldn’t be mad if this is a recurring tradition with Marvel.

Timeless (2022) #1 is available wherever comics are sold.