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Temporal
From acclaimed writer Stephanie Williams (Nubia & The Amazons, Moon Girl and Devil Wreck and Roll, The Raven Boys graphic novel adaptation) and rising comic artist Asiah Fulmore ( Princess Of Gemworld and The Brave and The Bold) comes a thrilling new limited series about family, identity, and the dangerous allure of who we used to be. A retired time thief risks everything to steal a vintage gaming console for her son, accidentally reawakening dangerous forces that could collapse all realities, forcing her to confront her past to save her family's future.
Once upon a time, Savannah and Marcus were the most skilled temporal thieves in the business, slipping through history to acquire rare artifacts. That was before they settled down, had a son, and built a quiet life together. Ten years later, as their son Harper celebrates his birthday, Savannah questions whether suburban bliss is enough. When Harper's disappointment over a replica gaming console triggers memories of her former life, Savannah makes a decision that could jeopardize everything she and Marcus have built. Against her husband's knowledge and her best friend's warnings, Savannah steps back into the portal for "one last job" - a simple mission to retrieve an original gaming console from the past. But nothing stays simple for long in a business where time is money.
Once upon a time, Savannah and Marcus were the most skilled temporal thieves in the business, slipping through history to acquire rare artifacts. That was before they settled down, had a son, and built a quiet life together. Ten years later, as their son Harper celebrates his birthday, Savannah questions whether suburban bliss is enough. When Harper's disappointment over a replica gaming console triggers memories of her former life, Savannah makes a decision that could jeopardize everything she and Marcus have built. Against her husband's knowledge and her best friend's warnings, Savannah steps back into the portal for "one last job" - a simple mission to retrieve an original gaming console from the past. But nothing stays simple for long in a business where time is money.
- GenresComics
Kindle Edition
Published April 7, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 17, 2026
3/10
May 17, 2026
Ermmm… Please tell me this is a kids comic, right? I mean, right? It doesn't ever say it is, but from these contents it really ought to be. Savannah and Marcus are time thieves – that BAMF themselves into the past to steal things that the future world lacks, such as specific cars, or, er, Rubik's Cubes (cos like they've all biodegraded, or been captured by aliens or something). Ten years later they have a family together, and a kid, and a need for a specific games console as opposed to a knock-off, so Savannah does one last job, a full decade after the real last job – upon which all the trouble you could want starts…
There are a lot of bizarrely childish options chosen for these pages – the way the things fetched from our childhoods to the 2070s are things that probably lasted anyway, to the way the art completely refuses to show us what they might be selling in their vintage-retro shops of the future, to the way someone decided to solve climate change by manipulating the moon's gravity (???) which resulted in the satellite nearly splitting apart (???!!!). Games consoles would play games from other systems, if only they'd had a tweak of their power source – cos that's how that works.
This might have been good, but ends up a cheese-fest. And it's all the poorer for having a lovely, buxom (on the covers, at least), dynamic yet maternal heroine of colour that ends up making stupid decisions, and talking to herself a lot, even on secret missions (ignoring the fact that her living was to be a thief, of course). This is daft idea after daft idea, peopled by weak characters, and if meant for adult audiences is frankly an embarrassment. And if it's written for juvenile audiences, well, it's frankly an embarrassment, as they deserve the exact same care and thought us oldsters do, and this offers far too little of both. Two stars is being generous.
There are a lot of bizarrely childish options chosen for these pages – the way the things fetched from our childhoods to the 2070s are things that probably lasted anyway, to the way the art completely refuses to show us what they might be selling in their vintage-retro shops of the future, to the way someone decided to solve climate change by manipulating the moon's gravity (???) which resulted in the satellite nearly splitting apart (???!!!). Games consoles would play games from other systems, if only they'd had a tweak of their power source – cos that's how that works.
This might have been good, but ends up a cheese-fest. And it's all the poorer for having a lovely, buxom (on the covers, at least), dynamic yet maternal heroine of colour that ends up making stupid decisions, and talking to herself a lot, even on secret missions (ignoring the fact that her living was to be a thief, of course). This is daft idea after daft idea, peopled by weak characters, and if meant for adult audiences is frankly an embarrassment. And if it's written for juvenile audiences, well, it's frankly an embarrassment, as they deserve the exact same care and thought us oldsters do, and this offers far too little of both. Two stars is being generous.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I really wanted to love this book. The premise is so promising, and the creative team behind it have the bonafides to back it up well. But unfortunately, it didn't quite stick the landing.
Tbh, the first 2 Chapters/Issues in this graphic novel are great. Legit 5 star reads for me. I was loving Savannah and Marcus; their chemistry, their clear love and support of each other, and being there for their son. The worldbuilding at that point was engrossing and engaging. And Savannah was a relatable character; who doesn't understand missing some of the more exciting days of their youth before settling down?
However, by about midway through Chapter/Issue 3, it was like someone hit warpspeed on the plot and what character arches had been established so far. I really think this book could have benefited from being a bit longer/having a few more issues in the initial comic run. Then the second half of this book wouldn't have felt like a rushed info dump centering around a macguffin and the story would have been given space to breathe.
Positives in the book are the diverse representation throughout and the artwork. I really liked Asiah Fulmore's illustrations from start to finish. Even when the story was lacking, her artwork gave vibrant life to the characters and world.
Thank you to NetGalley and Mad Cave Studios for access to this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Tbh, the first 2 Chapters/Issues in this graphic novel are great. Legit 5 star reads for me. I was loving Savannah and Marcus; their chemistry, their clear love and support of each other, and being there for their son. The worldbuilding at that point was engrossing and engaging. And Savannah was a relatable character; who doesn't understand missing some of the more exciting days of their youth before settling down?
However, by about midway through Chapter/Issue 3, it was like someone hit warpspeed on the plot and what character arches had been established so far. I really think this book could have benefited from being a bit longer/having a few more issues in the initial comic run. Then the second half of this book wouldn't have felt like a rushed info dump centering around a macguffin and the story would have been given space to breathe.
Positives in the book are the diverse representation throughout and the artwork. I really liked Asiah Fulmore's illustrations from start to finish. Even when the story was lacking, her artwork gave vibrant life to the characters and world.
Thank you to NetGalley and Mad Cave Studios for access to this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
May 19, 2026
My Selling Pitch:
A retired time travel agent goes back to work to save her family and the world in this middlegrade graphic novel.
Pre-reading:
A sci-fi graphic!
(obviously potential spoilers from here on)
Thick of it:
The art style kind of reminds me of The Proud Family.
All I can hear is minions, tonight we steal the moon!
So much nonsensical infodumping
Post-reading:
Like it’s fine, I guess? The story goes too fast for the reader to process anything, and it’s only exposition dialogue about characters’ backstories and nonsensical science. It’s a pretty cliche family drama that you’ve definitely read a better version of before. For some reason, the author keeps telling us that timelines are like a video game, but there’s no evidence of that, and we just have to roll with it. It reads like a middlegrade, but I don’t think that’s the intention. I think you’re safe to skip this one.
Who should read this:
Middlegrade sci-fi fans
Ideal reading time:
Anytime
Do I want to reread this:
No
Would I buy this:
No
Similar books:
* Smooth Criminals by Kiwi Smith-graphic novel, scifi heist, historical
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
A retired time travel agent goes back to work to save her family and the world in this middlegrade graphic novel.
Pre-reading:
A sci-fi graphic!
(obviously potential spoilers from here on)
Thick of it:
The art style kind of reminds me of The Proud Family.
All I can hear is minions, tonight we steal the moon!
So much nonsensical infodumping
Post-reading:
Like it’s fine, I guess? The story goes too fast for the reader to process anything, and it’s only exposition dialogue about characters’ backstories and nonsensical science. It’s a pretty cliche family drama that you’ve definitely read a better version of before. For some reason, the author keeps telling us that timelines are like a video game, but there’s no evidence of that, and we just have to roll with it. It reads like a middlegrade, but I don’t think that’s the intention. I think you’re safe to skip this one.
Who should read this:
Middlegrade sci-fi fans
Ideal reading time:
Anytime
Do I want to reread this:
No
Would I buy this:
No
Similar books:
* Smooth Criminals by Kiwi Smith-graphic novel, scifi heist, historical
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 21, 2026
A retired time travel thief, now an accomplished mother, relives her golden past by doing one last big heist. Turns out very bad for the world's time continuum and its general wellbeing.
Recommend for a younger audience, noticeable in the story's juvenile tone and its simplicity in storytelling. But, the latter clashes with the choice of making a middle-aged adult the main protagonist, even if she is interesting enough disconnected from the original story (I mean, someone living in the future yearning for the world's past and their own? Plus heists? Good core story.) It reads very young, and the comic's resolution is kept straightforward as well, added by sudden changes and random introductions of characters and problem-solving techniques.
But, the art is well done, especially the characters' emotions, and I liked its POC' focus.
Rounding up to 3 stars. I wish this would have been only the draft for a more refined story. Thanks to NetGalley and Mad Cave Studios for an ARC for an honest review.
Recommend for a younger audience, noticeable in the story's juvenile tone and its simplicity in storytelling. But, the latter clashes with the choice of making a middle-aged adult the main protagonist, even if she is interesting enough disconnected from the original story (I mean, someone living in the future yearning for the world's past and their own? Plus heists? Good core story.) It reads very young, and the comic's resolution is kept straightforward as well, added by sudden changes and random introductions of characters and problem-solving techniques.
But, the art is well done, especially the characters' emotions, and I liked its POC' focus.
Rounding up to 3 stars. I wish this would have been only the draft for a more refined story. Thanks to NetGalley and Mad Cave Studios for an ARC for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Mad Cave Studios for a digital copy of this graphic novel in exchange for my review!
This was a fun and short read. I really enjoyed the art, and it was easy to get sucked into the story. What happens when a mother who used to be a famous time thief goes back for one last heist?
I thought the premise was interesting, and I was invested in the main family. I felt like a lot was lacking in the background. How does the time travel work? What are the regulations on it typically? What do the bad guys get out of the timeline convergence? I just did not really understand the motivations for anyone except the main character. Also, the ending felt a bit too easy, like there was not enough of a sacrifice for to solve what was supposed to be an absolutely massive problem. The art was good and the story had potential but overall, I was interested in a bit more background.
This was a fun and short read. I really enjoyed the art, and it was easy to get sucked into the story. What happens when a mother who used to be a famous time thief goes back for one last heist?
I thought the premise was interesting, and I was invested in the main family. I felt like a lot was lacking in the background. How does the time travel work? What are the regulations on it typically? What do the bad guys get out of the timeline convergence? I just did not really understand the motivations for anyone except the main character. Also, the ending felt a bit too easy, like there was not enough of a sacrifice for to solve what was supposed to be an absolutely massive problem. The art was good and the story had potential but overall, I was interested in a bit more background.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
“Temporal” by Stephanie Williams is a time-jumping heist graphic novel. Well, it also solves global warming, but that isn’t the point. The point is, when you jump time to steal stuff, what could go wrong? Actually, quite a bit.
This becomes a family adventure. There is a moment or two of language that would probably keep it from younger audiences, but other than that, it is literally fun for the whole family.
The artwork is absolutely gorgeous. The story is not only fun, but is really good. It’s adventurous and heartwarming at the same time.
Stephanie Williams, you have a new fan. More of this, please!
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing an ARC for an unbiased review.
This becomes a family adventure. There is a moment or two of language that would probably keep it from younger audiences, but other than that, it is literally fun for the whole family.
The artwork is absolutely gorgeous. The story is not only fun, but is really good. It’s adventurous and heartwarming at the same time.
Stephanie Williams, you have a new fan. More of this, please!
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing an ARC for an unbiased review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This feels more like the outline of a story than an actual story. Too much is left out. It's about these time travelling thieves who have retired and started a family. Then half way through they used to work for this global organization and they are also being hunted by a government organization. Then at one point the moon has something to with alternate Earths. None of it makes any kind of sense. Plus, this is set 45 years in the future which apparently looks just like now with the exact same level of technology. It just feels like there wasn't a lot of thought put into this.
April 16, 2026
Temporal was a fun read that would be great to hand over to a younger comic book reader. The cover art is lush, and the actual pages have a fun/playful art style that fits the comic that keeps a really fast pace. Part of that is because we don't get to dig in very deeply to the complicated and potentially compelling world of the story. We do get a sweet central family dynamic, a lot of fun soft SciFi, and a focus on a mother who both gets to question her decisions and be a full person. Definitely worth a read.
Thank to Netgalley and Mad Cave Studios for the ARC of this comic.
Thank to Netgalley and Mad Cave Studios for the ARC of this comic.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Stunning. This is the type of sci-fi I crave. Time travel, portals, consequences, this had it all! I was immediately invested in Savannah's story and thrilled by the pacing. This collects Temporal issues #1-5 and did not disappoint! The art style was absolutely incredible and I loved the expressions and emotions the illustrator was able to achieve.
Thank you to NetGalley and Mad Cave for the Advance Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you to NetGalley and Mad Cave for the Advance Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest review!
May 19, 2026
Was a two up until the last issue because it did really come together and make all of the elements make sense. I was surprised to see this nominated for an Eisner because I've definitely read better this year, but it is a decent 5-issue read with a solid ending!
The art is really odd. It's blurry for some reason in a webtoon, low quality manga-esque kind of way which I can't tell if it was a choice or a limitation or what.
The art is really odd. It's blurry for some reason in a webtoon, low quality manga-esque kind of way which I can't tell if it was a choice or a limitation or what.
Review of advance copy
read in singles.
internal art isnt consistent with the cover.
story felt aimed at a younger audience than me. a little too cutesy.
internal art isnt consistent with the cover.
story felt aimed at a younger audience than me. a little too cutesy.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews