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Back to the Future: Citizen Brown #1-5
Back to the Future: Citizen Brown
Time-travelling into comics directly out of Telltale’s 2010 smash-hit episodic video game BACK TO THE FUTURE: THE GAME! When an empty time-traveling DeLorean suddenly shows up in 1986, Marty McFly quickly learns that his friend Doctor Emmett “Doc” Brown is stranded in 1931 and possibly in mortal danger. Now it’s up to Marty to return to the past to once again save Doc and the time-space continuum!
120 pages, Paperback
First published January 4, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
July 30, 2025
(B+) 77% | Good
Notes: Quite Bill and Ted, too thin and spread, an awkward adaptation, though a pretty fun, if overdone, nostalgic visitation.
*Progress updates: Preamble ◦ Issue #1 ◦ Issues #2-3 ◦ Issues #4-5
Notes: Quite Bill and Ted, too thin and spread, an awkward adaptation, though a pretty fun, if overdone, nostalgic visitation.
*Progress updates: Preamble ◦ Issue #1 ◦ Issues #2-3 ◦ Issues #4-5
August 14, 2017
Please excuse my childhood digressions as an escape from reality for a bit.
December 31, 2019
Stick with the video game.
February 12, 2017
This graphic novel based on the video game based on the series of movies was a lot of fun! I have only played the first installment of the game, so I can't say how faithful the book is overall, or whether it spoils the games or not. However, I can say that between the writing of Bob Gale, writer of the original movies and co-writer Eric Burnham, who has faithfully brought the Ghostbusters to the comics page, it really captures the tone of the movies. The art, by Alan Robinson, isn't photorealistic, but captures the feel of the game graphics without directly copying them. A lot of fun for fans of Back to the Future!
February 5, 2020
Felt rushed sometimes, I think mainly because of it being an adaptation from a game, with me who already finished it before. The story flow and detail are and feel different in a video game. Also, some details and story parts were changed.
I liked and enjoyed it though, and I think it is ok for someone who did not play the game to read it too. It was quite fun and interesting, even though I do prefer the video game still.
I liked and enjoyed it though, and I think it is ok for someone who did not play the game to read it too. It was quite fun and interesting, even though I do prefer the video game still.
March 23, 2019
Un libro que me ha encantado y que nos da mucho más a los fans
December 31, 2019
A fun, alternate story that doesnt affect the original!
November 10, 2025
As a big-time Back to the Future fan, I can say Citizen Brown doesn’t quite live up to the magic of the original trilogy or even the other extended universe material. It’s not a bad story, mind you, just one that clearly shows its roots as a video game.
The story begins when the DeLorean appears out of nowhere, carrying a distress message from Doc Brown. Marty jumps into action to help his friend.
He travels back to a time when Doc wasn’t a scientist we know, but a young man studying law under the pressure of his father’s expectations. While there, Marty unintentionally alters the past, setting off a chain of events that alters the future entirely.
In this altered timeline, Doc falls in love with Edna Strickland, Principal Strickland's sister, and her influence transforms him into something unrecognizable. When Marty returns to 1986, he finds himself in a bizarre dystopia ruled by “Citizen Brown,” where Hill Valley is a sanitized, authoritarian nightmare.
Everything is perfectly “orderly,” but no one’s really free. It’s like a 1984 for kids scenario.
The implications are fascinating. Seeing what would happen if Doc’s brilliance were twisted toward control instead of discovery.
But because the comic directly adapts the structure of the Telltale video game, it feels disjointed and overly reliant on convenience. Events unfold more like mission checkpoints than natural story beats, lacking the circular storytelling that made the films so good.
Still, it’s not without heart, since, when Citizen Brown finally agrees to help Marty out, he’s shown to be a good person at heart in every possible reality. He still loves Edna and genuinely wants to help her have a happy life when they return to the past.
This story works best as a game rather than as a standalone comic. It was designed with that purpose, and trying to make it something it’s not did make it a less-than-stellar product.
The story begins when the DeLorean appears out of nowhere, carrying a distress message from Doc Brown. Marty jumps into action to help his friend.
He travels back to a time when Doc wasn’t a scientist we know, but a young man studying law under the pressure of his father’s expectations. While there, Marty unintentionally alters the past, setting off a chain of events that alters the future entirely.
In this altered timeline, Doc falls in love with Edna Strickland, Principal Strickland's sister, and her influence transforms him into something unrecognizable. When Marty returns to 1986, he finds himself in a bizarre dystopia ruled by “Citizen Brown,” where Hill Valley is a sanitized, authoritarian nightmare.
Everything is perfectly “orderly,” but no one’s really free. It’s like a 1984 for kids scenario.
The implications are fascinating. Seeing what would happen if Doc’s brilliance were twisted toward control instead of discovery.
But because the comic directly adapts the structure of the Telltale video game, it feels disjointed and overly reliant on convenience. Events unfold more like mission checkpoints than natural story beats, lacking the circular storytelling that made the films so good.
Still, it’s not without heart, since, when Citizen Brown finally agrees to help Marty out, he’s shown to be a good person at heart in every possible reality. He still loves Edna and genuinely wants to help her have a happy life when they return to the past.
This story works best as a game rather than as a standalone comic. It was designed with that purpose, and trying to make it something it’s not did make it a less-than-stellar product.
July 7, 2017
I loved this graphic novel. This is a graphic novelization of a video game. while I haven't played the game I loved the story line. It picks up several months after the events of the last movie, and oddly enough follows a similar story arch to the motion picture trilogy.
I love that the inner art is as good as the cover art. that's saying something. if you are a Back to the Future fan, but not willing to hunt down and play a copy of this game, I highly recommend this graphic adaptation.
I love that the inner art is as good as the cover art. that's saying something. if you are a Back to the Future fan, but not willing to hunt down and play a copy of this game, I highly recommend this graphic adaptation.
November 10, 2024
It's a cool retelling of the game, but the game is cooler so why not just play that? I suppose these are easier to get hold of though since it was delisted.
What I really don't understand though is that this fits perfectly into the timeline of the other comics yet Bob Gale explicitly says it's an alternate timeline. Like why?
What I really don't understand though is that this fits perfectly into the timeline of the other comics yet Bob Gale explicitly says it's an alternate timeline. Like why?
July 9, 2020
I am enjoying this series a lot, maybe not as much as movies but it is great to be back in the Back to the Future universe and excitement of time travels.
This volume was more fast paced than the others.
This volume was more fast paced than the others.
March 16, 2022
Excelente novela gráfica que narra la historia de Doc y Marty por lo viajes en el tiempo, está inspirada en el videojuego de 2010 de Telltale games, y es una historia paralela que puede a haber ocurrido a partir de la tercera película.
March 24, 2018
Similar art issues to the previous volume, but the longer-form story doesn't drag; and like most time travel reads, as long as you don't think to much you'll be fine.
June 28, 2018
I had more fun playing the game, but the story does work well as a graphic novel.
November 12, 2019
Enjoyed this
April 30, 2019
Back to the Future is always fun, but this series is starting to wear thin. Even though the Back to the Future installments have the same general premise, they all have their own unique charm. However, the graphic novels are starting to lack that charm.
June 3, 2018
Jugué al videojuego de Regreso al Futuro en el que se inspira este cómic el año pasado y me encantó. Me gustó mucho tener nuevas aventuras.
He leído los tres cómics de esta serie (contando éste) y los adoro, nuevas historias, muchos viajes en el tiempo y todo lo que un fan de Regreso al Futuro puede apreciar.
Hace unos meses me enteré de que habían sacado este tercer cómic y que además se basaba en el juego que ya había jugado y lo tuve en mi lista de pendientes desde entonces.
Ahora que he podido leerlo no me ha decepcionado, me ha encantado tanto como los otros. Sin duda de mis favoritos. Espero que sigan sacando más cómics con más historias de Marty y Doc.
He leído los tres cómics de esta serie (contando éste) y los adoro, nuevas historias, muchos viajes en el tiempo y todo lo que un fan de Regreso al Futuro puede apreciar.
Hace unos meses me enteré de que habían sacado este tercer cómic y que además se basaba en el juego que ya había jugado y lo tuve en mi lista de pendientes desde entonces.
Ahora que he podido leerlo no me ha decepcionado, me ha encantado tanto como los otros. Sin duda de mis favoritos. Espero que sigan sacando más cómics con más historias de Marty y Doc.
May 24, 2019
Puede que no sea tan bueno como el primer cómic, quizás porque me gustan más las historias cortas, pero ha sido una continuación interesante de las aventuras de Marty y Doc. Lo vemos todo desde el punto de vista del adolescente, lo que hace que estemos mucho más perdidos que si lo vieramos desde el de Doc, como ocurrió con las primeras historias.
Y, pese a ser una continuación, está bien saber algo del pasado de estos personajes.
Si tengo alguna gran queja, diría que me hubiera gustado ver más del presente alternativo del Ciudano Brown, que para algo da título al tomo.
Y, pese a ser una continuación, está bien saber algo del pasado de estos personajes.
Si tengo alguna gran queja, diría que me hubiera gustado ver más del presente alternativo del Ciudano Brown, que para algo da título al tomo.
July 15, 2020
Una historia con estos personajes y viajes en el tiempo no puede dejar de ser entretenida. Pero la originalidad brilla por su ausencia. Las dos primeras partes se corresponden casi idénticamente a la estructura de las dos primeras películas. A partir de ahí, es una versión de "1984" con referencias a "El mago de Oz", "La naranja mecánica", etc.
October 29, 2022
I haven't played the game this is based on, but this seems like maybe a rush job compared to the five episodes of the game. I enjoy that we're visiting different eras and whatnot, but there are some unanswered questions. Where is Doc's family? I do wish Punk Rock Jennifer was a real thing.
February 24, 2019
Excelente refresco a la saga !! Mantener la atmósfera de los personajes es difícil, y este arco lo logra. Me leí la versión en español de Norma.
April 29, 2017
This was based on a video game that came out in 2010 that was (conventionally) called Back to the Future: The Game. It was a episodic video game that played out like a story more than a video game. I remember my husband playing the game back then, and a lot of this book aligns with what I remember of the game. The story was good. I think that I may even like it better than the story from the third Back to the Future movie. I honestly think that this would make a better movie. I love the 1930's perspective. The story left me very pleased by the end. There were some surprises along the way, and I enjoyed seeing another version of Hill Valley. Anyone that enjoyed the movies will want to read this!
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews