Future

by Tom Woodman, Rupert Smissen (Artist), Aditya Bidikar (Letterer)

Time has run out.

Humanity is clinging on to an Earth facing imminent collapse. Kay Mielniczuk, fierce optimist, convinces her dying wife, astronaut Murray Mielniczuk, to take on one last assignment.

Catapulted through time on a wing, a prayer, and some theoretically correct science, they set out in search of a cure… for Murray and for the planet.

Future is a 128-page full colour original graphic novel about time travel, the apocalypse, and finding hope in the ultimate power of love.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, Queer, LGBT, Comics

128 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 2020

Reviews

[Linda Prins]

I have never cried while reading a book before, but this did it! I loved Kay and Murray and their relationship so much it really felt like I knew them or could at least meet them just somewhere in a city. My heart is somehow both broken and very warm and full after reading this.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Time travelling wives in space! What more could you want? Of the two characters, I loved Kay in particular, but their relationship really makes the book. And that ending... Very glad I backed this on Unbound Books.

[bald · Rating 5 out of 5]

This made me sick!!!! I really loved both Kay and Murray. I expected it to make me sad which it did, but the ending was sweet.

[Donatella Zuccaro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this story that starts because humans have made a whole mess on earth, while surrounded by people in an airport... is definitely something. I felt anger and pain for what happens to them in this comic book, but it's nothing compared to what I've felt about the two main characters: they were... real. The quarrels, the jokes. the worries, the love. all felt real. Recommended

[Franzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not a graphic novel person and I picked this up solely because of my current obsession with the author's improv comedy group. However, I was pleasantly surprised. The art is stunning, the plot beautiful and heartbreaking, and the combination of both made this a fantastic read!
I highly recommend this book to anyone who's interested in space, time-travel, love, or just plain old good storytelling. Even if you've never read a graphic novel before, this one will work for you, I promise!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a last ditch attempt to save the Earth, terminally ill astronaunt Murray and her engineer wife Kay are persuaded to launch to a satellite in order to time travel to the future, to send data back to the Earth of the past to help save the planet and hopefully find a cure for Murray. The plot occassionally lost me a little, but the artwork is gorgeous, I love the characters, and the ending gave me feelings. One that I keep mulling over.

[John Kaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seems appropriate to reach my annual target with the first book from my daughter's newly founded publishing company, Cast Iron Books. I've lived quite a bit of the journey to what will be the first of many, I am sure. It has to be said that I'm no great reader of graphic novels, and my ability to make sensible remarks is limited. So, after a slow start, I found a rhythm and enjoyed the premise. The book is a lovely thing and the artwork is gorgeous.

[Si Clarke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murray (last to the astronauts) and Kay (engineer extraordinaire) Mielniczuk agree to launch into space and time on a one-way trip to save both the Earth and Murray. Things don't quite go to plan and they may not be able to save either.

The characters are wonderful – fully realised, flawed, and lovable. The story's premise is compelling (although it did lose me a few times). And the artwork is absolutely gorgeous.

[Blueberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was soo great but too short. I really want more 💜💙

[Naama Ben-Haim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Writing an actual review because it's been months since I read this and I'm still randomly hit with a feeling of dread and existentialism because of it.
(minor spoilers)

First of all, the art is breathtaking. Every single panel is beautiful, not to mention the several times in the book where the cocenpt of "panels" is completely dropped and replaced with a full page illustration. The atmosphere created by the art is so exactly right for the plot. The way the day Murray and Kay met is slowly revealed to the reader as Murray relives it is beautiful.
Second of all. I started reading this book knowing that it will be depressing. I thought I was prepared. I was not. I was genuinely Unwell for like a week after reading it. "We've come so far, and no one will ever know" - that sentence hit me like a TRUCK. I have never considered that aspect in post-apocalyptic stories. This book fucked me up.
Tom Mayo Woodman, you fabulous man. stop making me cry

[Gary Varga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my. Phenomenal.

What a read.

I am far from a fan of stories involving time travel. Often used as a Deus Ex Machina and often ruins any semblance of sense. Not here. Whilst integral to the plot it is not abused nor allowed to disabuse the tale.

This story is about people. Just two people and their personal journey. Yes, there is more to it than that (including a standard warning to all mankind trope Sci-Fi trope) but every single page is about one character, the other, both of them, or their journey.

[ThelibraryofSophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG AMAZING! I bought this book because Tom is in the improv group Shoot From The Hip (Shootimpro) and I like reading so I thought I would give it a go. This book had me sobbing in the dentist office like a baby, I want the love these two have!

Side note: I met Tom in person, amazing guy, and he signed my book and I couldn’t be happier!

[Mushroom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book! The art is beautiful and the story is great and the protagonist speak and act like real people for once (: I really do recommend this book, and I'm sure that I'll read it again soon.

[Diana Gagliardi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goodreads failed me and for the first time didn't let me update from the "currently reading" list. Betrayal, sigh.

This is a fantastic comic with all sorts of story and heart and all sorts of strangeness. Highly recommended.

Enjoy!

[Johan Haneveld · Rating 4 out of 5]

8- Interesting SF graphic novel that combines a very personal story with far out science. A lesbian couple, one of whom is dying from cancer, is asked to travel to the future, to find out if Earth can be saved from a coming devastation. It becomes not only a battle to save our civilization, but also to save a loved one from a deadly illness. Here there are clear parallels between the illness of one of the characters and the threat to life on earth: it creeps up on you, it is easy to lose hope and give in to despair, and the patient is developing delusions. The ultimate disaster on earth is caused, says the book, by an anti-science government (so also delusional). I found the scenes on a deserted, almost lifeless future earth well realised - but stark (which was the intention, I know). At the same time the relationship between the protagonist was well fleshed out by flash backs (that used original page lay outs). The end of the book was surprising and tense as well.
Still, I was a bit disappointed by the ending, as some things are left unexplained, and I had expected, after the SF-elements of the previous chapters a more transformative conclusion. A break with the stark desolation of the previous chapters, maybe.
Still, a good SF graphic novel that manages to combine fascinating speculation with a deeply personal story.

[Holly Cruise · Rating 3 out of 5]

2022 Read A Graphic Novel Every Week Challenge - 42/52

Picked this up on the strength of the cover art. A terminally ill astronaut and her engineer wife are sent into space and through time to try and gather information to stop humanity wiping ourselves out. The future is bleak, after all.

This was pretty good. I admired the story's dedication to showing humanity and love among the bleakness of environmental ruin, and the visuals were a good match for that. I was particularly impressed at the characterisation of Mur and Kay, two very nicely realised and believable characters, who actually interacted like a real couple would, even faced with a grim situation like the one they find themselves in.

[Stephen Pearson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting and thought provoking hard science fiction concept. All backed with emotional scenes and displays of humanity. Excellently detailed full colour illustrations, but as is normal for me with a lot of graphic novels, it all feels too short to really develop characters and the story, despite this being a decent length for the medium. It came together though, with a satisfying ending which made up for a lack of much engagement earlier on.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a really beautiful book with a great story and characters. i kinda expected it to have more stuff in it but then that always happens with graphic novels so that’s on me.

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very well drawn and written story, brief but makes an impression with a satisfying ending in my opinion.

[Jasper · Rating 4 out of 5]

SO MANY EMOTIONS!!! So well written, beautifully illustrated, it was great!!!!

[teeqi · Rating 4 out of 5]

oh my dear dear sapphics. this book made me so emotional. the characterization was fantastic. both characters felt so real, and so true to their love. sobbing.

[Tess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes I cried at the end. What of it?

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was such a good concept for a story and the art was absolutely beautiful. I cried several times and the ending has left me with so many thoughts. absolutely recommended

[Poppy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely incredible, the story is so good and the art is so good and just all in all. so. good. I completely fell in love with the characters. And was definitely not crying at the end, nope.