Time² Omnibus

Time² #1-3

by Howard Chaykin

Graphically experimental, narratively daring and visually explosive, Howard Chaykin’s Time2 was a work ahead of its time. Now, to commemorate the project’s 35th anniversary with the arrival of its long-awaited conclusion...it still is.
In addition to remastered versions of the long-out-of-print first two volumes, The Epiphany and The Satisfaction of Black Mariah, the Time2 Omnibus completes the trilogy with the new 48-page volume Hallowed Ground0, plus many never-before-seen extras from the project.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Science Fiction

208 pages, Hardcover

First published February 13, 2024

About the author

Howard Victor Chaykin is an American comic book artist and writer. Chaykin's influences include his one-time employer and mentor, Gil Kane, and the mid-20th century illustrators Robert Fawcett and Al Parker.

Reviews

[Darth Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Dense story, great art.

[Michael Emond · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was a huge Howard Chaykin fan in the 80's even though I find a lot of his stuff over my head. I remember the Time2 graphic novels coming out and remembered how gorgeous they looked but this is the first time reading them. Apparently this is the first time he finished them because a new chapter/volume was added for this collection.

If you want them for the art you will be VERY happy. Howard was at his creative best when it came to layouts and style for the original volumes in this collection (for the newly added volume the art is still great but not "80's Chaykin" great. All in all this is a a perfect collection to see Howard Chaykin's art in top form. Even after all these years his art is so unique and so beautiful.

So why the low rating? Well, Howard in the post-word, himself says even though American Flagg was popular (his other 80's creation) the two Time2 graphic novels from the 80's never sold well. People didn't like them. He then says people come up to him all the time and say now they "get it". Well...okay. I am sure a few fans have done that but after reading this I also understand why these never sold well. And maybe 20 years later I will also "get it" but I actually prefer entertainment that doesn't take decades to finally get.

What we have here is poor world building (I am not really sure who to root for or how the world is constructed) poor premise (Time 2? I thought we would have a time traveler but I am still not sure why it is called Time 2) poor character building...who are the heroes, villains, what is their motivation? Shalamar? A hooker robot killer? Maxie? Even after 180 pages I couldn't answer you.
There are a lot of IDEAS here - a kosher deli owner, a demon police chief, a resurrected sax player, a car that has death sex with people?? but no coherent story. It almost reads like someone in a manic episode who knows how everything fits together in THEIR brain but can't communicate it to other people.

You might even think after 30+ years Howard could try to pull the pieces together for the new chapter that is in this collection and come to an understandable conclusion - but that one felt even more confusing with new characters that didn't fit in the original story.

I was so excited to read this and as the story got more and more confusing (cars that have sex with people until the people die?!?!?!?!) my excitement faded and I realized why this never sold well when it first came out. I have never been so sad to give something a bad review.

[Alex Sarll]

Finally collected and completed, the even more experimental comic Chaykin spun out of American Flagg, pushing that book's dos Passos sense of urban American buzz into fractured, non-linear storytelling intended to produce the same feeling via the eye that bebop does through the ear. It's a noir (yet also wonderfully coloured) fairytale of New York, a vision of the city that never sleeps if it could even offer you two distinct ways around the dirt nap - though neither without their flaws. This is a comic where a demon cop literally kissing the face off an android floozy is almost an incidental detail, where a jazzman comes back from the dead with his horn - in both senses - more potent than ever; it's high art trash in a way that feels suitably, distinctly Manhattan. And the extremely belated conclusion, which I worried might feel jarring given the shifts in Chaykin's style over the decades, instead shows that he's perfectly capable of moving back into the overloaded early mode when it fits, as it does here, offering an oblique response to the gentrification of his setting's real world namesake.

[Michael Norwitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Time Squared was Chaykin's project after American Flagg, but sadly (after an intro in an AF! Special) after two volumes the series failed to find an audience. This omnibus collects the three (or two and a half) original stories, and adds a new one to complete the trilogy.

Chaykin's wit and storytelling expand on ideas present in AF!, and are a pleasure to sort through. Unfortunately the character presentation is less engaging, and there are some aspects of the setting that are presented unclearly (is Time Square a place where time is in flux, like a chronological version of Cynosure? I'm still not sure).

Nevertheless, there's a lot to dig into with this volume and many rewards for the Chaykin fan or those patient enough to dig through the complexities of his storytelling.

[James Qualls · Rating 4 out of 5]

Revisiting Old Friends

American Flagg remains in my top ten of brilliant series I’ve stumbled across. Chaykin, a hero what he accomplished with Flagg, Black Kiss, and Time^2, Satellite Sam. I loved the crew in Time, Raul should have been featured more, he fit right in. I’m glad you finished it, Howard, thank you.

Now, about Flagg… you know damn well there is a kid somewhere who looks just like his dad. A child with all the character of the original, it’s forty years later and the world is once again a cesspool of corruption. With mRNA and Artificial Intelligence there should be enough material to fire up that imagination. You write it, let someone else draw it. Give a new kid a break and give us back the Flagg beauty.

[Greg Trosclair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great collection and wonderfully odd end to a wonderfully odd series by Howard Chaykin. The stories are strange and at times difficult to put together and require more than one read. That being said it is never a terrible thing to have to re-read Howard Chaykin and his gorgeous artwork. It is still amazing to look at. He is still one of my favorite artists. A lovely collection with finally an ending to the story. Would not mind if he revisited there again in the future.

[Victor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing art, gonzo noir take of a story, reminiscent of Steve Aylett's take on the genre with less humor. Absolutely love this and happy to re-buy the first three stories for the new last one.