It's about time. Well, it is and it isn't. IDW's Back to the Future No. 1 hit shelves on Wednesday Oct. 21, to coincide with Back to the Future Day - the exact date that Marty travels to in the second film of the trilogy.
And so, 30 years after the release of the first film, we get our first fully vetted issue of the comic book. This is more like a trip down memory lane than a continuation of the story that went on to dominate the box office during the 1980s.
The miniseries will serve as a way to fill in the backstories of the characters we know and love, fleshing out their motives and personalities. As such, our first issue is divided into short stories about Marty meeting Doc Brown for this first time and how Doc Brown came to be involved in the Manhattan project. Remember, Doc got himself in trouble during the first film by selling a false nuclear weapon to Libyan terrorists in order to keep the plutonium for himself.
It was very intriguing to learn more about the series' main characters and I suspect that future issues will delve into other characters in much the same way. While not filled with a ton of action, having the layers of Marty and Doc's respective back stories makes for an enthralling read for major fans.
The lighthearted tone of the movies is still there, with the stories written by Erik Burnham and John Barber and a long note written by Bob Gale, the original screenwriter and shepherd of the movie, the affection for the characters and the universe is felt throughout.
Art duties for both stories are split between Erik Schoonover and Dan Schoening. Schoonover's are is tight and nice to look at, which helps to guide the reader through the first story where we get introduced to Doc and Marty's initial introduction. Dan Schoening's art is more frenetic, but no less pleasing, adding a looseness that one would imagine that Doc Brown would share in his later years.
I highly recommend this issue for any readers out there who have a love for the films. Reading issue No. 1 will feel like coming home again, providing a sense of comfort and familiarity that's easily enjoyable. If you've not had much exposure to the films before, and I find it hard to believe there's many people out there that fit that criteria, I would say it's at least worth picking up and flipping through to see if your curiosity is piqued.
- Mauricio Machuca
