Chrono-Cat #1 Review

 Writer: Stu Perrins

Artist: Armando Zanker

Rating: 6 of 8

Chrono-Cat #1

In fiction, there's nothing quite as tricky as time travel. When it's done well, you get stories like the original Time Machine or Goodnight Sweetheart. There, the rules of time travel are relatively simple and, because of it, they're pretty easy to follow. But when it's done badly, the rules are far from simple and because of it, the story becomes a lot harder to both follow and enjoy.

Thankfully, Perrins has crafted a pretty simple tale that, for the most part, flows rather well and is rather easy to follow. The issue follows the titular Chrono-Cat, a formerly ordinary lab cat which, through a bizarre accident, became so much more.

Now, he uses his enhanced abilities to fight crime and, with the help of his friends at the lab, travel through time to prevent any more havoc being wrought. For the most part, they seem to do pretty well, though time will tell if it stays that way.

Though most of the issue flows well, it does drag a bit towards the end as Luther, the hero's enemy, recounts their respective origins before their latest battle. Not only did it slow down an otherwise brisk story, but it also didn't make sense, as he doesn't have any reason to recount their origins, especially when the two of them are already rather familiar with each other. Besides that, there's also a notably political joke, which just doesn't fit given the rest of the issue.

Despite all of that, it's still a pretty good issue, with some suitably vibrant art and some rather expressive characters, especially it's lead. There's also a very cartoonish moment where Chrono-Cat punches a T-rex, pushing it's face inward like an accordion. Though it's not as good as many others on the stand, it doesn't have to be and, for the most part, just focuses on what it is: a time travel tale about a super-cat.