Forget the "Part 1 of 3" the cover promises; this is Part A Million of A Billion, and unless you're willing to tune in (and shell out) for all the rest, I'm not sure this works as a standalone experience.

Jai Nitz (Blue Beetle) & Greg (Moon Knight) Smallwood's follow-up to their 2013 Dream Thief meets the world with striking cover design, jaunty panel layouts and nicely-detailed art (all Smallwood's doing), but these are quickly toppled by Nitz's convoluted-yet-not-that-eventful story and broad, sub-Tarantino swipes at authenticity that are steeped more in geekdom than grit.

I won't spoil the last action beats, except to say that the story clicks together with a no-fuss satisfaction that has me eager for issue #2.

With no shortage of fun retcon-history riffs on the market (Five Fists of Science, etc.), Uslan's romp boasts distinctive cameos from Einstein, Enrico Fermi, H.G. Wells, and Howard Hughes, while the art by Giovanni Timpano (a veteran on Dynamite's The Shadow) deftly pivots from close-up tension to grand-scale super-science, all with vintage verve. With this much pop history being mashed up, I'm sure there are loads of mythology-nods I'm missing (though Uslan helpfully annotates some of his more obscure references), but a story of this density that's still light on its feet makes me want to study up in time for issue #2.

So much world-building leaves little time once the story-proper kicks in, forcing shit to get real across only a handful of panels. Now that this world is established and the stakes painstakingly set, I'm hoping for an issue #2 that feels free to get straight to Remender's vicious, unstinting action drawn in Tocchini's graceful hand.

Simonson paces the not-inconsiderable world-building well, and he has a flinty protagonist in Brynja. But even as a single chapter, it all feels a little wanting. All foreboding, and no stakes. Of course it's hard to judge a book by its first issue, but it's even harder when your main incentive to keep reading is to figure out by context just what the hell is going on.

Van Lentes fluid storytelling and Rosenzweigs vivid art meld the parallel timelines seamlessly, and give the story the momentum to escape its not-especially-teasing-teaser. Theyre setting up some interesting macro conflicts, though, and Im at least a little curious to see where theyre headed with this.

Theres no shortage of storylines, each setting up the expectation of eventually intersecting, but none sticks around long enough to make much impression or give a sense of what the stakes of this universe are or will become. Further harming matters, Morecis script which constantly twists and contorts in an effort at breezy wit, routinely falling shy of the mark. I sympathize with the guy; noir aint easy, but maybe its best left to those with a knack for it. 2/5 Stars, but only because Im not a total monster.

The shadowy, hyperarticulate and shadowy did I mention shadowy bad guys dismiss her out of hand; this would read as bad-guy-hubris if it werent so consistent with the rest of the books dismissiveness toward Katya, especially when a mid-book side-plot turns her into literal, in-universe whack-material.

Southern Baptist Campbell is conservative; hacker Miller is an atheist wiseass. Samaritans unseen lead hacker taunt-texts Miller whos been on their trail for ages. Not that this isnt a recipe for fun, but the familiarity of the beats feels like it couldve taken up less page-space, and kept the story moving. Add to it an epilogue that lays Campbell and Millers secular/non-secular debate out in plain terms, and the heist opener feels more an exception than the rule. Curiosity may carry me to a second issue, but heres hoping for more peak than valley.