A creative team featuring superstar artist Lee Bermejo is at the top of their game in this time-travel drama. Great writing will have readers flipping through pages at warp speed. The only downside is a $9.99 price tag, though the issue is oversized. Read Full Review

Bermejo delivers some beautiful art in the issue. I love every tonal and visual change in the issue and how each new world is given its own unique visual style. Visually stunning art on every page. Read Full Review

People use the word awesome too much these days, but make no mistake A Vicious Circle is an awesome first issue. From the visuals to its ability to entertain and keep up your interest while keeping you in the dark, A Vicious Circle is a comic you can't put down. A Vicious Circle plays off how we think about time travel while using an arch rivalry that connects in exciting ways. Read Full Review

While the narrative may be a lot of doom and gloom, its also a glorious artistic experiment with Bermejo altering his style with every timeline. While the 1960 scenes are depicted neatly, in a stark, monochromatic style, the future is brighter, full of color but with sketchier line art. The change in styles continue with every shift, some of which occur on the same page. These changes can be jarring but theyre all part of the experience and are certainly less disorienting than theyd be for our protagonist. My only critique is that the lettering by Becca Carey doesnt always work. The font for Thackers inner monologue is great but the word balloons used for dialogue just feel so out of place against the superb realism of the art in the first act, although her work matches the style of the later timelines perfectly. Read Full Review

A Vicious Circle #1 has at its core a compelling idea, not just in the time travel mechanism as a stand alone concept but in how it shackles the two characters together. Unfortunately Tomlin doesnt really turn the compelling idea into a compelling narrative. By the time the issue ended I had lost all interest in the story. Ultimately the issues saving grace is the art. Bermejos work will bring me back for the second issue. Read Full Review

A Vicious Circle #1 indulges in the too-familiar trope of killing a barely developed, innocent supporting character to motivate its protagonist in what feels like a transparent attempt to add unearned, instant emotion to the plot. Read Full Review

The photorealism of the opening chapter’s art is beyond amazing. The shifting of art styles is jarring (but in the best way), just like I imagine the experience of shifting through time would be for Shawn Thacker.

Thanks BOOM for the oversized format, the story/art from Tomlin/Bermejo deserves it. Can’t wait for book 2.

Utterly fantastic.

Quite possibly one of the best first issues I've read all year. Do not miss this one.

This could be the best book of 2023 so far. An absolute fantastic debut. Bermejo absolutely kills the art in this issue, wow. Although, one minor gripe. They called the protagonist...Ferris? Really? Full review at:

https://standupcomicreader.blogspot.com/2023/01/vicious-circle-1-review.html

A good start to a series. I can't ask for much more.