Review: Uncanny Inhumans Volume 1 - Time Crush

When the villainous Kang the Conqueror begins systematically wiping out Inhumans from the timeline, Black Bolt and his estranged wife Medusa must travel back in time to prevent their race from being eradicated. Along the way, they discover the involvement of their son in the plot, leading to a blazing conflict between parents and son.

Uncanny Inhumans Volume 1: Time Crush collects Uncanny Inhumans #0-4 and material from Free Comic Book Day 2015, written by Charles Soule and illustrated by Steve McNiven.

Time Crush is an epic time travel story reminiscent of classic battles between the Avengers and Kang the Conqueror. Through flashbacks, we learn that Black Bolt has arranged a deal to protect his son from a potential apocalypse by leaving him in the care of Kang. When this disaster is averted, the estranged King and Queen of the Inhumans assemble a team of heroes to rescue their son and save their race from extinction at the hands of Kang. Despite the complexities of time travel, the narrative is fairly straightforward and features a number of great action sequences.

Family is a central component of this arc, with Black Bolt and Medusa’s strained relationship taking center stage.  Their failed marriage and their son’s feelings of abandonment help to establish a dynamic that elevates the story beyond its somewhat simplistic premise. Unsurprisingly, these are the characters that stand out the most and who serve as our emotional touchstones throughout. I especially have to give kudos to artist Steve McNiven as he’s able to masterfully convey the complexity of Black Bolt’s character solely through his expressions. Even though the character only ever says a couple of words, we’re able to sympathize with him because of the art. Similarly, Soule and McNiven work in tandem to capture the multi-faceted layers of Medusa as a fierce warrior and as a loving mother. In fact, one of my favourite sequences involves Medusa covering herself in a suit of armor constructed entirely of her prehensile hair. The imagery of it is really neat, but it also helps to emphasize an aspect of her character that is often ignored (i.e. her being a warrior).

Where Time Crush falls flat is with the rest of its cast. I enjoy Reader as a character since he comes across as relatable and his friendship with his dog adds an emotional layer to the story. However, everyone else seems disposable and lacks depth. Soule has failed to sell me on Medusa and Human Torch’s relationship. It just seems icky considering Johnny dated Medusa’s sister back in the day. It certainly doesn’t help that there’s no chemistry between them. Then there’s Beast, who comes across more as a plot device than a fully-formed character. Then again, I could be harsher on him due to the fact that his numerous questionable decisions in recent years have affected by perception of him. Lastly, I want to like characters like Triton and Iso, but ultimately their roles are minimal and their personality never really shines through.

Uncanny Inhumans Volume 1: Time Crush will bring readers back to a classic kind of superhero storytelling. The usage of time travel and Kang’s presence really harkens back to a simpler time at the House of Ideas. Soule and McNiven make for a great team, as they’re able to deliver a really expressive narrative that has some depth. It’s not the most accessible of books and the cast is probably too large, but its central themes make it both relatable and engaging.

RATING: B