Zoe: Out Of Time
Issue #1 Kindle Edition
Issue #2 Kindle Edition
Written by J. Michalski and Alexander Lagos
Illustrated by Derlis Santacruz
Colored by Oren Kramek
Lettered by Antonio Rojo
Cover by Derlis Santacruz
Official Website
Release Date: May 25, 2013
Cover Price: $0.99

If you had easy access to a time travel device, where would you go? This is a question that I’m sure many have pondered, but in Zoe: Out Of Time, Zoe Black goes to a time in which many of us remember very well: the ’90s. From the minds of J. Michalski and Alexander Lagos and art from Derlis Santacruz, comes the clash of two timelines with music at the forefront and love at the heart.

Stealing her father’s handheld time travel device known as the Kronos Traveler, Zoe Black travels from 2050 Los Angeles to 1990 Los Angeles to meet the love of her life: grunge-rock musician, Trent Darrow. With the Kronos Traveler missing, Zoe is stuck in 1990, but at least she’s in good company, as Trent Darrow and his Rebel Lion bandmates take her in; but as Zoe and Trent begin a relationship and the Rebel Lions are signed to a major record deal, someone very close to the group is hashing out some dastardly plans that involve killing Zoe.

I’m a sucker for time travel stories. I also enjoy a good love story. Michalski and Lagos provided me with both in a solid example of linear storytelling interspersed with some awesome ’90s throwbacks. I was particularly pleased to see Zoe mistake a Walkman for the Kronos Traveler. In fact, if I wasn’t in a public coffee shop while reading, I would have yelled out, “Yes!” With the Rebel Lions and Trent Darrow clearly drawing similarities from Kurt Cobain and Nirvana à la the tragic loss of a brilliant musician, the nostalgia I felt while reading Zoe: Out Of Time was enough to keep me interested in what’s to come; but a good story with interesting characters and a whole lot of potential didn’t hurt either.

Not only does Santacruz’ do a great job at capturing two different time periods — the 1990s and the futuristic 2050s — but he also admirably handles the various societal components of both. With various shades of blues and grays to depict the future, he sets the two time periods apart bringing both worlds to life.

Time travel can be a sticky business. There are so many variables and uncertainties involved that have yet to be covered in Zoe: Out Of Time, but I have a feeling they’ll be introduced soon. I also have a few theories of my own as to how the story will progress and I’ll eagerly wait to see if any of them ring true. For now, I’m stuck with Zoe — I think I’ll go listen to some ’90s rock.