Time Before Time Volumes 01 & 02
11/14/24 • 73 min
"Well, let me put it this way... if the past could be changed, do you really think the world would be like this?"
It's been a while since Mike and Alex have tackled time travel (you have to go all the way back to the very first book they covered, Paper Girls), and it felt overdue in returning to the concept. So inn this season of Storied Arcs, they're diving into Image Comics' Time Before Time from Declan Shalvey, Rory McConville, and Joe Palmer with the first two trade paperback volumes (issues #1-5 and #7-11). The guys do their best to break down the various time jumps while not losing track of what the "present" time of the book is. They also examine the world that's being created for the reader, from the rules that govern their version of time travel (closed loop system, technology doesn't travel, etc.) to trying to decipher why the future is so bad, you'd indenture yourself to a crime syndicate just to escape it. And before they wrap up their discussion, they highlight some of their standout storytelling elements, from the artwork to the coloring to the letters.
The end of Volume 2 really sets the story in motion, perhaps more so than the end of Volume 1, so we're ready to dive right into our next discussion. Find Time Before Time Volumes 3 and 4 (issues #13-17 and #19-23) wherever you get your comics and we'll you see you back here next week!
Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs
- Find us on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5-star review!
- Find all links here: https://linktr.ee/storiedarcs
- Or specifically, find us on BlueSky, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Twitter/X.
- Learn more about our hosts, the show, or where to find us at www.storiedarcs.com
Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!
"Well, let me put it this way... if the past could be changed, do you really think the world would be like this?"
It's been a while since Mike and Alex have tackled time travel (you have to go all the way back to the very first book they covered, Paper Girls), and it felt overdue in returning to the concept. So inn this season of Storied Arcs, they're diving into Image Comics' Time Before Time from Declan Shalvey, Rory McConville, and Joe Palmer with the first two trade paperback volumes (issues #1-5 and #7-11). The guys do their best to break down the various time jumps while not losing track of what the "present" time of the book is. They also examine the world that's being created for the reader, from the rules that govern their version of time travel (closed loop system, technology doesn't travel, etc.) to trying to decipher why the future is so bad, you'd indenture yourself to a crime syndicate just to escape it. And before they wrap up their discussion, they highlight some of their standout storytelling elements, from the artwork to the coloring to the letters.
The end of Volume 2 really sets the story in motion, perhaps more so than the end of Volume 1, so we're ready to dive right into our next discussion. Find Time Before Time Volumes 3 and 4 (issues #13-17 and #19-23) wherever you get your comics and we'll you see you back here next week!
Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs
- Find us on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5-star review!
- Find all links here: https://linktr.ee/storiedarcs
- Or specifically, find us on BlueSky, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Twitter/X.
- Learn more about our hosts, the show, or where to find us at www.storiedarcs.com
Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!
Previous Episode
Intro to Time Before Time & Creator Spotlight: Declan Shalvey, Rory McConville, and Joe Palmer
Welcome to another season of Storied Arcs! This go-round, Mike and Alex are ready to tackle time travel paradoxes head on as they dive into Time Before Time from Image Comics from Declan Shalvey, Rory McConville, and Joe Palmer. The guys start by giving a run down of the full creative team behind this book (to start, at least; a roster of guest artists come into the series after issue #11, and we'll talk about them when we get to those issues), including colorist Chris O'Halloran and letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, before talking a bit about why they chose this book, what drew them to it in the first place, and a little tease to get you into the story.
Time Before Time ran for 29 issues, and has been collected into 6 trade paperbacks. We'll be covering the story two trade paperbacks at a time; we feel it flows better that way. But if you're reading in single issue, be aware that every 6th issue (#6, #12, 18, and #24) is a stand-alone one-shot story, and those issues have been collected separately to comprise Volume 6. So in accordance with the trades, we'll skip over those issues as we go and cover them all at once at the end of the story.
The time travel logic can get tricky, so give yourself time (and space) to read Time Before Time Volumes 1 and 2 (issues #1-5 and #7-11) wherever you get your comics and join us back here next week and be part of the discussion!
Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs
- Find us on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5-star review!
- Find all links here: https://linktr.ee/storiedarcs
- Or specifically, find us on BlueSky, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Twitter/X.
- Learn more about our hosts, the show, or where to find us at www.storiedarcs.com
Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!
Next Episode
Time Before Time Volumes 03 & 04
"I really thought things were going to be better when we came back here. Maybe the world's just cruel no matter what time you're in, though."
Mike and Alex are here to continue their trip through time and space with Image Comics' Time Before Time, this week examining Volumes 3 and 4 (issues #13-17 and #19-23). They guys discuss the introduction of a new character who gets his own two-issue mini-arc and how it meshes (or maybe doesn't) into the main narrative. Then they dive deep into the story, debating what parts are working for them and what parts feel a little extraneous, and try and work through how the "closed loop" presentation of time travel is being utilized and presented in the comic. Finally, they tip a hat to some of the subtle differences in page and panel layout seen in these volumes that come with the addition of guest artists into the series.
There's only one trade volume left of the main story, but two trade volumes left of the comic, and we're eager to discuss the how/what/why of it all. So pick up Time Before Time Volumes 5 and 6 (issues #25-29, and #6, #12, #18, and #24) wherever you get your comics and join us next week to finish out the discussion!
Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs
- Find us on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5-star review!
- Find all links here: https://linktr.ee/storiedarcs
- Or specifically, find us on BlueSky, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Twitter/X.
- Learn more about our hosts, the show, or where to find us at www.storiedarcs.com
Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!
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