Ivar, Timewalker #3 Review


What will happen next as Ivar and Neela Sethi travel through time? And how does the Eternal Warrior fit into proceedings? Read on to find out.

The official description from Valiant:

FROM HERE TO OBLIVI-1!

Ivar, the man called Timewalker, has been through ancient battlefields, political assassinations, the beginning of time, the invention of time travel, the great wars, and the distant future. (And that was only in the first two issues!) Now, he faces his greatest threat yet…himself! What secret does THE TIMEWALKER hold that will unlock his interest in Neela and flip our very definition of time travel on its head? Can a man resigned to forever walk through time truly make up for the mistakes of his past? And just who is the mysterious sociopathic leader of Oblivi-1, and why does she have such an interest in Ivar and Neela’s time traveling team-up?

Find out here as Fred Van Lente and Clayton Henry – the team that brought you ARCHER & ARMSTRONG – continue their clock-stopping race to the end of time and back!

IVAR_003_COVERB_LEVELIvar, Timewalker has so far proven to be an extremely fun and energetic series, with the antics of Ivar and Neela Sethi being invigorating to say the least. That changes slightly here, as though there are still some humorous moments, Ivar’s capture has resulted in the tempo shifting to a more serious tone. Though that’s does wonders for the dramatic atmosphere of this tale, it ultimately takes away from the exciting vibe that this series thrives on.

Fred Van Lente has done a wonderful job in introducing a new generation to Ivar, Timewalker, as though there’s a clear difference in tone between this and it’s predecessor, Archer & Armstrong, they both share the same comical rhythm. Delivering wonderful character developments, and engaging dialogue, Lente certainly allows for an immersive feel, with the exchange in words between Neela and Eternal Warrior, and latter with Ivar being extremely gripping. Despite this, the issue just didn’t feel as smooth as normal, with the serious tone sapping the energy that I loved about the first two issues.

The artwork that Clayton Henry has produced over these first three issues has been nothing short of sensational, with his energetic style helping to inject excitement into this wacky tale. That remains the case here, as though the plot isn’t as fun as that of the first two, the fast paced layouts within Henry’s art continue to entertain. The intense facial expressions also helps to convey the more serious tone of this chapter, with Neela’s discontent being clear as day. The colours of Brian Reber and Andrew Dalhouse also astound, with the vibrant texture of both helping to bring a more immersive feel to Henry’s art.

Ivar, Timewalker #3 may not be as exciting as the previous issues, with the serious nature of the events draining the energy that’s been built up so far, but that in no way means that it sucks. Having wonderful depth, and intense character actions, the issue shows that despite being humorous and wacky, there’s a dramatic focus to this tale.

OUR RATING
7
  • + Intense character interaction.
  • + Exciting artwork from Clayton Henry.
  • + Trouble in paradise.
  • - Loses some of it’s fun spark.

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