Twelve issues just isn’t enough time to live in this world.
Creative Staff:
Story: Fred Van Lente
Art: Pere Pérez
Colors: Andrew Dalhouse
Letters: Sharpe w/Esposito
What They Say:
FINAL ISSUE! FEATURING CREATION, ANNIHILATION…AND THE DEBUT OF AN ALL-NEW TIMEWALKER!
The Mistress’s true origin stands revealed as Neela Sethi confronts her future! Meanwhile, the mantle of Timewalker passes from one hero to another and Ivar makes the move that will change the Valiant Universe forever!
Be here for the end as New York Times best-selling writer Fred Van Lente (ARCHER & ARMSTRONG) and acclaimed artist Pere Pérez (UNITY) present the startling final chapter of IVAR, TIMEWALKER!
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
If you ever needed proof that Fred Van Lente had this entire twelve-issue run planned out, look no further than this, the final issue. It’s gorgeous how he plays with nonlinear structure, and I can’t wait to reread this entire run to see what I missed the first go-round.
Ivar and his dinosaur pal Ank travel to Oblivi-2, located on Earth in the Precambrian era. Their plan is to storm the complex and destroy the null generator before it can destroy the entire multiverse. Unfortunately, they hit a couple of snags: one, Ivar doesn’t actually know what the null generator looks like, and two, there’s a whole mess of evil Neelas waiting to laser off his face.
Of course, this is Ivar Anni-Padda, the eldest of an ancient clan of warriors, possessed of a vast intellect and the daring to change the world. He’s not going to let a few hundred evil copies of the woman he loves stop him. He and Ank split up, with Ivar taking the evil Neelas on a romp through time and space and Ank trying to stop the Prometheans.
In her fighting, Ank finds the real Neela (although, given the fact that this comic deals with alternate universes and time travel, there is no “real” Neela, but just go with it). Unlike her other counterparts, she felt no hatred for Ivar. In fact, she loves him, and this love allowed her to resist the Prometheans attempts at brainwashing. Since they couldn’t use the real thing, the Prometheans resorted to copies, implanting them with memories from other timelines where Neela had reason to hate Ivar.
Now free, she takes Ank to the control center. The null generator exists in a time and place where they cannot reach it, but Neela concocts a cunning plan that will save all of creation, but at a huge personal cost.
Issue twelve ends with a heart-wrenching climax. For twelve issues we’ve fallen in love with these characters—and watched them fall in love with each other—and it’s genuinely sad when we learn that they can never be together. Their sacrifice is noble and nearly mythological in its scope. It makes for a fantastic conclusion to a fantastic comic.
The art is fantastic, the dialogue is fantastic, and the plot is fantastic. Pere Pérez and Andrew Dalhouse take us on a wild romp through time and space, superbly handling both the big action moments and the quiet emotional beats. This comic is as much fun to look at as it is to read, and I’m going to miss it.
Of course, there’s a new Timewalker in town, so maybe the story isn’t quite as over as we’re led to believe.
In Summary:
Ivar, Timewalker 12 caps off what I think is a damn-near perfect twelve issue run. Fred Van Lente, Pere Pérez and Andrew Dalhouse have crafted an intricate, complex plot that on the surface looks simple and natural. They’ve also created a vibrant, exciting, and engaging world of time travel, alternate universes, and radical, high concept science. Yet it’s all anchored by believable and sympathetic characters with real emotions and clear psychologies. I swear, I look for things to nitpick in this comic, but damned if I can’t find anything. If you love time travel stories with loads of wit, humor, and honest human warmth, this is for you. Dr. Josh gives this an….
Grade: A+
Age Rating: N/A
Released By: Valiant
Release Date: December 16th, 2015
MSRP: $3.99
