Time Masters [Paperback]

It's interesting how lesser known DC characters from the Silver Age of comics have been resurrected and given new life over the years. My current favorite, Green Arrow, is a fine example of what talented writers and artists can do with a guy who was basically a "poor man's Batman" back in the day... That being said, this collection of a revamped Rip Hunter mini-series from the 1990's is a not-so-fine example. It stinks. The characters are lame and annoying, the story is confusing and the artwork is fair at best. Even Cave Carson couldn't save it! My favorite part occurs when *SPOILER* *SPOILER* one particularly obnoxious, worthless character hangs himself....in one of Hunter's "time bubbles", to boot! It was the only laugh I got in an otherwise humorless, boring storyline. File this under "graphic novels to be traded or given away".

Like most people, I didn't really notice Rip Hunter until he reappeared in the 52 maxi-series and the ongoing Booster Gold series. Though a little strange, I was intrigued by the character and was glad to see this book come out so I could get a little backstory on him. This 8 issue mini-series came out in the 90's seeking to revive a character created in the 60's with guest stars from the 70's and 80's, so you can see what they were up against to begin with.

Time Masters is indeed a Rip Hunter book, showing him develop the time sphere he uses in the modern stories. Rip has formed a group of "Time Masters" who are desperately trying to stop the Illuminati from taking out key figures in history, while at the same time attempting to defeat Vandal Savage (the immortal villain of DC history). Since Rip is starting out here, the time travel aspects are limited: each person can go back in time only once, and the gadget they used to go back can never be used again. While this did allow each character on the team to get a solo story, that's also the downfall of it. Rip is a cool character, but most of his supporting team (with the exception possibly of Cave Carson) are flat characters we never really care about. One character appears to be in the team for the sole intent and purpose of dying later in the book to raise the emotional level of the story. Unfortunately, it doesn't work because the character isn't really likable.

There are guest stars here you haven't seen in a while like Tomahawk, Scalphunter, and Viking Prince. Jonah Hex is here as well, adding an interesting aspect to the story since he's a cowboy who's done a lot of time-traveling of his own. Booster Gold, Green Lantern, Animal Man, the Justice League International, and Superman make cameos here as well for various reasons (though only Booster's and Green Lantern's make any real sense). Superman actually comes off as a jerk in his brief appearance.

Ultimately, the payoff of the story isn't really there. The ending was good, but didn't make a lot of sense (especially given recent developments in the DC stories). Rip actually turns out to be quite a jerk, but that is reflected in the current incarnation of his character as well, so that's consistent. For those interested in a little more history on Rip Hunter, you can get some idea of him here. Just be warned this isn't the greatest story for him. They are reprinting early Booster Gold issues as a "Showcase Presents" book, and you'll really want to check that out as well to get a better adventure with Rip that happened right before this miniseries came out.

A little-known story giving us another look at the history of the Time Master.

› Go to Amazon U.S. to see both reviews  2.5 out of 5 stars