The Good
ROCKET GIRL, appropriately, rockets directly into action as DaYoung Johansson skips back from 2013 to 1986 on official police business. Her 2013 isn't the one we're currently living, though, and the stage has been set for a serious time-travel adventure.
Back To The Future this is not. Sure, there's a nearly thirty-year time skip, and the mid-eighties play a prominent role, but that's about where the similarities stop. DaYoung is a skilled professional rather than a wild teen, there's no quirky mentor in sight (yet), and this little jaunt through time is about saving the world, not just correcting accidental damage done by amateurs. At the heart of ROCKET GIRL is a crime story -- though it's easy to forget amidst the bright lights and rocket action! -- and I'm expecting DaYoung's adventures to get quite a bit more serious than the Enchantment Under The Sea dance.
Amy Reeder brings DaYoung & Co. to life in a bright, exciting way, and even the crime-riddled '80s are fun to look at. Her future tech is beautifully clean and streamlined, and juxtaposes wonderfully with dirty New York City of the past (notably cool: the scene in which DaYoung perches on a window ledge, repairing her gear). Reeder's faces are expressive and full of energy; we learn quite a bit about the cast from their first appearances, and can tell already who's going to be a quirky, fun ally and who's going to be difficult.
The Bad
It's not yet clear why the NYPD of the future has a teen division, or why they're trusted with timestream-altering cases when older officers might have more education, wisdom, or time-police experience. I'm hoping that this detail will be expanded upon in future issues, and that it's not simply a reader-proxy suggestion for a teen audience.
The Verdict
Time-travel, rockets, and criminal intrigue make for a great high concept, and so far, ROCKET GIRL is poised to be a unique and entertaining series. Eighties nostalgia and future tech combine quite well as the backdrop for an adventure story, and DaYoung's arc is off to a very interesting start. I'll be keeping up with this series for Reeder's art and to find out exactly what happens when time gets altered in this universe.
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