Travel Documents 80: Rocket Girl
VOL. 1: TIMES SQUARED TP
Brandon Montclare and Amy Reeder
Genre: Dystopian, spec-fic, YA, adventure, comic
The Dust Cover Copy
A teenage cop from a hightech future is sent back in time to 1986 New York City. Dayoung Johansson is investigating the Quintum Mechanics megacorporation for crimes against time. As she pieces together the clues, she discovers the “future” she calls home—an alternate reality version of 2014—shouldn’t exist at all!
The Scene
Worldbuilding
This sweet treat of a retro-noir NY ice cream cone is the perfect thing for a Saturday morning in your PJs. Born in a future where only teenagers are believed to be unbiased enough to be public servants and all adults work for the big Corporation, DaYoung has decided to make sure her world doesn't end up this way. She decides to go back in time and fix whatever rotted the Big Apple in the first place, way back in the 1980s. Cue shenanigans, wild rocket rides, retro jokes and a great time.
The Crowd
Characterization
This wacky cast of characters is perfect for their setting.
The Commissioner is a boy who looks like he stole his dad's trench coat. Annie and her crew from the lab where time travel and the Quintum Mechanic's great discoveries were made are the perfect geeks-with-a-grip gang, and they've got all the 80s style you could want. The bad guy is perfectly comic book, and DaYoung's troupe has the perfect resolve only available to teens. Add in a couple slightly tropey NPCs for comic relief, and you have a great cast.
The Lingo
Writing Style
Fast paced and full of energy, the writing forms a perfect symbiosis with the art
The Moves
Plot
With elements of justice and a clean expository style, the story gets you all the information you need without holding you up too long on details. You get the gist, but not the fine print. There's no time for that when there are villains to catch and rockets to ride!
The style is quick and direct, but ultimately satisfying. The energy is phenomenal.
Overall Rating
A sweet retro roller coaster of a read. Grab ahold and hang on!
