One could easily get upset with this series for the exact same reasons that others find it fascinating.  There are those when reading a story full of the unknown at least want a pathway to finding out some truth, just as there are those that are happy to be surprised by the unexpected unfolding of events.  As a science fiction story featuring time travel, there is potential for both of these.  From a purely logical standpoint, time travel is impossible, thus those dreaming up the rules make them as scientific as they can, but the rules are still fictitious.  This often leads to the establishment of some order but equally the writer controls the mechanism and thus surprises can arise.  This is all that the first issue was, that of various surprises or unanswered questions.  Who is the hero trying to save and how will time travel work?  What is the meld and how did he end up there?

The second issue expands on some of those questions, but is not exactly paving the way to answers.  Instead it leads with a another plot point about what the Meld could be, and how it was first discovered or created.  This doesn’t exactly do much to alleviate the reader of questions, nor does most of the rest of the issue, as the world of the Meld is explored and as bargains are struck regarding the fate of the hero.  What works well is towards the end that there is a payoff of sorts to help propel the insight of the reader forward.

Time travel is a complicating concept to deal with, which could be a reason why good time travel stories tend to be really good and bad time travel stories tend to be really bad.  Ei8ht still seems to be stuck somewhere in the middle, trying to figure out its own mechanics before it builds its plot.  While confusion continues as to the entire system, setting and story, there is at least the basis here for what could be a good time travel story.  After all it is usually not at the beginning but rather at the end when the true effects of such travel become known, and it is those moments which define whether the story is notable or not.

Story:  Rafael Albuquerque and Mike Johnson Art: Rafael Albuquerque 
Story: 8.1  Art: 8.1  Overall: 8.1  Recommendation: Read

Dark Horse provided Graphic Policy with a free copy for review