If you discovered time travel, what would you do? Would you visit important historical moments, buy rare collectibles (not always comic based) before they became rare? Personally I’d make sure I had a few comics from the late 30’s and early 40’s, maybe buy a lottery ticket…

What I wouldn’t do is start hunting dinosaurs so I could use the meat in a newly opened diner. But that’s just me. Thankfully Nate Wilner isn’t me because he did just that, and the results have been fantastic.

Voracious’ time-traveling dinosaur-hunting to fuel a diner concept works so well that I’m amazed it hasn’t been explored before (if it has, then I’m unaware of it). But as awesome as the idea of opening a restaurant using dinosaur meat is, more times than I can count an awesome idea idea has been let down by some sloppy writing and/or characterization. That’s not the case here, and indeed couldn’t be farther from the truth. Markisan Naso and Jason Muhr have created a story that after four issues has reminded me of why I love comics.

You could be excused for thinking a comic featuring a time travelling dinosaur hunter is more fluff than anything else, and as much as I love the concept, it’s not the main reason that this series has me sold; Voracious is also a story about coping with loss, and honouring those who may not be in your life anymore while simultaneously reminding you to value and treasure the life you have. That may sound very high concept for a comic, but it’s done so well that you won’t feel belittled by the emotional undertones if you just want to enjoy a story about a man who serves dinosaur burgers.

Voracious #4 is probably the best comic I’ve read this week – which is high praise from me in a week that has the superb 4001 A.D.: Bloodshot – and it’s a series you absolutely need to read.

Story Markisan Naso Art: Jason Muhr Colour Art: Andrei Tabacaru
Story: 9.5 Art: 8.75 Overall: 9.25 Recommendation: Buy

Action Lab: Danger Zone provided a FREE copy for review