The Time Variance Authority has long watched over the timeline, protecting it from dangerous variations that could cause the end of EVERYTHING. Now, as the organization begins to expand its tolerance of variants, it’s enlisted some new recruits from timelines that have been wiped from existence: Captain Peggy Carter, Super-Soldier of her world; Gambit, despondent and aimless from the loss of his lady love; and… this can’t be right… Spider-Gwen?!? Has her world been destroyed?!? TVA #1 delivers a confusing first issue that’s full of variant ideas.

Written by Katharyn Blair, TVA #1 is a frustrating comic in multiple ways. While the idea of the TVA goes back decades in comics, this version of the TVA looks more like what has recently been seen in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Is this comic a spin-off of the MCU or is it in the comic universe? Is it both? Who knows and that’s part of the frustration. As a whole, the TVA in the Marvel comic universe makes little sense considering how many times the universe has been reset or timelines shifted around. But, this TVA has plucked character from defunct timelines to solve problems. In concept, it could be fun and feels like an echo of the beloved Exiles team.

In this story, nightmares are cropping up across timelines and giving people visions of the TVA that they shouldn’t know as well as having them confront personal nightmares. It could be interesting and all points to the character Nightmare behind everything. But the execution of this story feels like being dropped into a new season of a show after a reboot and new characters being introduced. While you think you should be able to dive in and get it, you feel rather lost and you’re missing something.

The art by Pere Pérez with color by Guru-eFX and lettering by Joe Sabino is good. Everything looks good and some scenes with Spider-Gwen as she crawls around are interesting visually. But, like the story itself, the visuals feel a little disconnected at times. There’s a choppiness visually that matches a choppy narrative.

TVA #1 isn’t a bad comic and there’s potential for the concept but overall it’s a frustrating comic in far too many ways.

Story: Katharyn Blair Story: Pere Pérez
Color: Guru-eFX Letterer: Joe Sabino
Story: 6.0 Art: 7.0 Overall: 6.0 Recommendation: Pass

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

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Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle