Temporal #5- A Family at the Confluence

The final issue of Temporal is here. With Harper and Savannah trying to figure out what to do with the Temporal Key, they may just solve questions that have existed for a long time.

Creative Team

Writer: Stephanie Williams
Artist: Asiah Fulmore
Colorist: D.J. Chavis
Letterer: Becca Carey

Writing

I can’t explain how happy I was to see Harper play such a prominent role in this issue. It’s crazy because I find myself for the second straight week begging for Stephanie Williams to get a limited series extended into an ongoing. Last week it was Street Sharks, this week it is Temporal. I will ask Williams herself once the issue is out and it’s not spoiling anything for anyone, but I assume the Dr. Fulmore mentioned in the comic is a nod to her partner on the art side for this run, Asiah Fulmore.

At the end of the day comics is still a business so sometimes you get creative teams that work together for the good of the product even if they don’t see eye to eye. That is not the case here, as naming a character after your artist shows that there is a true sense of camaraderie between the writing and visual creative teams on Temporal.

Williams really shined in this issue. The issue was compelling, well written, and a great job of not only tying together existing plot lines, but laying out the potential for future expansion of the Temporal universe. Stephanie Williams continues to be one of the best character writers in all of comics today. Every character in Temporal felt useful and like a part of the story. The narrative of this comic run from beginning to end is a great story that creates investment in the characters in all of the machinations going on in the background.

Art

Asiah Fulmore truly left it all out there for this issue. Issue five bills on what has been a continuously growing narrative and for Fulmore, it caps, some of the most beautiful and evocative images she has crafted for this comic series.

Whether it is scenery or close-ups of the characters, Fulmore’s lines, hit all of the right spots. They add depth and focus to an already compelling story, making the scene as much of a character as the narrative.

D.J. Chavis did an amazing job on coloring this issue. There is a compelling mixture of bright and muted colors. The shading on buildings or faces adds depth to the lines drawn by Fulmore. The color decisions regarding the temporal key are perfect, giving the artifact flavor and uniqueness.

Becca Carey expertly crafts the lettering for this issue. Bubbles flow effortlessly, allowing the reader to always follow a complex narrative. The lettering adds emphasis to Williams’ words, while never distracting from the visual art that Fulmore and Chavis created.

Final Thoughts

With Temporal #5, Stephanie Williams book ends another incredible limited series run. It is stories like Temporal, that show it is only a matter of time before some publisher locks Stephanie Williams into an ongoing series and really gives her a chance to expand and world build. Temporal was a family first character driven sci-fi story and I could not get enough of it.

In Temporal, Stephanie Williams created a brilliant family while showcasing the complex inter family dynamics that many of us experience. One of these things I have really appreciated about this comic run is that even though it has a futuristic setting, it is through the outstanding writing of Stephanie Williams that the character still feels relatable. Allowing you to create a connection with them, and feel invested in their successes and failures.

Fulmore, Chavis, and Carey crafted a beautiful world over the course of five issues. The word felt distinct and unique while showing the obvious inspiration, sci-fi, and Afrofuturism played in crafting the world. The narrative and story was easy to follow, led by in an outstanding letterer. If Fulmore’s art built the world for William’s world, Chavis colors gave them breath.

Overall Grade: 10/10

What did you think of Temporal? Let me know below and check out my other reviews!

Until next time, may your pulls be magical, and your multiverse remain stable!