'Time Bomb' is explosive

Radical's "Time Bomb" is guaranteed to blow you away.

With "Time Bomb," Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray have concocted one of their most complex, compelling tales, and Paul Gulacy has turned in perhaps the most beautiful, detailed and expressive art of his long and distinguished career. It says something about a book when within the first few pages we are introduced to a character as cool as James Bond and another as mysterious as Jason Bourne - and they are only bit players in the story.

The story centers on an Omega Bomb that has been accidentally launched, giving the human race 72 hours to live. The four Jack Bauers assigned to this "24"-esque problem are sent back in time to prevent the disaster. Instead of being sent back two days, they find themselves 67 years in the past, landing in the middle of a German POW camp during World War II.

"Time Bomb" combines kick-butt action, sharp dialogue, clock-is-ticking suspense, global stakes, sexual tension and Nazis to get Comics Guy's highest possible recommendation.

Levine's Radical plan

Over the next several weeks Comics Guy will share exciting information from his exclusive interview with Radical president and publisher Barry Levine regarding the numerous high-profile comic offerings from the company that have recently hit shelves and the several comic properties that are currently on the fast track to being made into feature films.

Levine says the most important thing is to get top talent on Radical's books and, even more important, to listen to them.

"I had looked at Paul Gulacy as someone old-school who would not fit the high production values we are trying to be known for, specifically when it comes to art," Levine told Comics Guy. "But Jimmy [Palmiotti] insisted Paul would be perfect, and with his knowledge and more importantly his honesty, I relented. I have been blown away. Paul's art has surprised me and really impressed me and I would never have given him a shot if I hadn't listened to Jimmy. He's perfect for 'Time Bomb' and the story

we're trying to tell."

Rising to the 'Challenge'

This past weekend saw six game participants take part in the 24-Hour Comic Book Challenge at Atomic City Comics on South Street. With a goal of creating a comic from scratch in 24 hours, four of the six entrants toiled from 2 p.m. Friday to 2 p.m. Saturday to complete the Challenge.

"I finished at 23 hours and ten minutes," event organizer Pete Stathis told Comics Guy. "Andrea Grigoropol and Steven Peters also finished in the 24th hour. Raphael Tiberino started two hours late, but finished along with the rest of us, so his time was around 21 hours and some change. It's a very difficult challenge."

"Lots of people kept asking me, 'How do you know who wins?' and 'Are there prizes?' I would reply to them, 'Who won the Renaissance?' Stathis said. "It's not about competition, it's about making art, and pushing limits. As for the prize, at the end of the day there's a beautiful comic book in your hands, and a feeling of accomplishment and pride in your newfound abilities."

E-mail comicsguy@phillynews.com