America’s favorite pastime meets the eerie shadows of the supernatural in Past Time #1, written by Joe Harris and illustrated by Russell Olson. The enthralling premiere issue wonderfully marries sports drama with horror in such a fantastic way.
Henry Hayes could have been the best baseball player anybody ever saw, if only his dark affliction didn’t prevent him from playing in the daylight. But when the barnstorming circuit introduces a new novelty to the game—night baseball under the bright lights—will his dreams of playing pro ball finally be realized, or will his bloody past catch up with him before he gets the chance? From the midwest fields of the 1920s to the big city lights of today, Past Time is a small town thriller on a National scale.
The unique twist of potential baseball star, Henry Hayes, harboring a dark affliction that prevents him from playing during daylight hours immediately sets the stage for a story that is more than just about baseball—it’s about personal demons and how they can shape one’s destiny. This blend of genres is super unique and one that I was not expecting to see in the pages of a comic book, but somehow Joe Harris makes it work in the end.
While a comic based solely around baseball or one featuring only the horror elements featured in Past Time might do well with fans of each of those genres, this comic takes the two vastly different themes and brings them together in a way that is truly unique.
Russell Olson’s artwork complements Harris’ story beautifully. His illustrations capture both the essence of a classic baseball story along with the underlying eeriness of small-town America in the 1920s. The contrast between the two genres is something that Olson nails on each and every page. Olson’s ability to depict high-energy baseball action alongside chilling horror scenes without losing coherence or impact speaks volumes about his artistic abilities.
While the premiere issue doesn’t push the story extremely far, it does set the stage for the future of the series. The plot is something I don’t see often in comics, but has me hooked and cannot wait to see more from this series and these creators.
Past Time offers something truly special within the world of horror comics–this fresh take on classic themes through innovative storytelling by Joe Harris and great artwork from Russell Olson brings a whole new tale to our eyes. Fans of baseball and horror should flock to this new series that blends the themes in such a great way.
Past Time #1 hits local comic shops on April 2, 2025 from Mad Cave Studios (FOC: March 10).
Past Time #1 Preview
