If you could stop time, what wouldn’t you do? In Standstill #1 by Lee Loughridge, readers get an idea about just how dangerous a person with that kind of power can be.
Standstill #1
Written by: Lee Loughridge
Art and Main Cover by: Andrew Robinson
Variant Covers: Matteo Scalera, Cary Nord
Page Count: 64 pages
Release Date: August 21, 2024
In a bar, a man with a Hawaiian shirt antagonizes a group of homophobic bikers by giving them a history lesson on the origins of their outfits claiming it was popularized by a gay man. Pinned to the wall, about to get beaten up, the man suddenly disappears and is standing on the other side of the room holding a knife. The bikers crowd around him, ready to teach him a lesson, and in the blink of an eye, almost all of the them are lying on the floor, some with their intestines hanging out.
The only survivor is left holding the knife, now covered in blood. The guy in the Hawaiian shirt is seen on a rooftop, telling someone over the phone that “It’s done.” Later it is revealed that he is using a wristwatch-type device to stop time and do whatever he wants, presumably righting wrongs as he sees fit. Meanwhile, Colin Shaw’s life in turning upside down. He’s just got fired from his job and his wife is leaving him. She says he’s obsessed with figuring something out and he needs to move on. But when a government agency learns that a mysterious device has gone missing, Colin Shaw, the creator of the device, is recalled to service.
Standstill is a science fiction mystery story with an intriguing premise that jumps straight to the point. Our unnamed main character comes across as cocky and intelligent by the way he storms into the biker bar and knows exactly what to do and say to start a fight. But he is also shown to have a strong moral code when he uses his powers to incapacitate a passenger on an airplane who has been harassing the flight attendant. In other words, he uses his powers to balance the scales of the world as he sees fit and is willing to hire himself out to people in need of his service.
The dialogue is quick, natural and believable, adding to both the characterization and pacing. When the government agents are discussing the missing device, the reader can feel the urgency in their words. When Colin is trying to convince his wife to stay, his desperation and her frustration is evident. The story moves at a brisk pace, revealing just enough information to keep your attention and teasing questions that are left for upcoming issues.
This issue is illustrated by Andrew Robinson in a style that evokes energy and tension. The artist expertly uses color to drawn attention to our nameless main character by having him wear bright colors when surrounded by bikers with dark clothing and heavy shadows. His body language is relaxed and a permanent smirk is plastered on his face, emphasizing his confidence in any situation. Several double-page spreads are used throughout the story, which may be troubling for those reading this issue digitally from a device that only shows one page at a time and can lead to a bit of trouble following the story as the dialogue becomes unorganized from one page to another.
Final Thoughts
Standstill #1 has got shady criminals-for-hire, clandestine government agencies, and time-manipulation machines. What’s not to love. If you haven’t checked out this title yet, what are you waiting for? It’s not like you can stop time in its tracks.
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