Mega Man ZX Timelines #1 [Review]

Mega Man ZX Timelines #1 continues UDON’s recent push to reestablish Mega Man as a consistent presence in comics, and it arrives at a moment when fan interest is clearly back on the upswing. After the strong reception to earlier releases like Mega Man Timelines and Mega Man X Timelines, along with the current five-issue Mega Man X limited series, this ZX-focused entry feels less like a one-off experiment and more like part of a broader commitment from UDON Entertainment to keep the franchise visible and evolving on the page.

Written by Matt Moylan, ZX Timelines #1 drops readers into the far-future world of the ZX era, where Biometals and mechanized conflict define daily life. Vent, wielding the power of Biometal Z and X, clashes with Pseudoroids and an antagonistic force that exists largely to provoke action rather than introspection. The story is undeniably shallow, functioning more as a vignette than a fully realized narrative, but it does succeed in presenting a clear template for how ZX’s lore and tone translate to comics. It’s less about deep world-building and more about energy, momentum, and iconography.

Where the issue truly earns its keep is in the art, with Dax Gordine delivering pages that feel engineered for motion. Panel layouts frequently stretch horizontally or tilt diagonally, mimicking the forward momentum of ZX’s gameplay. Vent is rarely static, sprinting, sliding, or striking across panels with motion lines and energy effects that sell speed without sacrificing clarity. Gordine’s use of bold reds, magentas, and neon greens taps directly into ZX’s louder, more futuristic aesthetic, distinguishing it from earlier Mega Man eras.

Importantly, the action never feels weightless. Impacts land with chunky sound effects, debris bursts, and strong body language, giving even quick exchanges a sense of physical consequence. Close-ups on Vent’s eyes and expressions add just enough character acting to ground the spectacle, while enemy designs maintain readable silhouettes despite busy compositions. Gordine’s art does the heavy lifting here, compensating for the thin plot by making every page visually engaging and easy to follow.

Mega Man ZX Timelines #1 may not be the strongest entry in the Timelines lineup, especially when stacked against more thematically ambitious issues, but it’s a solid, energetic showcase of what ZX can look like in comic form. As a Mega Man fan, I’ll never say no to more of this world, and if UDON keeps pairing this franchise with artists who understand its kinetic DNA, there’s plenty of reason to stay optimistic.

Overall Score: 7/10