Oh Boy: A Time Travel Podcast · ohboyQLpod

Netflix Comic Publishing - Chrononauts bonus

November 17, 2025·21 min·2 clips

Why was Chrononauts Volume 2 only available as an omnibus, and how did Netflix's deal change comic publishing?

This bonus episode of Oh Boy: A Time Travel Podcast focuses on the comic book *Chrononauts Volume 2* and its connection to Netflix. Hosts Brian and his co-host discuss the challenges of obtaining the comic due to its unusual digital publishing rights. The first *Chrononauts* volume was published by Image Comics, but this sequel was released after Mark Millar sold his creator-owned content to Netflix. The hosts explain that Millar's work often feels like a pitch for television or film adaptations rather than a complete comic narrative. They note the comic's artistic merits, crediting artist Eric Canetti and colorist Giovanna Nero for the visually engaging artwork. A significant portion of the conversation details the unusual release strategy for *Chrononauts Volume 2*, where all four single issues and variant covers debuted on a single day: October 30, 2019. Brian recalls his specific comic purchases that day, including *Excalibur No. 1*, which launched Marvel's new Krakoa-era X-Men line. The hosts attribute the single-day dump to Netflix's influence, mimicking its binge-release model, and discuss how this strategy alienated weekly comic shop customers. They analyze story elements, criticizing the visual depiction of an alt-right character named Sophie, who is drawn with a counterculture style including a beanie and lip piercing. The discussion covers plot mechanics, debating whether the time-travel gauntlets have a speaking function and how the heroes ultimately use older chrononaut suit technology to defeat the villain. A notable digression involves a humorous anecdote about meeting a man named John Astle and a coworker named Dikshit, leading to a quote from the film *Spaceballs*. The hosts praise the comic's use of monochromatic color palettes to differentiate scenes and convey mood, comparing it to other artistic approaches in comics like *Riding Shotgun*. They conclude that *Volume 2* successfully ties its plot threads together, specifically mentioning resolutions involving character multiplication and a callback sending a character named Bronwyn into space. While acknowledging Mark Millar's successful works like *Old Man Logan* and *Kick-Ass*, they find the two *Chononauts* volumes tonally disconnected, with *Volume 1* being particularly poorly received. The episode maintains a conversational and analytical tone, blending comic industry critique with personal collecting anecdotes and tangential humor. Listeners interested in comic book publishing logistics, Mark Millar's career, or critiques of adaptation-focused storytelling would enjoy this episode. Those seeking a straightforward review or narrative summary of the *Chrononauts* plot might find the tangents and industry focus less engaging.

As heard by us

A comics chat about purchase friction, rights, and whether the trade is the better read.

Chrononauts Volume 2 is treated less like a plot recap and more like a talk about how the book reaches readers. It starts with the clumsy digital purchase path, then moves through the rights mess after Netflix, the Image Comics link, and the sense that the series has always been…

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Why you'd press play

You want the Chrononauts Volume 2 take that lands on trade-read comfort, not a glossy pitch.

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