Back to the Future – Citizen Brown #1: A Comic Adventure Through Time
Genre
đ Science Fiction, Adventure, Time Travel, Mystery
This comic blends classic sci-fi tropes with character-driven storytelling and interdimensional twists. It’s ideal for fans of alternate realities, retro-futurism, and dynamic action.
Main Characters
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Marty McFly – The quick-witted, guitar-playing teen hero thrust back into a new time crisis.
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Dr. Emmett “Doc” Brown – The eccentric inventor and time-travel pioneer trapped in the past.
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Edna Strickland – A strong-willed and morally rigid figure in 1931 who plays a pivotal role in shaping Doc's fate.
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Citizen Brown – A mysterious alternate version of Doc Brown introduced later in the arc, representing a dystopian future path.
Writer
✍️ Bob Gale
Bob Gale, the co-creator of the original Back to the Future film trilogy, returns to expand his vision into comics. With his signature wit and complex plot structuring, Gale makes this issue a seamless narrative continuation from Telltale’s game and the film universe.
Artist
đš Alan Robinson
Robinson captures the likenesses of iconic characters while maintaining a lively, cartoon-esque style. The detailed backgrounds and expressive character work keep the story visually engaging and full of motion.
Editor Details
đ ️ John Barber
As editor, Barber ensures the comic keeps continuity with both the film trilogy and the Telltale Games series, maintaining emotional resonance and plot coherence across time periods.
Publisher and Brand
đ·️ IDW Publishing
This title is released under IDW's line of licensed adaptations, known for staying true to source material while offering fresh storytelling angles.
Release Year
đ
2016
This issue debuted in mid-2016, tying directly into the 30th-anniversary celebrations of Back to the Future.
Brief Plot Summary
An unmanned DeLorean arrives in 1986, throwing Marty McFly into a new timeline-spanning mission. He discovers that Doc Brown is lost in the year 1931 and may be in serious peril. Marty must jump back in time once more—this time to Prohibition-era Hill Valley—to unravel what happened to Doc and avert another timeline disaster. But something’s off: Doc isn’t the same, and a powerful, authoritarian force is rising from the shadows. Is time finally running out for them both? đ⏳
Notable Arcs or Storylines
đ The Citizen Brown Arc
This issue launches the Citizen Brown arc, adapted from the game’s narrative where Marty explores a dystopian alternate future ruled by a version of Doc who has become a totalitarian figure. Themes of free will, societal control, and personal identity dominate the arc.
Fan Theories or Interpretations
đ§ Many fans speculate that Citizen Brown represents what happens when intellect lacks moral balance. Some interpret his transformation as a warning about unchecked idealism. Others theorize that Edna Strickland's influence on Doc in 1931 represents a metaphorical battle between heart and logic—between invention for good vs. control through science. The comic's blend of alternate timelines continues to stir debates on causality and character growth within multiverse storytelling. đđ
Review Summary
⭐ Art: Vibrant, expressive, and true to both the film’s aesthetic and Telltale’s game style.
⭐ Story Quality: Smartly written with emotional stakes, time-travel twists, and philosophical undertones.
⭐ Character Depth: Both Marty and Doc evolve in this arc, especially through their conflicting views on order vs. freedom.
Back to the Future – Citizen Brown #1 delivers a compelling, faithful adaptation of the Telltale game, enhanced by strong visuals and enriched character dynamics. A must-read for longtime fans and newcomers alike! đ¶️đđ„
Comic Resource / Read Online (External Source)
