Who is in charge of cleaning up all the time issues created as a result of Doc Brown and Marty’s shenanigans? Sure, Marty destroyed the DeLorean upon returning to 1985, but the Brown family had that extraordinary time traveling locomotive. Bringing Marty’s parents together and giving his father confidence did more than help give birth to 3 successful children. It made his father an author and made Biff a servant. This wasn’t supposed to happen though. These are all time paradoxes, also known as anomalies.

And Teddy takes care of these anomalies. 

Pierrick Colinet and Elsa Charretier’s 6-issue graphic novel The Infinite Loop tells the story of Teddy, one of many time-travelers whose job is to keep the infinite loop going. The infinite loop is what history goes through year by year. As Teddy explains it:

We’re doing today what someone did yesterday, and another will do tomorrow. That’s the first rule they teach us when we take the job. At first, we think we’ll get used to it… But we never get used to watching men making the same choices and the same mistakes throughout time and history. Repeating the same cyclical pattern over and over again. And the worst part is I have to make sure that nobody breaks this loop… There’s nothing worse than change.

If something historically important is changed, that loop breaks. Even if it is minor. For instance, when a group known as The Forgers stop the second atomic bomb detonation, a time rift occurs, setting loose a T-rex in the 1960s.

Of course, it’s Teddy’s job to erase “Ano,” as her name becomes, but that’s never going to happen. Instead, they are both hunted by her coworkers who see her being in love with an anomaly as evil and hurtful, and the changes it could bring would destroy the world. Unknown to Teddy or her coworkers though, is there is more behind the hunting of these living anomalies than anybody is aware, including the Forgers.

The way the organization treats Teddy’s “abomination” is not that different than interracial and gay/lesbian relationships have been treated by some throughout history. As Teddy’s run from the law develops, she jumps though various time portals, and this is further compared symbolically as Teddy witnesses the first Pride parade in 1970 and the New Orleans lynchings in 1891. Seeing both the joy and hatred that can be found as the result of love of all beings, Teddy understands that the she is no longer the girl who didn’t care for romantic relationships. And if she becomes that girl again, the world may become worse as a result.

From the first issue the art hit me, and no matter what the story was going to be about, I knew I would read until the very end. Combining a 1960’s art deco touch with 1950’s costuming, all set in a futuristic world, you never know what you’ll see next. As each anomaly is erased, it is portrayed through a gradual large depixilation, similar to the block style of many locations found in the story.

If you are seeking a graphic novel that doesn’t say no to the look of all people, and/or a fan of this style or art this book is a must.