| "The
Infinite Corridor" |
| Writer: | Link Yaco |
| Illustrator: | Andy Price |
| Lettering: | Vickie Williams |
| Coloring: | Scott Rockwell |
| Editor: | George Broderick, Jr. |
"He Knows if You've Been..." |
|
| Writer: | John Holland |
| Illustrator: | Andy Price |
| Lettering: | Vickie Williams |
| Coloring: | Scott Rockwell |
| Editor: | George Broderick, Jr. |
"HE
KNOWS IF YOU'VE BEEN BAD OR GOOD" and "The Infinite Corridor"
Volume No. 1
Issue No. 3
March 1992
Quantum Leap ™ & © 1992 Universal City Studios, Inc
Published
by the INNOVATIVE CORPORATION
Excerpt from this issue
Next issue leap-in page
Synopsis:
December
20th, 1963
New York City, New York
In the first story, "He Knows if You've Been Bad or Good," Sam leaps into a man named Nick in New York City. Ziggy can't find any info or background for Nick, but he works as a department store Santa Claus with a man named Mark, who is the ultimate nice-guy and works 80 hours a week to help support the company. He has two small children, the oldest of which is a girl who wishes her father would spend more time with her instead of working and helping neighbors. She has given up on believing in Christmas and has been damaged by the death of her mother. While trying to uncover the real identity of Nick, Sam and Al must work together to bring the family together before a conspiring employee at work frames Mark for theft.
April 2nd, 1968
In the second story, "The Infinite Corridor," Sam inadvertently changes the course of history when he upsets Ellen, an M.I.T. student who will eventually write the thesis which convinces Sam that time-travel is possible! If Sam can't get the leap back on track, Quantum Leap will never become a reality and could create a universe-threatening paradox! (Personal Note: The artwork in this story is incredible.)
Summary by mshirley27
Two leaps in one issue!
December 1963, and Sam leaps into a department store Santa who must help a widower with his two children! "He Knows If You've Been Bad Or Good..."
In 1968, Sam leaps into an MIT research assistant who has to help another assistant discover how to travel back in time!
M. B. Stenzel, Assistant Professor at the University of California and R. Winchester, Telecommunications Specialist at MIT are credited for research and consultation for "The Infinite Corridor".
airdave's Quantum Leap #1 - "First There Was a Mountain, Then There Was No Mountain, Then There Was" review
Breaking Format
Quantum Leap follows a pretty familiar, typical format. Sam leaps in. He's confused. Al shows up and gives Sam some bullet points to get started. Then, Al gives Sam the "kicker"; which is, the near impossible challenge of what needs "fixing" or "righting" in order for Sam to leap out. Or so Al and Ziggy guess. Some leaps have a surprising reveal, maybe something totally unrelated to the situation Sam finds himself in.
John Holland's "He Knows If You've Been Bad or Good..." breaks the format of a Quantum Leap story. Andy Price leaves a few hints in the art that it's December 20th, 1963, just a month after the Kennedy assassination, and just a few weeks before the British invasion led by The Beatles appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. It is not clear where Sam has leaped. He's a mysterious department store Santa that has to help a widower father with his daughter and son. The daughter is angry that her father has to work long hours to support the family. Holland's story hints that Santa might be more than what he appears to be. It all plays out like "Miracle on 34th Street", with a little bit of "It's A Wonderful Life". It's a fun story, that sees a bit of action and danger near the end. As Sam leaps out, the question is still, is he or isn't he?
Lincoln Yaco's "The Infinite Corridor" is pretty similar. It breaks format, too. Sam leaps into an MIT research assistant. From a newspaper headline he finds that it is 1968, but no exact date is revealed. Sam has to win back Ellen Kim and help her discover that time travel to the past is possible. It's pretty simple and straight-forward.
I'm not a fan of splitting an issue up with two stories. Both stories are enjoyable as is, less is actually more. I enjoy an issue that is one story. Both stories are brisk and smooth paced. Yet, both stories could have been two or three percent better with a little more breathing room. Holland's Christmas story has a surprise twist. "The Infinite Corridor", while smooth, seems abrupt. The resolution a bit too easy. Sam does have an urgent task, however there's no twists or turns to the story. It's pretty much a straight line from problem to solution.
Still, both stories are enjoyable. This could be a split decision, since it's a split issue. Four stars for story (quality); three stars for jamming two leaps (quantity) into one issue.