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Time and Vine #1-4
Time & Vine
Travel back in time from the Civil War to the Roaring Twenties to yesterday… all with just one sip!
In this graphic novel from the creator of the Harvey-nominated Love and Capes comes the story of a magical winery where every glass takes you back in time to the year the wine was bottled.
Megan is looking for a break from taking care of her Alzheimers afflicted mother and finds the ultimate escape when Jack, the owner of the Aeternum Winery, reveals its time-traveling secret to her. Together, they drink their way through history, both the winery's and their own. In time, Megan learns a family secret that her mother may not even remember and discovers that Jack is keeping one of his own about his late wife.
Thom Zahler ( Love and Capes, Long Distance ) brings his trademark sweetness and humor to distill a story of magic and romance told across the two-hundred year canvas of New York's Hudson Valley.
In this graphic novel from the creator of the Harvey-nominated Love and Capes comes the story of a magical winery where every glass takes you back in time to the year the wine was bottled.
Megan is looking for a break from taking care of her Alzheimers afflicted mother and finds the ultimate escape when Jack, the owner of the Aeternum Winery, reveals its time-traveling secret to her. Together, they drink their way through history, both the winery's and their own. In time, Megan learns a family secret that her mother may not even remember and discovers that Jack is keeping one of his own about his late wife.
Thom Zahler ( Love and Capes, Long Distance ) brings his trademark sweetness and humor to distill a story of magic and romance told across the two-hundred year canvas of New York's Hudson Valley.
176 pages, Paperback
First published January 24, 2018
2 people are currently reading
352 people want to read
About the author
Thomas F. Zahler
113 books39 followersInto every generation there is born an artist. A being of such amazing talent and skill, that the world is forever changed by the power of his work. He alone stands against the vampires, the demons, and the forces of darkness.
Thom Zahler is not that artist.
He is, however, an extremely hardworking artist, doing what he can with what talent and skill he has. He attended the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art, where he honed his skills and developed strong feelings about the state of New Jersey. Immediately returning to his home state of Ohio upon graduation, he worked as a caricaturist at an amusement park, then later as an advertising artist at a great suburban newspaper, and finally as an art director at an area advertising agency.
Believing that every great success story starts with the phrase “it was a terrible time to start a business,” he quit his day job working for “The Man” in November of 2001 to devote himself full-time to the burgeoning Thom Zahler Art Studios empire.
His artwork has been seen in the nationwide Prilosec advertising campaign, in countless magazines and newspapers all across the country, and in the pages of numerous comic books. He has won awards for both his graphic design and illustration work. A relentless glory hound, he is also a recurring presence on Cleveland broadcast media, both television and radio. He recently made the jump to the national spotlight as a contestant on the syndicated version of “Who Wants To Be a Millionaire?” where he won $32,000. He could have gone farther, but he didn’t know who the hell Charles Goren was.
He is a graduate of the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art. He has drawn silly things and been paid by Marvel Comics, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, and Prilosec. He is also the writer and artist of the Cleveland Indians’ “Slider” comic strip. He has written and drawn three graphic novels: “Raider: From the Shadows”, "Raider: A Cold Day in Heaven” and “Raider: Dead Men’s Tales”. His current project, “Love and Capes” has been critically acclaimed and twice part of the national Free Comic Book Day promotion. A collection of the first six issues will be released in November of 2008.
He lives at his palatial estate, Zahlerdu, in Northeast Ohio. Okay, he doesn’t really call it “Zahlerdu” but if he did, it’d be because he liked Orson Wells’ “Citizen Kane” and not that Olivia Newton John disco-and-roller skating movie. It’s not really a palatial estate, either, but it is a nice place.
Zahler tries to make it a point to have at least one life-altering, horribly-scarring relationship every three years or so. There should be another window opening up next Tuesday.
Thom Zahler is not that artist.
He is, however, an extremely hardworking artist, doing what he can with what talent and skill he has. He attended the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art, where he honed his skills and developed strong feelings about the state of New Jersey. Immediately returning to his home state of Ohio upon graduation, he worked as a caricaturist at an amusement park, then later as an advertising artist at a great suburban newspaper, and finally as an art director at an area advertising agency.
Believing that every great success story starts with the phrase “it was a terrible time to start a business,” he quit his day job working for “The Man” in November of 2001 to devote himself full-time to the burgeoning Thom Zahler Art Studios empire.
His artwork has been seen in the nationwide Prilosec advertising campaign, in countless magazines and newspapers all across the country, and in the pages of numerous comic books. He has won awards for both his graphic design and illustration work. A relentless glory hound, he is also a recurring presence on Cleveland broadcast media, both television and radio. He recently made the jump to the national spotlight as a contestant on the syndicated version of “Who Wants To Be a Millionaire?” where he won $32,000. He could have gone farther, but he didn’t know who the hell Charles Goren was.
He is a graduate of the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art. He has drawn silly things and been paid by Marvel Comics, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, and Prilosec. He is also the writer and artist of the Cleveland Indians’ “Slider” comic strip. He has written and drawn three graphic novels: “Raider: From the Shadows”, "Raider: A Cold Day in Heaven” and “Raider: Dead Men’s Tales”. His current project, “Love and Capes” has been critically acclaimed and twice part of the national Free Comic Book Day promotion. A collection of the first six issues will be released in November of 2008.
He lives at his palatial estate, Zahlerdu, in Northeast Ohio. Okay, he doesn’t really call it “Zahlerdu” but if he did, it’d be because he liked Orson Wells’ “Citizen Kane” and not that Olivia Newton John disco-and-roller skating movie. It’s not really a palatial estate, either, but it is a nice place.
Zahler tries to make it a point to have at least one life-altering, horribly-scarring relationship every three years or so. There should be another window opening up next Tuesday.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
February 27, 2019
Zahler’s light (albeit emotionally complex), diverting tale is, on the surface, the delightfully inventive story of an old man who owns a winery whose unique vintages enable time travel in search of a protégé to whom he can hand over this very special business. But, it’s really about the search for human connection, and there’s a melancholy inference that our strongest connections tend to be with our past selves and the people we love as they used to be, not as they are now—if they’re even still around. It’s simultaneously a celebration of life’s great moments and a meditation on the pain of aging and loss.
It also features a lot of people getting s@#$-faced on copious quantities of wine and some fun historical jaunts, so there’s that.
Did I tear up at the book’s emotional climax? Shut up. No—you did. What? Leave me alone—I have allergies.
Well worth a read if you’re a graphic novel aficionado in need of a break from capes and cowls or in search of something with some emotional heft. Or, if you really just want to get yourself in the mood to drink wine (I mean, I’m indifferent toward wine as a general rule and all I want to do right now is guzzle a bottle of Malbec).
It also features a lot of people getting s@#$-faced on copious quantities of wine and some fun historical jaunts, so there’s that.
Did I tear up at the book’s emotional climax? Shut up. No—you did. What? Leave me alone—I have allergies.
Well worth a read if you’re a graphic novel aficionado in need of a break from capes and cowls or in search of something with some emotional heft. Or, if you really just want to get yourself in the mood to drink wine (I mean, I’m indifferent toward wine as a general rule and all I want to do right now is guzzle a bottle of Malbec).
November 16, 2018
The story of a winery where you are transported to the year of the vintage of wine you drink. Full of sentimentality and familial loss. It's a neat concept even if it is a bit sappy sweet.
November 11, 2020
A quiet time travel adventure that seems like it might veer into a bit of high drama or have a major twist, but it remains subdued though flavorful to its last drops. I'm not sure Zahler's cartoonish art style fit the tone of the story he was telling but it serves well enough.
July 23, 2018
Throughout his career, Thom Zahler has found a way to get at the human heart of every story, from the grounded and personal LONG DISTANCE to the superheroic comedy of LOVE AND CAPES. His expressive cartooning, perfect comedic timing, and clever play with genre tropes are the hallmarks of his comics work. But never before have all of those elements come together in a package as original and deeply affecting as TIME & VINE. What starts as an inventive twist on time travel transcends into a moving meditation on love and loss planted in the fertile ground of history -- local history, social history, familial history, and personal history all rolled into one.
I already knew Zahler could make me laugh, and he does that here, too, with his usual aplomb. But I never knew he could also make me cry.
I already knew Zahler could make me laugh, and he does that here, too, with his usual aplomb. But I never knew he could also make me cry.
December 17, 2017
Another great story from Thom Zahler. The combination of time travel, a family Mystery and wine make a great story.
December 7, 2019
While the style of the illustrations was a bit cartoonish for my tastes (very 'Betty and Veronica'), I enjoyed the premise of time-travelling via wine consumption. It connects to the very modern theme of detachment and alienation--both from our families, and from our foodstuffs. This book shows a deep respect for the people whose labour is bottled up with wine, and for the way our lives intertwine with objects. The protagonist only comes to understand herself, through appreciating that she consumes history in consuming wine. While I doubt the author meant this as a meditation on thoughtful consumerism, the theme's present.
Some criticisms:
1. The beginning of the book. This old man manages to get this mildly inebriated girl to follow him, by herself, down a few flights of stairs into a dark wine cellar with freaking huge doors. She doesn't tell her friends where she's going.
Yeah, so this is a sign the book was written by a cis-man. Because if a woman had to write the rest of the book with only this as a prompt, that girl totally got murdered and had her body stashed in a wine cask.
2. The ending: More pathetic than romantic, and I won't give spoilers by saying anything more; in any case, you may have a different opinion, so saying this much isn't really a spoiler.
Some criticisms:
1. The beginning of the book. This old man manages to get this mildly inebriated girl to follow him, by herself, down a few flights of stairs into a dark wine cellar with freaking huge doors. She doesn't tell her friends where she's going.
Yeah, so this is a sign the book was written by a cis-man. Because if a woman had to write the rest of the book with only this as a prompt, that girl totally got murdered and had her body stashed in a wine cask.
2. The ending: More pathetic than romantic, and I won't give spoilers by saying anything more; in any case, you may have a different opinion, so saying this much isn't really a spoiler.
June 11, 2018
If you are passionate about time travel then you likely pay attention to how these stories factor in paradox. It's easy to use the device of TT as a cheap way to get 'Wow' out of a fiction novel with little effort but the true measure of a quality time travel story lies in how it resolves the effect of the travelers be meddling. With that in mind, stay away from this diverting but rather superficial story.
It's saccharine sweet and despite it's clever setting and intriguing potential, your left with a mash-up of Hallmark sentimental drivel and after school special. Any repurcussions that the protagonists travel might trigger are ignored or brushed over and simplistic used to meet serve a simplistic central story.
If however your just looking for a lite adventure yarn then you'll likely be satisfied.
It's saccharine sweet and despite it's clever setting and intriguing potential, your left with a mash-up of Hallmark sentimental drivel and after school special. Any repurcussions that the protagonists travel might trigger are ignored or brushed over and simplistic used to meet serve a simplistic central story.
If however your just looking for a lite adventure yarn then you'll likely be satisfied.
January 4, 2022
Going to start this with....I'm not a graphic novel person, but I loved this one. I was expecting some little trips to the past and some fun period clothing arts, but instead got that plus 2 well developed lead characters with clear motivations for their trips. I was very impress so much story could be contained in so few words. Of course now I really want to know what happened to the bartender on the trip he decided to stop traveling, how the new ownership will go, and what other cross decade hijinks may ensue.
Mr. Zahler it's time for a sequel.
Mr. Zahler it's time for a sequel.
September 17, 2023
Absolutely loved it! Picked this up at DragonCon this year. The author was at his table and said “it’s a love story” and I am a sucker for those plus it also included wine which I like studying the process of making as a mycologist. I thought I would just read one issue then come back but once I started I couldn’t put it down and read the whole thing in one setting. If you love a good illustrated tale about normal people dealing with love and loss in an honest manner then you will fall in love with this story as much as I did.
July 26, 2019
Meet Thomas Zahler at San Diego comic con, and when I initially stopped at his table, I was looking. Did not know anything about him and was not expecting to purchase anything. He picked up Time & Vine and said many readers love this story. So I bought it, and I'm so excited I did. It was a fantastic read. The love that was in the story was so sweet. I will be checking out other work from Zahler.
February 7, 2020
Nice story. Not a huge fan of the art style.
February 16, 2020
The ending was a bit anticlimactic but otherwise really good emotional story with great character development.
November 6, 2021
Why am I crying? I want more of this story please. This is a very heart touching story with two different storylines sneaking up on you. I loved it.
November 27, 2025
3.75 rounded up to 4.
The art was not my favorite, but it did tell the story really well and I enjoyed the story more than I thought I would!
The art was not my favorite, but it did tell the story really well and I enjoyed the story more than I thought I would!
December 16, 2023
I enjoy this author/illustrator, but this story felt a little rushed. Still a good story, but primarily recommended for the author's existing fans.
Edited to include cross-references: Cyclopedia Exotica
Edited to include cross-references: Cyclopedia Exotica
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews