Some graphic novels entertain you. A rare few actually stay with you. Project Nought by Chelsey Furedi sits firmly in that second group. This debut graphic novel pulls off something genuinely difficult it blends time travel, queer romance, corporate mystery, and heartfelt friendship all within a single standalone story, and somehow none of it feels rushed or forced.

I picked this book up expecting a light sci-fi read. What I got instead was a story that made me laugh out loud, gasp at a plot twist I did not see coming, and yes get a little emotional toward the end. If you have been on the fence about reading it, let this review push you over.

What Is Project Nought About?

The story opens in 1996. Sixteen-year-old Ren Mittal boards a bus to finally meet his mystery pen pal, Georgia. He never arrives. Instead, Ren wakes up in the year 2122 confused, alone, and completely disoriented.

It turns out a powerful tech company called Chronotech runs a time-travel program that pulls teenagers from the past and places them with student guides in the future. The goal, they claim, is to help students in 2122 learn about history firsthand. Ren is one of fifty subjects. He is told he will spend five months in the future and then be sent back to 1996 with his memory wiped completely.

His assigned guide is Mars, an energetic, pastel-haired science nerd who immediately takes Ren under his wing. As Ren adjusts to life in a world 126 years ahead of his own, a slow and deeply sweet friendship and something more begins to grow between them.

Meanwhile, another subject named Phoebe starts digging into Chronotech’s operation. What she finds suggests the company is not nearly as benevolent as it claims, and the stakes for every subject involved get very real, very fast.

The story runs two parallel threads Ren and Mars’s growing bond and Phoebe’s investigation before they collide in a finale that genuinely earns its emotional payoff.

Project Nought Characters Who Makes This Story Work

Chelsey Furedi builds a cast that feels genuinely alive. These are not archetypes. They are teenagers with real emotions, real friendships, and real flaws.

Ren Mittal

Ren is the heart of the story. He starts out guarded, moody, and deeply uncomfortable both in the future world and inside his own head. Furedi uses visual storytelling brilliantly here. You can watch Ren’s body language and panel space open up slowly as he lets people in. His journey toward self-acceptance, including realizing his feelings for Mars, happens organically and never feels forced.

Mars (Mithaniel Milton)

Mars is an absolute joy. He is bubbly, creative, and fiercely loyal. His pastel hair and expressive face make him instantly recognizable on every page. What makes him more than just the “fun guide” character is the depth Furedi gives him through his own friendships, particularly with his crew of Deimos and Phobos. There is a flashback involving them that hits harder than you expect it to.

Phoebe Bennett

Phoebe is the engine of the mystery plot. She is sharp, determined, and refuses to accept the official story. Her investigation with Jia gives the book its thriller backbone. Many readers, myself included, name her as a standout favorite.

The Podcast Duo

Two podcasters appear throughout the story as a kind of Greek chorus commenting on events, providing context, and giving the narrative a clever meta-layer that keeps the pacing sharp and adds real humor without breaking the tone.

The Art Style in Project Nought A Visual Experience

Chelsey Furedi does not just write this story. She also illustrates every single panel and her art is one of the book’s strongest arguments for reading it in print.

The style is anime-inspired with bold, clean linework and vivid color palettes. Furedi uses color as an emotional tool. Ren’s panels feel cooler and more muted early on. As he grows closer to his new friends, the warmth creeps in. You feel the shift before you consciously notice it.

Panel composition is equally thoughtful. Furedi plays with scale and white space to emphasize emotional moments. A small Ren in a huge panel tells you everything about how isolated he feels. The fashion design is also worth mentioning she imagines what 1990s style would look like reinvented a century later, and the results are creative, specific, and fun to look at.

Project Nought originally lived on the Tapas webcomic platform, where it gathered over 1.5 million views. For the published edition, Furedi refined and polished the art significantly. If you read the webcomic, the published book still feels fresh it is a noticeably more finished version of the same story.

Themes in Project Nought More Than Just a Fun Sci-Fi Story

Project Nought works as a fun adventure. But it also carries real ideas worth talking about.

The most immediate theme is self-acceptance. Ren spends most of the story fighting against his own feelings about where he belongs, who he is, and what he wants. His arc is not dramatic or performative. It is quiet, honest, and recognizable to anyone who has ever needed time to become themselves.

The book also takes a pointed look at big tech and the way corporations wrap harmful actions in the language of progress and education. Chronotech’s program sounds generous on the surface. The deeper Phoebe digs, the clearer it becomes that good intentions are often just good branding. For a teen graphic novel, that critique lands with real weight.

There is also something genuinely hopeful about the future Furedi imagines. The world of 2122 accepts queerness as simply normal. Nobody questions it. That vision of acceptance presented as achievable, not utopian feels meaningful without being preachy.

What Critics and Readers Say About Project Nought

The reception for this book has been strong and consistent across professional reviewers and everyday readers alike.

School Library Journal awarded it a starred review, calling it an exemplary teen graphic novel that bridges sci-fi, queer romance, adventure, and anti-big tech interests while remaining accessible to wide audiences. Kirkus Reviews described it as an emotional rollercoaster that swings between heartfelt and suspenseful. Publishers Weekly praised the way it questions how the pursuit of scientific progress can overshadow ethical responsibility. Booklist Online highlighted the compelling, thought-provoking character work grounded in a relatable cast.

On Goodreads, readers rate it very highly. The most common praise centers on the character dynamics particularly how much everyone loves Mars and how the ensemble cast feels genuine rather than assembled. The emotional gut-punch involving Mars’s friends Deimos and Phobos is mentioned repeatedly as an unexpected highlight.

About the Author Chelsey Furedi

Chelsey Furedi is a comic artist and illustrator based in New Zealand. She began her comics career during university with Rock and Riot, an online comic that built a dedicated following and established her reputation for inclusive, character-driven storytelling. Project Nought is her debut published graphic novel.

Furedi works as a background artist alongside her publishing work, and her deep understanding of visual composition shows throughout Project Nought. When asked where she would travel if time travel were real, her answer is entirely on-brand one hundred years into the future to see what everyone is wearing. You can follow her work on Twitter and Instagram at @cheriiart.

If Project Nought has sparked an interest in the time travel genre, you are going to enjoy exploring more. Check out our guide to the Best YA Time Travel Books You Need to Read for more stories that play with past, present, and future in equally creative ways.

Final Verdict Is Project Nought Worth Reading?