"Theorizing that one could time travel within his own lifetime, Dr. Sam Beckett stepped into the Quantum Leap accelerator and vanished.
He awoke to find himself trapped in the past, facing mirror images that were not his own, and driven by an unknown force to change history for the better. His only guide on this journey is Al, an observer from his own time, who appears in the form of a hologram that only Sam can see and hear. And so, Dr. Beckett finds himself leaping from life to life, striving to put right what once went wrong, and hoping each time that his next leap will be the leap home."
Quantum Leap was an hour-long time-travel series that ran on NBC from 1989 to 1993. It debuted with a two-hour episode on March 26, 1989. The series was created by Donald P. Bellisario, who also created Magnum, P.I., Airwolf, J.A.G. and NCIS.
Innovation Comics, like its contemporary, Now Comics was a forerunner of the IDW imprint. Whereas Now had the license for titles like The Terminator and Green Hornet, Innovation held the comic book licenses for such properties as the CBS series Beauty and the Beast, the cult classic Dark Shadows, and the sci-fi series Lost in Space. Innovation also had original series such as Hero Alliance, Justice Machine and The Maze Agency. The publisher was founded in 1988 by David Campiti. Innovation folded in 1994.
Quantum Leap, the comic book ran for thirteen issues published erratically between September 1991 and August 1993, or, between the third season through the final season of the series. The title was edited by George Broderick, Jr. and most issues featured covers by C. W. Taylor.
Quantum Leap shares some similarities and comparisons with Doctor Who. Although, Sam Beckett can only travel within his own lifetime, from 1953 to 1999, he is a doctor; a prodigy, holding seven degrees. The Doctor only reveals himself by his title, not by name; Sam can not reveal his true identity during any leap, which would prevent his leaping back to own, original time. The Doctor travels by means of the TARDIS, in the form of a '60's Police Telephone Box. Sam originally leaped by stepping into the Project: Quantum Leap Accelerator Chamber, and contact with him is maintained by the Imaging Chamber. Along with the Control Room and Waiting Room, Project: Quantum Leap is a much bigger place on the inside. Like The Doctor, Sam has a Companion, Admiral Albert "Al" ("Bingo") Calavicci. Al's handlink in like The Doctor's sonic screwdriver. Sam follows the same moral, ethical code that The Doctor does; and, due to the circumstances of Sam's situation seems similarly tragic and lonely. Sam is as much a wanderer as The Doctor. There was some potential of a relaunch of the series, where Al passes on the role of Companion to Sam's daughter Sammy Jo, but, to date nothing has materialized.
Quantum Leap is an updating of the Time Tunnel concept, as well as H. G. Wells' The Time Machine. It is also in the same genre as the Jean Claude Van Damme vehicle Timecop; and the short-lived Early Edition, Time Trax, and Seven Days.
At the time he was writing Kingdom Come with artist Alex Ross, Mark Waid was rumored to be working on Quantum Leap for Dark Horse, but the project never developed.
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