Nocterra #1
Image Comics
Writer: Scott Snyder
Art: Tony S. Daniel, Tomeu Morey & Andworld Design
This week I got the chance to read the new creator-owned book by none other than Scott Snyder. Taking into consideration his latest work at the DC as well as the cover art for the first issue of Nocterra, I was sincerely expecting this to be a straightforward, monster slasher, somewhat reminiscent of Image’s early days. Boy, was I mistaken.
The story of Nocterra follows Valentina “Val” Riggs. A ferryman who transports people and cargo throughout the darkened wasteland the world has become thirteen years after it was plunged into darkness mysteriously. The first issue opens with a young Val in school witnessing the start of it all. She and her adoptive brother, Emory, react quite well for their age while we can see clearly that their parents are worried but trying not to show it. The story then cuts to present day, with Val about to finish a cargo run and running into a herd of what are called shades. You see in this darkness the world now resides, any living organism that doesn’t stay lit will be consumed and turned into a ferocious creature. Val almost is caught but her brother’s gizmos and aid end up saving her. They have been each other support all these years and now Emory is infected.
Scott Snyder really starts off with a ridiculously rich new world right off the bat. Sure, there’s a lot of exposition involved in thought boxes but these thoughts fit Val’s character as we get to see later in the issue. In the first few pages, we get a background on Val and how she was half-blind. We’re shown a brief moment of family time right after cutting to an exciting car chase. Snyder shows how the shades are no longer just animals turned dark because of crossbreeding. This is a packed issue but, honestly, I read right through it. I loved getting to know more about this world and the facts told to the readers via exposition just make the organic presentation of MORE facts even better. From what I recall of his work at DC, Snyder tends to turn things up to eleven once the story starts progressing further. But I believe, from what is already contained in this issue, the plot will evolve without turning everything else about Batman so I’m pretty hyped for what comes next.
Tony S. Daniel was responsible for the lines in the issue. His work is what I’d call perfect for a motion comic. The definition between foreground and background is highly clear but it helps to give off a sense of volume to the panel and I absolutely adore it. His depiction of movement and action is pretty solid as well but I did miss a tad more facial expression to the characters. This reviewer had the feeling that most of them were just worn out and tired to be in the story, but maybe it was intentional due to the nature of Nocterra’s setting.
The colors are by Tomeu Morey and they are stunning! I believe this must have been, if not a challenge, a great experience to the colorist due to Nocterra’s world being constantly only partially lit by many different kinds of light bulbs. Morey took the chance to explore a vast color palette ranging from cold neon blue to a potent yellow spotlight coming from the walls of a citadel. Fantastic work in colors, not much more to say. The lettering by Andworld is very good. Val’s introspection boxes are colored in a bright red with a white font while other dialogue/thought boxes are just plain black on white. A single character has a white-on-black dialogue bubble so it gives off the impression as if their voice is different. As always, my favorite bits of lettering is on sound effects and screams which are done brilliantly discreet in this issue, just smoothly making the reader’s head think about the sound that was made. Great stuff.
For someone who was expecting Nocterra to be plain and visceral, this was a huge and most welcome surprise. No doubt the creative team has big plans for this title and I recommend any fan of post-apocalyptic science fiction to pick it up and give it a try.
Nocterra #1
For someone who was expecting Nocterra to be plain and visceral, this was a huge and most welcome surprise. No doubt the creative team has big plans for this title and I recommend any fan of post-apocalyptic science fiction to pick it up and give it a try.
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