Nocterra #1
Image Comics
Written by: Scott Snyder
Art by: Tony S. Daniel
Colors: Tomeu Morey
Letters by: Andworld Design
Nocterra #1 came with some lofty expectations. Now, that can be said with any Scott Snyder project, especially when paired with Tony S. Daniel. But between the Kickstarter campaign and the launch of Snyder’s imprint, Best Jacket Press, Nocterra has been top of mind for a while.
Even with all that coming in, the title’s opening issue did not disappoint.
Readers finally get to know Val Riggs, better known as Sundog, who’s naturally been at the center of the book’s campaign. Everyone already knew she had a badass look, and now we’re seeing she has the personality to match.
This character clearly has quite a bit of depth to her. It seems like she’ll carry this story above all else — a nice change of pace from Snyder’s other hit Image book, Undiscovered Country, which features a team and is more plot-dependent.
But, there’s more to this story than readers are initially led to believe. Snyder hits everyone with a haymaker to finish off Nocterra #1; hopefully, in an attempt to solidify the tone for what should be a wild ride. If you’re initially turned off by the dystopian element to the book, Snyder made clear right away Nocterra will do more than introduce a new type of end-of-the-world setting.
As for Daniel and Tomeu Morey’s work, the outfits in this nightmare are something else — in the best way. Some of the characters have firm grasp on apocalyptic attire, like Sundog. But there are others who probably miss their parents dressing them as much as anything else they lost in the Big PM.
Nocterra #1 is a great start. Can’t wait to see how the story’s first arc continues to take shape next issue.