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Nocterra: Blacktop Bill Special
As much as I was looking forward to this when it was first announced, this wasn’t something I thought we needed after the first arc of Nocterra. I’m happy to say I was very wrong. Nocterra: Blacktop Bill Special displays just how cold-blooded the series’ main villain is — and how much trouble Val and company are in.
Image Comics
Written by: Scott Snyder and Tony S. Daniel
Pencils by: Denys Cowan
Inks by: Kent Williams
Colors by: Chris Sotomayor
Letters by: Andworld Design
And while the ending is what’ll likely stick with readers, the first few pages of this Nocterra: Blacktop Bill Special are what impressed me most. Scott Snyder and Tony S. Daniel emphatically set the tone for the entire issue and never looked back. Honestly, those first few pages have me craving more of Blacktop Bill’s backstory. But, for the sake of Nocterra, we have what we need. (Though, this issue indicated we’ll learn more about the character, as much as this wasn’t labeled as a first issue on the cover.)
As for the art, Denys Cowan and Kent Williams provide a much different vibe from Daniel’s work on the main line. Now, I didn’t expect a carbon copy of Daniel’s work, but the texture of Nocterra: Blacktop Bill Special caught me off guard at first. It was gritty and rough, but that’s what Blacktop Bill is all about, making this tandem a great fit.
Looking for more comic book content? Go check out the latest episode of Geeks WorldWide Radio‘s TLDR podcast, where Joseph Gilmore and Nick Friar discuss comics weekly and talk to creators from the industry — available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and SoundCloud! And for more from Snyder, check out any of his multiple conversations with TLDR — including a few on the early stages of Nocterra!
Nocterra: Blacktop Bill Special (REVIEW)
Overall
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Writing/Plot - 9.5/10
9.5/10
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Art/Style - 8.5/10
8.5/10
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Overall Entertainment - 9/10
9/10
Summary
Behold the book of Blacktop Bill. In the wake of the first arc’s explosive finale, the origin of NOCTERRA’s most terrifying creature will at last be revealed in this special one-shot issue! Witness the horror that awaits our heroes as SCOTT SNYDER and legendary artist DENYS COWAN present a penny dreadful you won’t soon forget. REGISTER PITCH: A standalone tale perfect for NOCTERRA fans looking for more nightmarish storytelling or readers new to the series.
