Nocterra #1

Nocterra #1 comic reviewWriter Scott Snyder and artist Tony S. Daniel reunite at Image Comics to offer a dystopian future tale of endless night. Anything living left in the darkness for more than 10 hours becomes a Shade which continue to evolve. Humanity is scattered across various outposts with those known as Ferrymen to transport them at great risk.

Our main character is Val. After a bit about her childhood prior to the fall of night and the rise of Shades, we see her fight off a pack of Shades and deliver a truck full of passengers to sanctuary after one of the passengers spooks and nearly gets them all killed. Among the group are an old man and young girl who offer Val a proposition she’s initially not interested in, but the deteriorating condition of her brother and the promise of true sanctuary is enough to hit the road one more time.

While the Shades are little more than generic monsters, Nocterra #1 works in setting up the world and, most importantly, the character of Val. It also foreshadows more trouble for the ferryman not only from the monsters but another hunter after her cargo.

[Image, $3.99]