Writer: Scott Snyder
Artist: Tony S. Daniel
Publisher: Image Comics
Have you ever watched a movie, or read a comic book that makes you want to turn on all of the
lights in your house once you are done? Just in case, I mean, its not like you would be scared or
anything right? In any case, however, Nocterra could very well be the latest comic that makes you
do just that.
Imagine waking up one day, going to school, to work, whatever it is you do on the daily, and
everything seems normal, and then out of nowhere the world as you know it, is plunged into
darkness. This is what happens in the world of our protagonist Valentina “Val” Riggs. We fast
forward 10 years and we see Val who completely adapted to the darkness and is behind the
drivers seat in the form of a ferryman, and a proficient one at that. She transports people and
goods along deadly and caliginous roads, in one hell of a brightly lit truck. Val seems as if she is a
lone wolf in this story, she doesn’t play by anyone else’s rules. However this changes when she is
propositioned to ferry an old man and his granddaughter to a location with promise of going to a
town with genuine sunlight. But like any great story, not all is how it seems.
The story really starts to kick off when we unearth what can happen to anyone who stays in the
darkness for too long, and why it is imperative to stay close to artificial light. Having this as the
main crux of the story is what will make the world of Nocterra really flourish. Snyder is no stranger
to bringing the horror to the forefront of his stories. From reading this initial issue, I feel we can
expect the horror that he brought in American Vampire, Severed and Batman: Black Mirror but melt
it into a weighty and strong story as he has done with Batman: Court of Owls. Snyder’s style of
writing and storytelling will leave you wanting more but it’s Tony S. Daniel’s artwork which will bring
this story it’s home run. The panels are wonderfully crafted and each one of them is not wasted on
just “filler” art. We are treated to a beautiful colour palette, that leaps off the page but knows when
to pull back at the right time. When it comes to horror related comic books, it can go south very
quickly regarding the artwork. Sometimes it can be way too gratuitous for the kind of story it’s trying
to tell, the colour can be all wrong, as well as the fact both story and art can be just seen as empty
calories; fun while you’re reading, but you will forget about it 10 minutes after you put the comic
book down. However have no fear, Nocterra is the opposite of this, while it has only given us a little
taste of what’s to come, it’s very clear it’s gearing up to give the readers something they will not
forget any time soon.
