Nocterra #2
A dark enemy stalks Sundog and her human cargo in Nocterra #2 by writer Scott Snyder, artist Tony S. Daniel, colorist Tomeu Morey, and letterer Andworld Design. Snyder does some of his patented world-building in this issue, adding to what readers know about the dark new world and setting the stakes of things to come.
Val tells the story of the second day after the Big PM, as she scrounges batteries and comforts Emory. In the present, the rig escapes more shades and gets to a port- an area built by other ferrymen for use in their travels. Augustus follows her into the forest where she's scrounging up food and tells her about the machine he and his brother built, which they believe caused all of this, and how he'll be able to fix the whole thing once they get there. In the night, Val notices how bad Emory's transformation has gotten and wants to leave immediately when she gets a call from Bellwether, warning her that someone is after her and her fare. It's too late by that point- Blacktop Bill and company have found them. He offers Val a deal- give up her fare, and he'll save her brother. However, Augustus tells her the truth- there is no way to save the world. She makes her choice then, driving off with Augustus and company.
One of Snyder's biggest strengths as a comic writer is his world-building skills, and that shows in this issue. From the first pages' flashback to Augustus explaining the machine that may have caused everything to the myth of Blacktop Bill, there's a wealth of little narrative hooks in this issue. The world of Nocterra keeps getting bigger and more filled out, which is perfect. There is a whole lot to be explored here and judging from Snyder's work in books like Batman, A.D.: After Death, and more, it's going to be a wonderful ride. In fact, this book and A.D. both have a very similar feel- a post-apocalyptic world where a singular event changed everything and the people left behind in it.
Beyond the world-building, Snyder does a great job of fleshing out Val and Emory in this issue. From the issue's opening flashback on, readers get a glimpse of who both of them are- Val is pessimistic by nature, someone who prepares for the worst because it's what she's used to from the world. When Augustus comes to her with a tale of hope, she dismisses it and him, instead allowing her observations of him and how he reacts to the world to tell her what she needs to know about him. Later, he convinces her not to turn him and granddaughter over to Blacktop Bill by appealing to her pessimism. Emory, on the other hand, is all about hope. From an early age, he always believed things were going to work out. He knows his sister and her attitude, so he tries to be positive enough for the both of them, making the best of every situation, even his worsening infection. They make a perfect pair.
Daniel's art is the icing on the cake of this issue. It's incredibly polished, and his linework is powerful. There are little nods to the new world's alien nature in flora and fauna- the trees have a sinister, spiky look to them, and the shades look better than they did in the last issue. His character acting is top-notch as well- he's able to capture who every person is by the look of them. Special shoutout to Morey's colors, which do a great job hitting home how important light is to this new dark world.
Nocterra #2 is a treat. Snyder continues building this dark new world while also fleshing out the book's main duo. The crux of the whole thing is Augustus's story- which one is true, and how much of Val's opinion of him is true? Was he able to read her and just told her what he thought she wanted to hear? It will be interesting to see how all of this plays out. Daniel's art is doing an amazing job of bringing the whole thing to life. Nocterra is shaping up to be something special, and this issue shows why.
