Nocterra #6
Val, Em, and Bailey learn the truth about their situation in Nocterra #6, by writer Scott Snyder, artist Tony S. Daniel, colorist Tomeu Morey, and letterer Andworld Design. This last issue of the story arc is pretty good, opening up things for the future, but it’s not the best issue of the opening arc.
Again, the issue starts with a flashback, this time to the days the human shades destroyed the sanctuary that Val and Em were in. From there, Val witnesses the conversation between Bill and Tiberius and grabs a gun, but his goons get the drop on her. That’s the beginning of the drama as Tiberius threatens Val, Em, and Bailey for Augustus’s book, the three of them break free, Bill gets there, and they lay a trap for him. It all ends with a bright hope for the Sundogs and Bill getting what he wanted.
Snyder does a great job of balancing exposition with action in this final issue. Tiberius betrayed his brother for money, the oldest reason in the book. However, he’s not the end-all and be-all of the whole thing, as there are people even above him. It’s an interesting little twist and a way to keep the book going- there’s always a bigger fish. Bill’s sadism is laid bare in the exposition, but it’s also revealed what he’s really after- something that the human shades talk about. Val’s captions go for profundity about the whole thing- how the story isn’t going to be about the Big PM but the things that can’t be seen, both because of the dark and the blinding light. It’s all rather nicely done, but sometimes it feels like it’s a bit much.
There’s kind of a feeling of piling things on in this last issue, and while it’s good to give the audience hooks to keep them coming back, it almost feels like there are too many, especially when Val, who is speaking from some vague point in the future, starts reeling off future events. A lot of indie comics have been doing the voiceover from the future thing, and while it works as a way to hint at future events, it sometimes feels like cheating a little bit. It feels that way here a little. This is a pretty good comic, but there’s something about how hard it feels like Snyder is trying to get people to come back, that’s off-putting. The story has been great so far; throwing out this many hooks just feels weird, especially for a book this good.
Daniel’s art isn’t as good as previous issues. It’s not bad at all; this is Tony Daniel, and he’s excellent. The opening scene with the human shades ripping through everyone is excellent, and the action scenes look good, but there are times when the linework isn’t as great as it’s been in other issues. The character acting is still pretty good, and there are many incredible scenes, with the art as good as usual.
Nocterra #6 ends the first arc pretty well. Overall, this is a fascinating book, and while Snyder nailed the finish, it feels like he got a little fancy in a few places. The ending still works; it’s just a tad overwrought. Daniel’s art works pretty well throughout, but it’s also not as good as previous issues. There’s nothing wrong with the comic- it’s still terrific, and as an ending, it works. It’ll be interesting to see where Snyder and Daniel go with this book, but it’s a ride everyone should take.