The final issue of the first story arc occurs with Nocterra #6, from Image.
Ten years ago, the world fell into total darkness. Nighttime all day and all of the night. The only way to survive attacks from the mutated beings is to stay close to artificial light sources. Val Riggs is a truck driver, who transports people and goods from one place to another. Until she picks up a suspicious passenger and plunges into even more danger.
Without revealing any twists or turns in this darkly disturbing winding road, let’s say that things progress in a timely way. Writer Scott Snyder keeps us up close and personal with the characters, and composes scene after scene of tension and suspense. It’s tightly wound terror and action.
Artist Tony S. Daniel (with Tomeu Morey on colour) shows us the power and fury of the Human Shades, those headless bat-like killers. His faces and expressions are exquisite, so realistically rendered. The art is glorious. The panels are big, the full-page splashes are effective. It’s all about demonstrating the bright lights of safety versus the dark and disturbing energy of the creatures. Lettering is by AndWorld Design.
It’s a gripping final issue for the first arc. Soon to be followed by the release of the collected trade. And that’s a good thing; as well planned and executed as Nocterra is, it is difficult to jump into single issues of the title without having a running synopsis.
Image, Nocterra #6, $3.99 for 29 pages of content. Mature readers, extreme violence
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