Speaking of post-Apocalyptic, and yes, I just was in another of this week’s reviews, Nocterra, #5, brings us a bit of illumination.

The lights are on, and someone’s safe and home. Or so it seems. In this second to last issue of the miniseries (so soon?),

Writer Scott Snyder have us with Valentina and Emory Riggs. Emory seems to be recovering his health, due to a special light healing process. Val needs to decide whether to stay confined to the safe area with its limitations or to travel in search of truth and experience more danger. Blacktop Bill and the Shades are waiting, waiting…

It’s well illustrated by Tony S. Daniel (colours by Tomeu Morey, letters by AndWorld Design), with the environments clearly established, the lights and darks visibly defined, the textures and expressions expertly rendered. The graphics have a ‘clean’ line and colouring, that is, no dust, scratches, or blemishes. Plenty of sunlit and blue lighting, with everything in its place.

We’ve seen a lot of this concept represented in comics lately. A Nice House By The Lake with its confinement to stay safe. Geiger with the radioactive desert dwellers. And Nocterra with its trucking of survivors from oasis to oasis, and the constant question whether it’s best to submit to authority and remain safe rather than take risks, stay independent but be subject to horror and danger.

Image, Nocterra #5, $3.99 for 24 pages of content. Teen +

By Alan Spinney

After a career of graphic design, art direction and copywriting, I still have a passion for words and pictures. I love it when a comic book comes together; the story is tight, and the drawings lead me forward. Art with words... the toughest storytelling technique to get right. Was this comic book worth your money? Let's see!!