Nocterra #3
Val and company take on Blacktop Bill in Nocterra #3, by writer Scott Snyder, artist Tony S. Daniel, colorist Tomeu Morey, and letterer Andworld Design. This issue is a fast and furious chase that ends in an extraordinarily depressing yet tantalizing manner.
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
This issue is pretty much like every other- it starts with a flashback to the early days of the BIg PM, as Val and Em's Shade-infected parents trick them into letting them out of the basement. From there, it jumps right into the action as Val tries to escape Blacktop Bill and his forces. The chase is full of ups and downs, but in the end, they're able to escape but not before Augustus seemingly sacrifices himself so they can get away. From there, they hide in caves outside of Tipton, Utah, where Val and Bailey bicker, and readers are treated to a frightening discovery.
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
So far, Snyder has written a flashback in every issue, but it's pretty effective. The flashback at the beginning of each chapter informs what happens later, and this issue's flashback plays into the end of the installment reveal and is also pretty informative in general. It takes about what happens to Shade-infected humans, how it changes them, and Val shares that the human Shades speak but not to the uninfected, to something else. What is it that they are speaking to? This issue doesn't tell, but it's a tantalizing reveal. It begs a question, of course- is Val being hyperbolic? Is there anything in the dark that the Shades are speaking with? That remains to be seen, but it's a great little tidbit that Snyder can play with later.
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
On top of that, he reveals a bit more about Blacktop Bill- he's existed since before the Big PM, and Augustus had something to do with his creation. This is yet another intriguing little plot point that Snyder expertly uses to get readers more interested in the villain. The best moment of the issue, though, is the last panel reveal. The whole chapter was building up to it- every installment of the book has been, actually- but it's still quite effective, one of those moments that the panel nature of the comic page makes all the more satisfying. How it will play into the future is anyone's guess, but it's a great way to end the issue.
Daniel's art remains pretty great. He really captures the tension of the chase scene, and most importantly, it feels like a chase scene. These types of scenes can be tough to pull off in comics, but Daniel does a fantastic job with it in this issue. Moreu deserves a special shout-out for this issue as well, as his colors look amazing, especially in the cave, which is filled with glow-in-the-dark handprints. The whole scene looks terrific.
Nocterra #3 pulls off a tension-filled chase scene in a comic, which is a testament to both Snyder's skill as a writer and Daniel's as a penciler. From there, Snyder throws in a little more world-building, just enough to make this world even more intriguing than it already is. Moreu's colors deserve special attention in this issue, as they make the whole thing pop. Nocterra #3 is a wonderful little comic.
