Nocterra #13
Blacktop Bill has an offer for the Sundogs in Nocterra #13, by writer Scott Snyder, artist Tony S. Daniel, colorist Marcelo Maiolo, and letters by AndWorld Design. This is another fast-paced story, but it also has a good emotional heart and some smart lore dumps.
Bill confronts the Sundogs, trying to entice them with his offer. He tells them that Nox rebuilt him and that he wants them to help Nox get into Eos. They refuse, but he’s not scared as he has control of Bellweather’s truck, which he thinks has the only heavy gun. However, Cali put one on during his last stop, and they blast him. As they drive off, a smiling Bill, much of his face missing, gets ready for the next phase. The convoy speeds to Eos’s coordinates, but finds it under siege by Shades. After an argument, Val goes down there to find the entrance, her nanosheath keeping the Shades from seeing her until she cuts herself. She tells the Sundogs not to help her, and they don’t listen, coming to rescue her, but they’re dropped into Eos by a trap door and meet the inhabitants. Juxtaposed with all of this are flashbacks to Em going to find his real parents, which ends with him pistol-whipped.
One of the great things about Nocterra is how Snyder paces each issue. In a comic that’s built around big rigs, the pacing is usually pretty fast. In some comics, that can be a downfall, but Snyder understands how to use pacing to draw the reader in. Moving things quickly along in this book gives readers the sense that they are there with the Sundogs as they frantically search for Eos and fight their way through obstacles.
Of course, Snyder knows that there are times when the pace needs to slow a bit. In this issue, that’s the beginning. Bill describing meeting Nox is a nice lore dump. Bill was too good of a villain to lose, so bringing back an upgraded version is a fantastic decision. Snyder also gives readers a window into Nox when Bill says that they can actually see eye to eye when it comes to their worldview. It’s a chilling way to show the complete and utter nihilism and misanthropy which drives Nox. Em’s flashbacks are the emotional core of the book and help break things up nicely.
Daniel is on fire in this issue. Seeing Nox, a massive tentacled monster, is great, and Daniel’s design for it gives it a Lovecraftian vibe, which is perfect for it. His character acting is on point, and he still imbues Bill with emotion and menace without him having any of the features that other artists would use to get that across. Finally, the inhabitants of Eos are kind of breathtaking, making readers look forward to when Snyder explains how they became what they are.
Nocterra #13 moves quickly, but there’s a lot of substance to it. Snyder, Daniel, and Maiolo are an excellent team. It’ll be interesting to see where they take things as the book goes on.
