There are several descriptions of this book, but the one I like best is this: “In the year 2045, weather is a weapon, climate is catastrophe and terror falls like snow.”
I was a huge fan of Great Pacific from this same creative team, so I was thrilled to discover they were bringing a new sci-fi story to the comics stands.
SNOWFALL #1
Writer: Joe Harris
Artist: Martín Morazzo
Colorist: Kelly Fitspatrick
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
Previously in SNOWFALL: Writer JOE HARRIS (The X-Files) and artist MARTÍN MORAZZO (Vertigo Quarterly), creators of GREAT PACIFIC, reunite for a brand new ongoing science-fiction series and an OVERSIZED DEBUT ISSUE featuring 32 pages of story! In the year 2045 it no longer snows following a crash that left the climate ravaged, society splintered and the newly-christened “Cooperative States of America” propped up and administered by the powerful Hazeltyne Corporation. Only one man wages an all-out weather war against the system, wielding the forces of nature themselves as weapons. He’s the White Wizard. The ghost in the night. Genius. Terrorist. Outlaw. Hero?
THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM
I know a LOT of people who would be happy if it never snowed again! I got a kick out of reading the author’s column, particularly the fact that he was working on this title during the “Great East Coast Blizzard of 2106 (Codename: Jonas).”
Still, the weather is something people always want something done about, but nobody knows how to do that. In this comic, someone really TRIED to do something about the weather, but it became quite the disaster.
I’m always intrigued that post-apocalyptic stories have corporate entities in charge. Granted, we have the government in charge now, and I’m anxious to see what Mr. Harris has in store for us regarding the Hazeltyne Corporation. I always appreciate his ability to make things shades of gray instead of blacks and whites. In my opinion, there are good’s and bad’s in both organizations, so I’ll be curious to see what’s coming!
But what I always enjoy most is Joe’s characterizations. He makes the people pop off the pages to me, and this debut issue is no different. Teenagers are teenagers, kids are kids, and others have quite a nice variety of personalities. I liked the teacher who delivers the explanation of how things got the way they are, but I particularly liked Anthony Farrow, the young man who seeks out the man who is The White Wizard. He’s idealistic, he fears nothing, and he so believes what he’s doing is right that he doesn’t think showing up at this person’s door could be dangerous.
The White Wizard himself is intriguing. He has the perfect profession for his abilities, and that seems to give him appropriate cover. What’s really fascinating is when he discovers the actions he’s recently taken can be interpreted against him, his reaction is priceless! This issue is truly “the calm before the storm.”
The robots who act as soldiers (at least, that’s what appears to be going on) are themselves very cold in how they analyze what’s going on when they speak to each other. Chilling!
Harris also re-tells a classic fairy tale on several of the pages, and it sets the stage for the art, especially the snowfall.
The extra-large issue was great, giving us the chance to learn as much as we can about the people and the environment they live in. I want more!
STRONG ART
Morazzo’s art used to always sparkle in Great Pacific. I loved his ability to handle expressions and drama, not to mention action.
His work on this title is just as great, if not better! I found the way he portrayed the snow particularly interesting because it was beautiful and odd at the same time, given the circumstances. Nicely done!
I liked the cover as well, with its use of blue and white. Very interesting use of logo design and placement on the page, with the snow flying directly at us, the readers!
THE BOTTOM LINE: Character-Driven Sci-Fi
Science fiction is always at its best when it asks, “What if?”
This comic explores what would human society become if the weather was fractured and certain elements of our society took control. Where this will go, I have no clue. But I’ve jumped on board and can’t wait for issue two!
[taq_review]
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