Welcome back to the comic book corner. This week I’ll be continuing my foray into Scott Snyder’s independent comic series Nocterra. Be sure to check out my Volume one review if you haven’t already, as I’ll be spoiling some plot points for the first six issues here. Volume two collects issues 7-11, as well as the Blacktop Bill special issue, and is again published by Image comics.

This volume begins by explaining the origin story of the major villain, Blacktop Bill. The writing in this issue is especially good, though I wish the backstory gave us a little bit more of Bill’s early life. From here, the perspective then switches back to our major characters Val, Emory, and Bailey. After narrowly escaping the sanctuary run by the traitorous Tiberius McCray and curing Emory of his shade infection, our heroes are now on the hunt for the hidden city of Eos.

The major point-of-view frequently switches to Bailey for these five issues. As the granddaughter of Augustus McCray (the scientist who unwittingly caused the Big PM), she has been entrusted with an equation that can potentially restore light to the world. I enjoyed seeing how her character has evolved from the scared little girl in the first section of the story. Bailey is now much more capable and has become hardened by the harshness of the world around her. It’s both a believable and satisfying evolution.

Another positive for me in this volume was the additional side characters, consisting of Val’s ferryman friends. They have some charming back-and-forth dialogue and work well as a contrast to Val’s stoicism.

The worldbuilding in volume two is again another highlight. Snyder knows how to raise stakes while also expanding on his world in a progressive way. Volume two provides more information surrounding the shades and their mysterious motives. Furthermore, the scale of each shade threat is increased significantly here which keeps the action fresh.

Additionally, the action set pieces in these issues are always filled with dynamic character moments, tension, and power shifts. You’ll certainly never be bored reading this story either, as it moves along at a rapid pace. Nevertheless, there were a few times when I could have used a little breathing room to get a better sense of everything that happens.

Though I’ve criticized the artwork in the past for lacking a distinctive style, I was  quite impressed with it here. The panels are filled with expansive scenery and I find it incredible how color is used throughout the series. Bill and his compatriots, the Nocturnes, are nothing more than silhouettes. Yet you can always tell how they are feeling based on their expressive smiles and character designs. When color is introduced to their silhouettes it reflects off the outlines and serves to further emphasize emotions of pain or rage.

My biggest issue here comes in the form of one of my least favorite storytelling tropes. There is a fake-out death scene at the end of the arc that feels somewhat lazy and forced. Although it does provide for an interesting setup in the future I think the execution could have been cleaner. Overall, this is a solid second arc for Nocterra. I’m looking forward to seeing how the story evolves in the next volume, which should be out sometime next year.

Phenixx Gaming is everywhere you are. Follow us on Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.

Also, if you’d like to join the Phenixx Gaming team, check out our recruitment article for details on working with us.

Phenixx Gaming is proud to be a Humble Partner! Purchases made through our affiliate links support our writers and charity!

Nocterra Vol. 2

$16.99

7.5

Score

7.5/10

Pros

• Great villains
• Intriguing world
• Fun action

Cons

• Pacing can be too fast at times
• Fake out deaths are needless