Nocterra #1 delivers a unique concept and a story with deeply emotional stakes while giving its readers a new reason to be afraid of the dark. The first issue ends with the perfect cliffhanger, and given its creators' zeal for the story-as well as the fact that it was the subject of a highly successful Kickstarter campaign-Image Comics may yet again have another hit series on its hands. Read Full Review

Val Riggs knows what life in darkness is like, and she is one of the few with the nerve to travel among the Shades. Read Full Review

Everyone involved is a true virtuoso, and this is one of the most exciting comics of 2021 thus far. It's this brilliant synthesis of horror, science-fiction, post-apocalypse, and superhero-adjacent elements that make it an enthralling read and should be on the top of your pull lists if it isn't already. Read Full Review

A novel supernatural horror tale about a world suspended in eternal night, Nocterraaccomplishes everything a modern comic book should, and more. Thought-provoking and exciting,Nocterra #1 is a stunning debut that should not be missed. Read Full Review

Nocterra #1 is a solid start. Though it feels like an amalgam of other stories, it's entertaining and packed with stunning visuals. We get an interesting world, solid protagonist, and the focus on details that flesh out its characters and world. It's an amazing start and we're all in for the ride. Read Full Review

Nocterra #1 is a great start. Can't wait to see how the story's first arc continues to take shape next issue. Read Full Review

Tony S Daniel delivers some beautifully detailed art throughout the issue. The characters look great and the action is both thrilling and filled with energy. The immediacy of the story allows for Daniel to incorporate a sense of movement to the panels. Read Full Review

This book surpassed my expectations as Snyder and Daniel bring out their respective big guns to deliver a book that has an intriguing premise with a likeable lead. I am sure that fans of either will love this book. Read Full Review

The series could easily feel like another The Walking Dead, given the nature of a world consumed by murderous creatures, but it plays a little more like what Scooby-Doo Apocalypse might have transformed into after a decade or two. Read Full Review

For someone who was expecting Nocterra to be plain and visceral, this was a huge and most welcome surprise. No doubt the creative team has big plans for this title and I recommend any fan of post-apocalyptic science fiction to pick it up and give it a try. Read Full Review

I said it in a tweet and I will say it again, this is one of the best opening issues of a comic book series I have read in a long time. Its fresh, bold storytelling on a big scale with superb artwork and introduces us to a world of crazy opportunities and possibilities. Read Full Review

BUY THIS BOOK! For those lucky enough to get on the ground floor of anything that Scott Snyder does, he's one of the hottest authors the past few years. I am not sure how his imaginative faucet gets turned on, but I hope he has a run that rivals that of Stephen King! With Tony S. Daniel on art, you can't go wrong. What he did with Batman in Detective Comics is simply art at its finest"gallery worthy stuff! This combination of author and artist is what people in comics thought of when they put Batman and Superman together for the first time".Mind Blown! Read Full Review

Writer Scott Snyder and artist Tony S. Daniel invite us into a world where the sun sets forever and the planet has been plunged into darkness. Read Full Review

Nocterra #1 delivers a summer blockbuster film by way of comics, operating with comforting grandiosity as it lays out an interesting concept with an execution of familiar big thriller action beats. This story about high-speed trucking through mutant darkness is going to be one hell of a ride. Read Full Review

Nocterra #1 (@Ssnyder1835 @TonyDanielx2 @tomeu_morey @andworlddesign @ImageComics) tells a dark tale of a dark world, where the only hope may very well be the headlights of an eighteen-wheeler! Read Full Review

Final ThoughtsScott Snyder and Tony S. Daniel definitely deliver with this introduction to a new comic book world. This comic provides a new world enveloped in darkness but shows the fights not gone from humanity yet. It's a great first step into a new comic book series. Read Full Review

Nocterra #1 presents an interesting world to readers, even if the setup for the journey for it is kind of cliche. Snyder uses narration expertly, as he's wont to do, laying out the rules of this new dark Earth (get it- Nocterra?). Daniels and Morey work well together, even if the creature design leaves a little something to be desired. Nocterra has a great premise, and the characters have a lot of potential, and that's all a new book needs. Read Full Review

I'm going to dispense with any pretense here, 'Nocterra' #1 is a great comic. The world-building, the characters, the action, the art, it's all first-rate and executed to precision. Read Full Review

A thrilling introduction to a dystopian world, that leaves readers desperate to see more. Read Full Review

Nocterra presents a fleshed-out, horrifying world where darkness can literally kill you. While it retreads some themes we've seen before, I'm still eager to see where this story goes next. It's another in an increasingly growing line of action horror titles that have been popping up lately and I'm here for it. Read Full Review

Snyder and Daniel have crafted an excellent start to this new series. Nocterra traverses the darkness and provides light in the form of a fantastic story. Pick this one up; I think Image Comics has another hit series in the making. Read Full Review

America has been plunged into a debilitating and terror-transforming darkness. A darkness that the survivors of this sudden globe spanning disaster have had to adapt. Like Undiscovered Country, Nocterra seems to be another dystopian road trip across America, but in the dark. Only time will tell if it's too close for comfort, but it's still a promising debut issue nonetheless. Read Full Review

This is a superb first issue from a fantastic creative team firing on all cylinders, and for a series I knew nothing about until today, its one that Im sure Ill be shouting the praises of over the coming issues. Read Full Review

Nocterra goes up against a bevy of comics vying to satisfy our dystopian survival story itch. An intriguing Death Stranding-meets-The Mist-plunged-in-darkness premise, aided by empathetic characters on an epic quest, makes this comic a bright spot on the pull list. Read Full Review

Nocterra #1 is a tough one to judge. If you like Scott Snyder's work then his style bleeds through in this series and you will find something to enjoy. I like the horror/sci-fi feel of the book but also mixed with this almost campy type tone of this post-apocalyptic world and its citizens. The art is all-around solid as well. But, I feel like we have seen all this before. Nothing really jumps out in Nocterra #1. From the story to the art, there is nothing that stands out to me, to say you have to pick this series up. Hopefully that changes in the next issue. Read Full Review

Nocterra #1 stutters under its narrative load and a somewhat inconsistent visual experience. Read Full Review

While the Shades are little more than generic monsters, Nocterra #1 works in setting up the world and, most importantly, the character of Val. It also foreshadows more trouble for the ferryman not only from the monsters but another hunter after her cargo. Read Full Review

Wow - this is hands down one of the best issue #1 comics I have picked up in a loooong time. This is going to be explosive. I loved this opening issue so much, and have so much confidence in its future that I've grabbed every #1 variant and ratio cover it has. Sublime!

Great start to the series. The art and story are great so far. Lots of mysteries, I am excited to see how it all unravels.

This is looking to be one of my favorite Sci-Fi settings since Saga. A world gone dark with even more concerning results for the nature of the inhabitants there. It's a sweet mix of horror and sci-fi and the main character is in the perfect role to introduce us to the setting. I can't wait to read more.

Really great story and very creative view of the apocalypse. Love the characters

From the first page Nocterra had my full attention. I already agree with the Notion that it seems primed for future live action on a Netflix or Amazon Prime (My preference). Snyder is a veteran and his sure hand in writing this feels comforting as travel through this new dystopian world. The art is uniformly excellent and already creates a wonderful visual grandeur.

In this time of Covid, dropping into a post apocalyptical world may seem like the last thing we want, but in reality, it is actually what we need when it is done this well. Everything hums along quickly and is set up for you with our new Heroine. But there is also a sense that the danger is real for her, and in like some of the best shows, do not get to used to a favorite character, because they might bite the dust at any moment.

I have a feeling this title might just be a sleeper that more then a few will not see coming with so many titles in competition for attention. Between Reeves new creator owned venture, and other red hot books like Something is Killing the Children, Eniac, Department of Truth, and We Live, amongst others too numerous to mention, The fact that this comic is not a complete sell out tells me so.

I like Val already and am playing out in my head the number of actresses' who might do her justice on the big screen. I cannot wait for second issue!! more

Story: Great
Writing: Good
Pencil/Ink: Good
Layout: Good
Color: Great
Lettering: Good

Excellent beginning. I love the ferryman concept. Add 2 cups boogeyman horror, 1 teaspoon of mystery, a pinch of salt and I'm hooked.

Conceptually, it not too dissimilar from the zombie genre. Snyder's writing tends to flourish in character-centered horror stories like this, but there is also a lot of large scale world-building happening here, which tends to run away with him. I'd say that it's too early to make a call on this series, but the first issue shows tremendous potential.

solid start, high hopes for this series

Nocterra
Issue: 1

Publisher: Image Comics @imagecomics
Writer: Scott Snyder @ssnyder1835
Artist: Tony S. Daniel @tonysdanielx
Colors: Tomeu Morey
Letters: Andworld Design @andworlddesign
Cover: Jock @jock.co.uk

One day the darkness fell and the light was never to return. Prolonged exposure to the darkness has altered every form of biological life into dangerous creatures known as Shades. Val Riggs, known as Sundog, survives as a Ferryman, transporting whatever she can between different outposts. With her brother battling a Shade infection, Val accepts an offer to transport an old man, Augustus, and his granddaughter, Bailey, through treacherous territory. But unbeknownst to Val, Augustus is being hunted by a vicious man, Blacktop Bill, who claims Augustus to be the man responsible for their world of darkness.

I really enjoyed this book and can definitely see it sticking around for a long time. It definitely captures an end of the world all hope is lost vibe. The artwork is extremely well done and the character design is great. Despite what I think is an unfortunate name, Blacktop Bill’s appearance is so simple yet perfect. This is a really good read and totally worth checking out. I look forward to seeing what this frightening dark world has to offer.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
Reviewed by: @meanadam of The Comic Book Club of Instagram
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