Stay frosty.
The ice age cometh, again, in Vertigo’s latest series, its chilling calamity brought forth by creators Joshua Williamson and Jason Shawn Alexander. Frostbite #1 is a familiar tale that makes good use of well-worn tropes. Its clear narrative and well-constructed characters make for a strong initial debut.
Williamson, somehow avoiding the bevy of ice-related puns at his disposal, does an excellent job of crafting a gripping narrative at the start. His opener is fast and moody, working in strong contrast to the frigid setting it’s framed in. That building sense of momentum carries on to the introduction of the book’s leads, Williamson using solid dialogue and situational circumstance as a way of establishing his lived in world. This proves especially important, as once the story gets going and the presumed focus is introduced, the world and its terrors begins to feel rather familiar. Such is the risk one takes with a genre tale, and to his credit Williamson appears well aware of the expected tropes, putting his own spin on many. It’s easy to tick off the book’s imaginary checkboxes – a dying planet, a mysterious cure, an unlikely hero in position to save humanity – but even for all its familiarity, there’s still enough to this first issue that stands apart.
It’s Williamson’s characters that prove to be the difference at the start, particularly his presumed lead, Keaton. It’s through her interactions that we really get a sense of the world and how it works, something Williamson uses to particular effect with his hinted histories. While Keaton possesses many archetypal qualities, Williamson gives her a compelling edge that allows her to circumvent many expectations. She’s the hero of story, but she’s harder than one likely would expect, her every choice a lesson in survival. The rest of the cast doesn’t make the same impact at the onset, but they nonetheless feel like people hardened to a particular life. It’s up to Williamson to prove that their struggle ultimately matters, but at least in this first issue their plight rings as engaging.
Ultimately though, this first issue goes to artist Jason Shawn Alexander and colorist Luis NCT. Post-apocalyptian imagery can also verge on the familiar, but Alexander really takes to the frosty tundra and makes it his own. There’s a lived-in grit to his work, all hard lines and cold spaces, and he makes great use of setting as a character. His detail also extends to the book’s human leads, their battered and anguished faces selling hardship better than words ever could. Luis NCT’s steely hues work in great concert with Alexander’s lines, his bleak palette and hazy backdrops making for a believable Hell on Earth. For a book trying to stamp its own print in the snow, this art team sure helps at the start.
Time will tell if the book’s strong character work and great art will translate to a great series, but the early looks are promising. Williamson and Alexander are using familiar beats, but done well and in unique ways. Reader expectation is a tough block to thaw, but for those prepared to brave the cold, it’s a solid start.
The Verdict
Frostbite #1 is a familiar tale, but it’s not a bad one, and ultimately it’s the quality of work that will keep readers coming back. Joshua Williamson has a clear handle on his characters and his world, his many twists offsetting the equally numerous tropes. Jason Shawn Alexander and Luis NCT combine for a one-two punch of atmosphere and mood, their bleak setting and strong character work immediately engrossing. It’s not a runaway hit, but it’s a pretty cool read.
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