TITLE: Snowfall #1
AUTHOR: Joe Harris
PENCILLER: Martin Morazzo
PUBLISHER: Image Comics
PRICE: $3.99
RELEASED: February 17, 2016

By Rob Siebert
Editor, Fanboy Wonder

So Joe Harris and Martin Morazzo, the guys behind Great Pacific over at Image, have written a comic book about a world where it never snows. I’m not sure where these guys are from, but as a guy from Chicago, I think somebody needs to tell them a world without midwestern blizzards might not be all bad.

In the year 2045, the Earth has been forever altered by climate change. Due to atmospheric changes the Earth’s atmosphere has grown drier, and man has had to adapt to a lack of water resources. But when snow falls on upstate New York, it appears a weather-changing vigilante called the White Wizard has resurfaced…or has he?

Like Great Pacific, Snowfall is somewhat politically charged. For the sake of neutrality, I’m simply looking at it as a quasi-post-apocalyptic comic. And as far as quasi-post-apocalyptic comics go, it’s pretty good. Harris makes the White Wizard a sort of fairy tale legend, giving him an added mystique within the story. The teenaged Anthony Farrow, more than familiar with the White Wizard’s exploits, seeks him out after many years in retirement. So we’ve got that returning hero vibe, which Harris and Marozzo put a nice twist on at the end. Early on we see the Cooperative States of America, i.e. the corporation-backed American government, have stormtroopers that can measure precipitation in the air. That adds nicely to the whole post-apocalyptic vibe.

Martin Morazzo gives us characters that are very expressive, if not realistic-looking. They convey emotion very well, particularly toward the end when the intensity cranks up. I would argue it’s not the prettiest stuff to look at, but it’s undeniably effective. We’ve got a great visual with the White Wizard, with the bright circular eyes looking out from the blackness under that hood. Morazzo also draws his snowflakes very large and detailed, as if they’re all those paper cut-outs kids make in school. It’s a little hokey, but it works with his style.

At this point, I’m not sold on the long-term potential of Snowfall. But I’m intrigued enough to come back for seconds. Harris and Morazzo have also proven themselves as a team with Great Pacific. The weather angle, whether we like it or not, is timely and current. If that’s what you enjoy, then Snowfall is worth a look.

Image from comicbookresources.com. 

Follow Primary Ignition on Twitter @PrimaryIgnition, or at Facebook.com/PrimaryIgnition/