Long after Earth has entered its second ice age, humanity has learned to cope with the frozen elements. In this cold and bleak future, heat is power, and brutal gangs roam the icy wasteland looking for it. If that wasn’t enough, a terrible disease nicknamed “frostbite” is literally freezing people from the inside out. Once you catch it, the effect is instantaneous. There is no immunity, there is no cure.

Until now. Doctor Henry Bonham and his daughter Victoria have found the key to ending frostbite. If they can get from Mexico City to a secret government outpost in Alcatraz, they could stabilize life across the globe. But to do that they’ll need to stay alive. That’s where Keaton comes in. She and her crew have faced worse journeys before, but never with the potential consequences this one poses if they fail.

Frostbite #1 is a fantastic start to this new series that feels familiar but is presented in such a way I want to really find out what comes next (and also can imagine this on the big screen). Writer Joshua Williamson really sets the tone and the world in this issue. He does it so well I felt myself getting cold at times as we look at the world to come. What’s also interesting is the introduction of a disease which drives the narrative, but will be really interesting to see how it’s used as it’s an element that sets itself apart from a story such as Winterworld or Snowpiercer.

The characters are interesting. We get enough about each to figure out their personality type and what we might expect. Each has their “thing,” but what’s clear is everyone is a survivor and has been impacted by this new world and the disease. That’s something that’s really interesting, especially considering the actions towards the end of the comic. What happens, I’m not going to ruin it, will clearly be something that will have a major impact to come, but it also sets a certain tone.

The art by Jason Shawn Alexander is fantastic. The world feels very lived in and real. It’s not just some white washed out thing, it’s a worn city that’s been plunged into coldness and winter. There’s some amazing detail here like the clothes people are wearing or the technology that’s used. Every small detail feels like it’s been thought out and debated on.

Williamson and Alexander have presented us with a world I want to learn more about. The characters have personalities and based on their actions, they’re willing to take action that feels natural and justified. There’s real emotion here which is something I’d expect in a world worn down. Frostbite feels like a series I want to spend the upcoming winter months (and beyond) with.

Story: Joshua Williamson Art: Jason Shawn Alexander
Story: 9 Art: 9 Overall: 9 Recommendation: Buy

DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review