Long Cold Winter
(W) Francesca Perillo (A) Stefano Cardoselli (C) Lorenzo Scaramella (L) Buddy Beaudoin
Peace Dog, a desperate ex-soldier, who has been willing to do anything to obtain breathable air is haunted by his past and hunted by bounty hunters, though, he may have found a way out of his current predicament by helping a mysterious robot child escape the dangerous and congested city. But, someone from his past has no intention of letting him leave…alive.
Long Cold Winter, the fan-favorite dystopian odyssey published by Mad Cave Studios, is being collected in its entirety this May!
Created by Italy-based duo Francesca Perillo and Stefano Cardoselli, featuring colors by Lorenzo Scaramella, lettering by Buddy Beaudoin, this genre-defying sci-fi captures a world where air is currency, the past is a prison, and survival is the only law.
In the not-too-distant future, the air on Earth has become unbreathable. However, a multinational company called Air Co. has constructed generators that provide oxygen for those who can afford it. Peace Dog, a desperate ex-soldier, who has been willing to do anything to obtain breathable air is haunted by his past and hunted by bounty hunters, though, he may have found a way out of his current predicament by helping a mysterious robot child escape the dangerous and congested city. But, someone from his past has no intention of letting him leave…alive.
This collected edition brings new weight and resonance to one of Mad Cave’s most emotionally charged series. The collection drops in shops May 28, 2025.
Long Cold Winter #4
(W) Francesca Perillo (A) Stefano Cardoselli (C) Lorenzo Scaramella (L) Buddy Beaudoin
Will Peace Dog finally find the safety that The Kid has promised will be at the end of their journey together, or will Death cash in on the agreement that Peace Dog has broken?! Find out in this final issue of Long Cold Winter!
Long Cold Winter #3
(W) Francesca Perillo (A) Stefano Cardoselli (C) Lorenzo Scaramella (L) Buddy Beaudoin
The Kid may have been able to find the help he needs to save Peace Dog’s life from a brutal attack by a bounty hunter. However, the help he has found, Doctor Sisemore, might not be the savior that Peace Dog needs…will the doctor turn Peace Dog and The Kid over to more hunters so he can collect on the bounty, or will The Kid be able to convince him to let them go?
Long Cold Winter #2
(W) Francesca Perillo (A/CA) Stefano Cardoselli (C) Lorenzo Scaramella (L) Buddy Beaudoin
Peace Dog was able to survive a war by making a deal with Death itself. Part of that deal would be that he would live a life of solitude…his payment for committing atrocities during the war. However, Peace Dog has broken this pact by helping a robot, named the Kid, across a dangerous and barren wasteland to a place where the Kid believes they can find some semblance of hope. However, Peace Dog is not only on the run from Death but also a bounty hunter who will stop at nothing to take him down!
In the not-too-distant future, the air on Earth has become unbreathable. However, a multinational company called Air Co. has constructed generators that provide oxygen for those who can afford it. Peace Dog, a desperate ex-soldier, who has been willing to do anything to obtain breathable air is haunted by his past and hunted by bounty hunters, though, he may have found a way out of his current predicament by helping a mysterious robot child escape the dangerous and congested city. But, someone from his past has no intention of letting him leave…alive. Long Cold Winter #1 features art that pops but overall is a rather dull start.
Written by Francesca Perillo, at its heart, Long Cold Winter #1 is a story about a soldier who did horrible things in the past, is haunted by them, and now must deal with it. Known as Peace Dog, the main character is approached by a robot child who wants to escape the city and go to a peaceful community. Peace Dog is promised peace as well, an offer that’s tempting because there’s a bounty on the character. The decision to accept the offer is quick and the duo begin their journey. It’s a concept we’ve seen before, hell, it’s the plot of Logan in some ways.
The issue with Long Cold Winter #1 is that there’s no initial reason to really care about the characters or their journey. There’s a bounty, we’re told of calm, but Peace Dog has little personality beyond being a loner and the mysterious child just comes out of nowhere. The lead up is scant, the information we’re given is little, so we’re left with not much to connect to.
Where the comic shines is Stefano Cardoselli‘s art. With color by Lorenzo Scaramella and lettering by Buddy Beaudoin, Long Cold Winter #1 visually looks interesting. I’m a fan of Cardoselli’s work which reminds me of Simon Bisley’s Lobo work in the 90s or some of the comics out of Heavy Metal. It’s a style that works well for this sort of story and deserves a bigger stage and appreciation. Lots of detail, great design, a kinetic vibe about it, Cardoselli’s art is the highlight of the comic.
Long Cold Winter #1 isn’t a bad start, it’s just a very generic story. The characters don’t have much personality and the plot isn’t anything new. It doesn’t stand out from what’s come before and so many other choices out there.
Story: Francesca Perillo Art: Stefano Cardoselli
Color: Lorenzo Scaramella Letterer: Buddy Beaudoin
Story: 7.0 Art: 8.4 Overall: 7.0 Recommendation: Read
Mad Cave Studios provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Purchase: TFAW – Zeus Comics – Kindle
Long Cold Winter #1
(W) Francesca Perillo (A/CA) Stefano Cardoselli (C) Lorenzo Scaramella (L) Buddy Beaudoin (CB) Marc Aspinall
In the not-too-distant future, the air on Earth has become unbreathable. However, a multinational company called Air Co. has constructed generators that provide oxygen for those who can afford it. Peace Dog, a desperate ex-soldier, who has been willing to do anything to obtain breathable air is haunted by his past and hunted by bounty hunters, though, he may have found a way out of his current predicament by helping a mysterious robot child escape the dangerous and congested city. But, someone from his past has no intention of letting him leave…alive.
From Mad Cave Studios, writer Francesca Perillo, and artist Stefano Cardoselli, comes their newest sci-fi dystopian confection, Long Cold Winter.
In the not-too-distant future, the air on Earth has become unbreathable. However, a multinational company called Air Co. has constructed generators that provide oxygen for those who can afford it. Peace Dog, a desperate ex-soldier, who has been willing to do anything to obtain breathable air is haunted by his past and hunted by bounty hunters, though, he may have found a way out of his current predicament by helping a mysterious robot child escape the dangerous and congested city. But, someone from his past has no intention of letting him leave…alive.
Long Cold Winter features colors by Lorenzo Scaramella, lettered by Buddy Beaudoin; featuring Cover B by Marc Aspinall. Perfect for fans of Blade Runner and Fall Out, issue #1 (of 4) drops December 4th.
