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
