Winter City #1 – Review

Winter City

Patrick Purcell: Producer, Letterer, Co-Writer
Carl Purcell: Co-Writer
Pablo Verdugo Munoz: Pencils & Inks, Covers
David Aravena Riquelme: Colourist Rating: 8/10


Written by Patrick and Carl Purcell, Winter City is an addictive read. The story starts off on a dark (non stormy) night. We’re treated to the obligatory news report which sets the tone of the story, and tells us that this place isn't a good one to live in. After being treated to the sight of the titular fat man, and his barking dog, the action comes quickly in the form of a hooded badass with glowing green eyes and one hell of a blade popping out from his sleeve.

Where does he get all these cool toys?

As the story unfolds we’re introduced to a few more characters; there’s the pair of detectives, Daniels and Harvey. Daniels is older than Harvey, a middle aged man , while Harvey is a younger (and presumably feistier woman, and they both work together amicably. While this sounds like a familiar trope, this isn't a buddy-cop story; if anything, Winter City seems to be a mix of a police procedural with more than a dash of urban fantasy and a hint of noire and it all works well. I also like how the story flashes back to another character, Sam Winters, at the age of seven.


What’s really interesting about this is how Sam hasn't yet been featured at present day interacting with any of the other characters, but a quick look at the cover art (or the Winter City website) spoils the great reveal. If I have to fault the story, it would be that the flashbacks (good as they are) might have been better introduced in a later issue, for both pacing reasons, and mood; ie, it was a large dramatic shift from the detective’s narrative, to that of Sam, who, despite his identity as the killer, didn't need to be shown just yet.


Finally, the art. The art of this comic immediately made me think of Todd McFarlane and Daniel Cabuco’s works. The killer himself particularly reminded me of Raziel, from the Soul Reaver series of games, as they both have glowing eyes, flowing elements to their design, skeletal faces, and hands that seem to end in talons. The Killer (or Death, as it appears to style itself) is easily the coolest looking thing in this comic and it’s a shame we don’t see more of him.


As good as the art is, there was one thing I felt it was lacking in was facial detail, which I only noticed because of how detailed everything else is. This isn't much of a complaint though, more of an observation really.


Originally written for and posted on Comikkazee.
Posted on the 5th of June, 2012