Joe Harris and Martin Morazzo once again team up to create a new comic, Snowfall, which can be purchased here. The comic focuses on how a major climate disaster has changed the world. In particular how the corporation, Hazeltyne, reacted and rebuilds the United States and has a controlling interest in the new country. The comic has 2 main characters Anthony Farrow; and Dr. August Reasons who are questioning their government and themselves, as they experience discontent in their lives. The first issue brings forth a new interpretation of what a dystopia can be and how people react to it.
The Good:
The comic does an excellent job of establishing whom the group Hazeltyne is. This is done through a variety of ways. One of the ways is a short paragraph that describes how the earth’s climate collapsed ten years prior to the events in the comic and as a result Hazeltyne rose up. As a corporation Hazeltyne utilized it’s vast resources to stop wars and relocate and provide people with resources and safety. Effectively gaining their trust as they started to rebuild the government with the goal in mind of creating a stronger and safer America. In doing so they have provided safety, education, resources protection from both man-made and weather threats. Thus Hazeltyne does control the citizens of the United States in many aspects of their lives, it provides services that improves their lives just the same. The comic also captures a challenging view towards Hazeltyne’s approach through the student Anthony Farrow. Anthony is enrolled in a program to become a climate enforcement soldier, and is being taught how Hazeltyne had given humans more freedom. Naturally he disagrees with that and questions if they have more or less freedom, coming to the conclusion they have less. This results in him leaving the class early to attempt to find a fugitive named Dr. Reasons. In finding him Anthony discovers that they share similar views on some levels, yet have different approaches on how to oppose the Hazeltyne government. This shows that three different view points can all have merit and bring a different point to how a country should be ruled.
The Bad:
The comic is awkward as the Anthony Farrow and Dr. Reason elements seem out of place. The start of the comic introduces Dr. Reason/White Wizard who has the ability to control snow, yet it does not explain why he has this power or his motive. This is followed up by Anthony Farrow, on suspicion is questioning his government without much evidence. As a result of this he leaves his class to go track down a fugitive who is presumably dead, Dr. Reason, as he knows where to find him and about his secret of being the White Wizard. This seems improbable and unrealistic as how would a college student have the ability to track down a fugitive who has hidden himself for ten years be found so easily. Furthermore, the interaction between the two of them is very dry and comes off as hit or miss. This makes it very difficult to read and interrupt both of their motives.
The Verdict:
The concept is brilliant as it combines climate change with dystopia, which makes this comic unique. The comic provides a solid backstory that sets the stage of how the climate change to the earth has caused the dystopia and the role that the government has played in it. The comic has it’s flaws as the two main characters Anthony Farrow and Dr. Reasons are unrealistic in their actions and demeanor towards one another. Snowfall issue 1 is a coin toss as the concept and the backstory is phenomenal writing, yet the 2 main characters fail to connect resulting in a mixed reaction by the reader.
