Writer: Dan Whitehead Art: PJ Holden Publisher: UK Comics Creative
This review only covers the a single issue, which sets up the story for the rest of the series. Because of this, we don't have insight into a full story arc, so this review might look a little different than my other reviews of entire volumes of comics.
WHAT IS IT?
An action-packed adventure comic based on the world of the Atari/PC/Commodore Amiga game of the same title (video footage from the game at the bottom of this review). It's actually an official prequel to the game!
The setting is snowy and post-apocalyptic. Even though this comic has no zombies, it feels a lot like the comic reads like the snowy winter part of the video game, The Last of Us, mixed with the interpersonal conflicts from The Walking Dead and little world-building from The Hunger Games. It also reminds me a lot of the movie, Hanna.
WHAT'S IT ABOUT?
(Minor Spoilers)
It's 2099 and the world is frozen. A young woman lives out in the wilderness with her father. They live near other survivors in a small, snowy town.
We get the sense that this woman and her father have some history that they're still trying to work through. Unfortunately, as their personal tension comes to a head, their argument is interrupted by armed soldiers.
Who are they? Why are they here? Do they plan on hurting our heroes, or worse? And who is this "General" they keep hearing the soldiers talk about?
WHAT WORKS?
Whitehead does an incredible job of giving us a load of information to set up the story while keeping the pace up and not losing us along the way
So much happens in such a short issue, it's over before you even realize you've read the whole thing
Holden's art is brilliant, using the medium expertly to convey timing, scope and weight of the moment (see an example of this below)
This has to feel so great for fans of the Midwinter game, seeing an official prequel with a new story and updated art
WHAT DOESN'T WORK?
There's no color in the comic, though Holden's art and shading are so good, you don't really miss it
As I mentioned earlier, because this only covers a single issue and there's a lot of set-up that happens, it's hard to get a feel for the entire story arc
It does feel derivative of a lot of action flicks or other stories we've seen in the past, but it's also only the first issue and it's really well done, so I'm prepared to give it the benefit of the doubt and read the next installments
WHY SHOULD I READ IT?
I've never played Midwinter, and this book had me hooked, anyway. It reads like a classic action film, so if you're looking for a little post-apocalyptic adventure in your life, this is the comic for you.
WHAT DO I READ NEXT?
If you like the writing:
Hex Loader, #1 by Dan Whitehead & Conor Boyle
We Stand On Guard by Brian K. Vaughan & Steve Skroce
The Resurrected by Christian Carnouche & Crizam Zamora
If you like the art:
World of Tanks by Garth Ennis, PJ Holden, Mike Atiyeh & Isaac Hannaford
Whiteout by Greg Rucka & Steve Lieber
The Fuse, Vol. 1 by Antony Johnston & Justin Greenwood
ABOUT THE CREATORS
Dan Whitehead – Writer
Often writes about, and is inspired by, video games
His background is also in writing about games and writing scripts for them
Has also written 2 official Star Wars books
PJ Holden – Artist
Multitalented: Also enjoys acting
Has a pop-culture podcast called The Sunnyside Podcast Show
Jim Campbell – Letterer
Outlander: Hails from the United Kingdom
Multitalented: Also enjoys the art side of the creative world
HOW DO I BUY IT?
Click one of these:
HERE'S A VIDEO OF THE VIDEO GAME THIS COMIC WAS BASED ON
The image(s) used in this article are from a comic strip, webcomic or the cover or interior of a comic book. The copyright for this image(s) is likely owned by either the publisher of the comic, the writer(s) and/or artist(s) who produced the comic. It is believed that the use of this image(s) qualifies as fair use under the United States copyright law. The image is used in a limited fashion in an educational manner in order to illustrate the points of the author and not for the purpose of entertainment or substituting the original work. It is believed the use of this image has had no impact on the market value of the original work.
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