Comic Book Review: Frostbite #2

By: Jerry Montgomery
October 30, 2016

Frostbite #2
“Part 2”

Written by: Joshua Williamson
Art by: Jason Shaun Alexander

Imagine the planet Earth well into the throes of the second Ice Age. Man has adapted to live in this frozen element. Heat is power. Heat is currency. Outside of the ten big cities that survived in the US, roving gangs roam the icy wastelands, ala’ Mad Max, to seek it out or anything else they can get. To make matters worse, a new disease, nicknamed “frostbite” has surfaced which literally freezes you from the inside out. There is no cure, there is no prevention. It is fatal. The good news is that Dr. Henry Bonham and his daughter Victoria have the cure. All they have to do is to get from Mexico City to Alcatraz  to fix things. The bad news is that Dr. Bonham has been murdered. Now, only his daughter can provide the cure.

A young woman by the name of Keaton and her crew have agreed to get Victoria to Alcatraz through this treacherous frozen world. Issue 2 begins with Victoria,  Keaton and her crew arriving in Los Angeles, ever on the lookout for the villainous Feugo’s men. Keaton’s crew splits up to procure supplies and transportation for the next leg of their journey, taking them into the dark underbelly of the city. While Keaton and Victoria visit a heat shop (a sort of tanning salon/space heater shop, complete with surfer dude salesman).  It is here that a few secrets are revealed about Keaton while she shops alone…secrets that could change everything for her and Victoria.

The overcrowding of the city of Los Angeles,  the harsh weather conditions and the dangers that exist everywhere are all put on display here, giving a glimpse of a possible bleak future. Keaton is brutal, no doubt,  but she has had to do so to survive. She is street smart and savvy to what makes this harsh world click in contrast to the seemingly naïve Victoria.

The Verdict: This entry in the Vertigo titles is another fine addition in this line of comics that deal with more mature themes. The idea of a Earth gripped in ice with mankind hanging on is truly a frightening one. The depiction in word and art capture this post apocalyptic world with frightening realism and make it easy to immerse yourself into it.