I continue to be surprised and impressed with the richness of storytelling potential that Steve Niles has mined in the simple premise behind his original 30 Days of Night story. Aside from one that was introduced in a short story in the recent 30 Days of Night Annual, the characters here are all new but nevertheless well realized. Still, this new tale draws heavily from the original source material, but Niles is careful to maintain an accessible tone throughout. There's an air of mystery at play here, actually, that will be even more effective for new readers. Templesmith's art is as creepy as ever, and this issue boasts the most lovely cover of the 30 Days franchise to date.
Brian Kitka and his son move to the infamous Alaskan town of Barrow, as Brian has just accepted a new job there as sheriff. The career move is a personal one, though, as Kitka's brother, William, was one of the hundreds of victims lost in the mysterious massacre three years ago. Brian hopes to learn exactly what happened to his brother and the other townspeople, but he soon discovers the survivors want to keep their secrets. Meanwhile, John Ikos, a Barrow native who also lost a brother in the massacre, continues to protect the town in his own unique fashion.
Templesmith combines rough linework with richly textured painted colors to achieve an unsettling effect in his art. An eerie fog envelops the characters here, and it reinforces the tense atmosphere that's so important to the story's success. One of my favorite visual aspects of the book is the contrast between the Kitka and Ikos characters. They have a lot in common -- dead brothers and roles as protectors -- but visually, they are polar opposites. Next to Ikos's wildman look, Kitka appears to be a wholesome, Captain America type. No doubt, that innocent quality will fade as the story progresses.
The opening scene, featuring Ikos dragging a bloody bag through the snow, is one designed to put the reader ill at ease immediately. Even though we know what's in the bag, there's something about Ikos that's unsettling, dangerous. The same can be said of Kitka's portly deputy. Though the tone of the dialogue is grounded, there's something a little inhuman about the way she looks. These two may have survived the massacre, but they've been transformed all the same. In a way, they still lost their lives.
If you haven't delved into the world of Steve Niles's 30 Days of Night, this is a great place to start, as is the collected edition of the first limited series. Return to Barrow is shaping up to be the best of the franchise so far, mainly because there's a nice emphasis on characterization in this first issue.
