‘Everfrost’ #1 creates a bold and daring new world

Everfrost is a comic that knows exactly what story it wants to tell, and both Lindsay and Kivela have a clear vision to drive it forward.

Lia Williamson

June 1, 2021

Post-apocalyptic-type stories are a hallmark of science fiction at this point, but Everfrost #1 by Ryan K. Lindsay and Sami Kivela honors the tropes of the genre while setting itself apart entirely, creating an enticing new world.

The thing about Everfrost is it’s never hard to follow — which is a must for any story that launches you into a brand new world that’s totally different from any “normal” setting. The flashbacks are clearly colored to tell you these scenes are not taking place in the present, and the world doesn’t over-explain itself. Everfrost tells you what you need to know and only what you need to know, creating an enticing mystery while not bogging you down with the details.

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The characters are starting to form, with Van and her monkey companion taking the pivotal main roles. Van herself is quite interesting, and it’s clear she’s been through quite a few ordeals that have hardened her, including the death of her son. Her companion is honestly a lot more fun than you’d expect? Think Salem from Sabrina the Teenage Witch, but with more cursing and fewer wisecracks. He’s quite an interesting creature.

Everfrost’s subtle character work serves its story quite well, creating a tragic hero of sorts out of Van. She’s edgy, but not too edgy. She’s a really interesting character right out of the gate.

Image: Black Mask Comics

The character designs are visually appealing, including a blue and white spider-cyborg and a masked menacing man of sorts. Even the creature designs, from the ice-dragon like monsters to the dinosaur-like Ennio creatures, are all striking. Everfrost is, without a doubt, a really visually appealing comic that immerses the reader into the futuristic arctic setting.

Image: Black Mask Comics

Lindsay’s writing tells the reader enough to be engaged, while also keeping some mystery intact for the story to flow. There’s an interesting thread he plays with, with the story opening with Van declaring that this is a story of how she “almost fixed” everything she had broken. By the issue’s end, her tune has changed, now declaring that this is a story of how she had to “break” everything again.

Everfrost is a comic that knows exactly what story it wants to tell, and both Lindsay and Kivela have a clear vision to drive it forward. The story’s first issue creates a compelling story that leaves a reader eager for more.