How should a person respond when a line has been crossed? What happens when an honest sheriff comes up against a dishonest system? This is the premise of Snow Day, from the acclaimed writer and artist pairing of Pierre Wazem and Aubin.
A translation of the original French graphic novel, Snow Day is set within a small town in a large flat American state sometime during the late 1950s or early 1960s. A neon Budweiser sign flickers in the diner’s window, traffic signs are more of a guideline than a rule, the town’s secrets remain secret and loyalty is owed to the mayor, the factory owner…or both.
“…secrets remain secret and loyalty is owed…”
The local sheriff is a mild-mannered man named Spencer. Shorter than average and slight in build, it seems Spencer was appointed to the position because the mayor believed he wouldn’t do the job effectively. Some of the women in town, however, see Spencer differently. “You’re nothing like them”, an elderly woman living on the outskirts of town sighs as he delivers bags of groceries. “What are you doing…in this town?” asks the waitress in the diner, before eventually exclaiming in frustration, “there’s always some moron to make you…believe!”
The main conflict in Snow Day revolves around three arrests Spencer has made. The factory owner and the town mayor insist the men must be freed, but Spencer is equally adamant that they must be held accountable. Over the course of a single day, the trials and triumphs of the local sheriff are revealed, slowly coming to a head on the streets of the town.
“…this graphic novel could be considered a contemporary western…”
Even though this graphic novel could be considered a contemporary western, it isn’t an action-packed story. Instead, it tries to be more of a slow-simmering character study. Unfortunately, there isn’t much character development in Snow Day. Supporting characters build up the initial impression of the protagonist, and although a few background details are revealed, the sheriff remains the only honourable person in a dishonourable town. There are no crises of conscience, no difficult decisions in his past, no PTSD-flashbacks, nor any moral grey areas to make Spencer a little less earnest in his hero’s quest.
As a result, the story is a bit…bland. The conflicts are resolved a little too easily and a bit too neatly. As a thriller or mystery, Snow Day is not very exciting.
“…there’s a brutal honesty in these particular panels…”
Strangely, this novel is a page-turner in the way the quieter moments are handled. For example, a sequence of panels where Spencer eats a meal is oddly compelling. Over two pages, time slows down as the character uses a knife and fork and chews his food while a mug of coffee cools down. Absolutely nothing happens, but there’s a brutal honesty in these particular panels that will connect with readers.
“The artwork by Audin is reminiscent of the late, great Will Eisner.”
The artwork by Audin is reminiscent of the late, great Will Eisner. The sketchy lines and cross-hatching create a fluidity in the characters’ body posture and clothing. Character faces, although somewhat cartoonish, are instantly recognizable as people you have encountered.
Audin also does an excellent job creating a contrast between the town and the surrounding rural areas. Buildings and interiors are darkened with linework or details, but the countryside is illustrated with just the sparest of lines. The result are panels with wide swathes of white space, re-creating middle America’s flat spaces and big sky.
If you want a traditional thriller, Snow Day will disappoint you. Instead, this is the type of graphic novel where you’ll re-read and re-examine your favourite pages, wondering how a plate of peas or a single fencepost can be so intriguing.
Snow Day
Pierre Wazem (writer), Audin (artist)
Humanoids (released 2017)
Snow Day
Comments are closed.