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Snowpiercer, Vol. 1: The Escape Hardcover – January 28, 2014
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In a harsh, uncompromisingly cold future where Earth has succumbed to treacherously low temperatures, the last remaining members of humanity travel on a train while the outside world remains encased in ice.
The surviving community are not without a social hierarchy; those that travel at the front of the train live in relative luxury whilst those unfortunate enough to be at the rear remain clustered like cattle in claustrophobic darkness. Yet, things are about to change aboard the train as passengers become disgruntled...
- Print length112 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherTitan Comics
- Publication dateJanuary 28, 2014
- Dimensions8.36 x 0.55 x 11.13 inches
- ISBN-101782761330
- ISBN-13978-1782761334
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"It's a great science fiction read that will keep you thinking for days." - Examiner
"I'm a sucker for post-apocalyptic stories, so this one's right up my alley." - Quint's SUMMER GEEK GUIDE (Aint It Cool News)
"Looks fantastic, with a design that's almost timeless." - Kotaku
"One of the most celebrated sociopolitical tales in comics." - IGN
"Snowpiercer is a great read and a great looking release. If nothing else it’ll look super classy sitting on your bookshelf" - Nerdophiles
"Rises above the clichés" - Miami Herald
"I was enthralled." - Geek Twins
"Paired with an incredibly skilled artist, this first installment, in what will be a trilogy of graphic novels, is one that should not be passed up." - Another Castle
"Lob’s script is fierce and sharply characterized." - Blogcritics
"Stunning black and white art, full of shades of grey, makes fantastic use of the setting." - Giant Freakin
"Snowpiercer was worth the wait." - Basement Rejects
"A triumph of the medium." - Silver Emulsion
"The artwork in the book is once again first rate." - Geek Hard
"After more than 30 years, it’s about time this thought-provoking story got an English language release." - Nerdcore Movement
"From its commentary on inequality, to the mysterious and intriguing characters, to the dystopian future it presents, Snowpiercer hits high marks across the board. Part noir, part gritty science fiction, this series takes a unique perspective on the end of the world." - Destroy The Cyborg
"From an artistic standpoint, the book is marvelous." - Comic Attack
"It’s cerebral, it’s entertaining, and it’s brutally honest, making it a powerful and damning message about our modern society when all hope is lost." - Leviathyn
"Hard To Put Down." - Destroy the Brain
"Rochette’s work is evocative of American classics of the eighties, such as Dave Gibbons’ work on Watchmen, David Lloyd’s work on V for Vendetta, and Frank Miller’s work on Sin City...Snowpiercer is a page turner that comic and science fiction fans alike will find to be an engrossing read." - SF Signal
"Four Out of Five Stars." - SciFi Mafia
"A modern classic." - Pop Culture Leftovers
"An extremely fantastic and timeless read." - Galactic News One
"Snowpiercer would be a welcome addition to any comic collection." - Comic Hype
"A good apocalyptic read and a well-executed translation." - Knowshi
"The story is solid, tightly paced, with layers that grow more nuanced and complex as you read deeper through to the end. Like the never-ending, seemingly futile journey of the train itself, the plot comes at you like a steamroller." - Girls Like Comics
"An unusually clever and simple tragedy of class warfare and the arrogance and resilience of humanity that manages to be relevant and fresh 30 years after its original publication." - Fanboy Comics
"Not the kind of book you want to miss out on. Jaqcues Lob and Jean-Marc Rochette craft a claustrophobic tale of social structures, violence, and sex, all in stunning detail." - IGN
"A science fiction tale that certainly stands the test of time." - Film Pulse
"Those of you who might want to skip these enthralling and thought provoking pages for the silver screen adaptation would be missing out on a remarkable read." - Forces of Geek
"An engaging and clever take on the usual tropes of the apocalypse/survivalist genre." - The Playlist
"Snowpiercer is unlike anything I’ve read. The premise alone is enough to attract readers and the themes and issues are still relevant. It’s a great, compelling look at humanity and its treatment of class difference." - Major Spoilers
"Powerful." - The Dissolve
"Titan went out on a limb to bring this great story to life for English readers." - Nerd Gasms
"Titan's volume is their usual gorgeous book, and it's well worth buying." - Uproxx
"It may have taken a decade for this creative French comic to get some of the spotlight, but great comics like this are often timeless." - Examiner
"An outstanding human tale about the struggles of class in a very unfortunate situation." - We The Nerdy
"This collection is presented in a beautiful hardcover edition which presents Jean-Marc Rochette’s clean, propulsive art to its best advantage." - Project Fandom
"An entertaining action thriller that’s much deeper than you’d expect. I absolutely recommend checking it out." - Graphic Policy
"Titan gives this first volume of “Snowpiercer” the respect it deserves. The translation is solid and the hardcover printing is beautiful. It’s been a long time coming, but it’s well worth the wait." - Bloody Disgusting
"Fantastic writing and gritty art, and though it debuted in 1982, it still feels fresh some 30 years later." - The Verge
"Essential reading for any fans of the sequential arts...and a book I can’t recommend highly enough. 5/5" - Big Comic Page
"If you’re into cool stories about futures that suck, this one is worth your time." - Geek Hard
"One of the best science fiction stories I’ve read in the comic/graphic novel medium." - Nerds Unchained
"Left me breathless...Jean-Marc Rochette’s illustrations are flawless. 5/5" - Den of Geek
"Highly recommended." - Twitch
"Dystopian scifi at its best...a marvellous entry into the genre, and one of Europe's finest comics works." - io9
"A great read and a very entertaining book." - 411 Mania
"A tightly presented, compelling story that considers the plight of one man caught inside a class struggle that has implications for the very survival of the human race. And don’t get me wrong, it may be a dark tale, but it is a well-crafted and exciting one. I’ll be the first one to buy a boarding pass when they release Snowpiercer Volume 2: Explorers." - Pop Mythology
"A wonderful graphic novel" - Nerd Span
"Packed with great storytelling (written and artistically), it is great to have this story finally translated into English. Moreover, this is a story that thirty years on, is still just as engaging and compelling as it was way back in 1984." - The MacGuffin
"Pretty much the definition of a page-turner, this comic book has not aged at all, and deserves to be on the shelf of any comic book fan. I honestly can’t say how impressed I am that Titan has managed to finally get this volume translated." - Population Go
"This is a thrilling post-apocalyptic tale that draws you in and never lets go. We highly recommend "SNOWPIERCER"!" - TM Stash
"Nothing short of awesome." - Horror Movies
"Lob’s tale is both frightening and very real...Rochette’s illustrations are equally as enthralling and superbly capture the essence of the script itself. While the book predominantly paints a dark picture, it does offer rare moments that masterfully encapsulate emotions such as joy, pain and anger, something that speaks volumes to the work’s ability to captivate." - The Nerd Machine
"Similar in tone and setting to Alan Moore's V for Vendetta." - Super Punch
"It’s easy to lose yourself in Snowpiercer because the world feels real." - Hyper Geeky
"Like WALKING DEAD, this is apocalypse
done right!" - Ain't It Cool
"One of the greatest sci-fi comics ever written!"
- Comics Beat
"An absolutely fascinating read from cover to cover, "Snowpiercer: The Escape" is one of those dystopian science fiction stories that is all too plausible given today's political polarization, increasingly rapid climate change, and humanities undeniable contribution to the increasing extinction rates of flora and fauna species globally. " -Midwest Book Review
About the Author
Jacques Lob, winner of the Grand Prix de la ville d'Angoulême award, was a Franco-Belgian comic book author, best known for his Superdupont series. He began his career as an editorial cartoonist, before an editor suggested he focused on his writing, which bore rich fruit across a number of genres. He passed away in 1990.
Jean-Marc Rochette is a painter, illustrator and cartoonist. He has worked across a variety of projects and genres, from science fiction comics to children's cartoons - including adaptations of Voltaire's Candide and Homer's Odyssey - but Snowpiercer remains the work by which he is most popularly known.
Product details
- Publisher : Titan Comics; Illustrated edition (January 28, 2014)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 112 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1782761330
- ISBN-13 : 978-1782761334
- Item Weight : 2.31 pounds
- Dimensions : 8.36 x 0.55 x 11.13 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #190,601 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #82 in Dystopian Graphic Novels
- #1,096 in Science Fiction Graphic Novels (Books)
- #1,694 in Science Fiction Manga (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the storyline fascinating, haunting, and great. They also appreciate the artwork and writing style. Opinions are mixed on the value and characters, with some finding it fantastic and others underwhelming.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the storyline fascinating, suspenseful, and engaging. They also appreciate the striking graphics, engaging characters, and world the author created. Readers also appreciate that the book has more details and explains a lot more than other books. They mention that the haunting cinematography and fast paced dystopian plot impress them.
"...I was very impressed by the story and yes it's very different from the movie so if you're worried about that then there is no need to be at all...." Read more
"...Otherwise, it's a compelling story and worth reading." Read more
"...This is a series that boasts a fascinating story-line but is moving at a very leisurely rate. If you don’t mind the pacing, perhaps test the waters...." Read more
"...I enjoyed the plot, it was heavy on action, and kept up a nice thriller pace. It's a lot of fun, give it a shot." Read more
Customers like the artwork in the book. They mention it's great, bleak, gritty, but human, and even poetic.
"...The art style was Impeccable. The story is clearly set in a very abysmal setting and it really shows in the artwork and the story...." Read more
"...The art in this book is gorgeous and worth the price of the book itself...." Read more
"...Very bleak, gritty, but human, even poetic. If this was a series on television I would watch it...." Read more
"...Jean-Marc Rochette's artwork is striking and appropriate, but is also inconsistent in treatment...." Read more
Customers like the writing style. They say the content of the book itself is great and explains a lot more than movies.
"...Otherwise, it's a compelling story and worth reading." Read more
"...It's a decent read, and the second volume (which I have skimmed) makes for an interesting companion, but it's hard to make the case for buying..." Read more
"...of the movie and graphic novels in general, so I am sure the content is wonderful...." Read more
"...If you really liked the movie, it is worth reading the source material. I have only read it once as of yet, so my opinion may still change." Read more
Customers find the book a lot of fun and great for train buffs or post-apocalyptic lit fans.
"...It's a lot of fun, give it a shot." Read more
"...It's also great to be a train buff or a post-apocalyptic lit fan. Very bleak, gritty, but human, even poetic...." Read more
"...movie story and this story are about 60% different, but the book is just as exciting...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the value of the book. Some find it absolutely fantastic and entertaining, while others say it's underwhelming and not worth the price. They also say the story in the book just didn't make any sense and failed to be an impactful read.
"...I was sad to see so little attention given to the film, because it was excellent...." Read more
"...The characters play their part but offer little in terms of interest. Again, I have to blame dialog...." Read more
"The movie was great so I decided to read the story for myself...and I like it.. It has a lot more details and explains a lot more than movies..." Read more
"...and negotiations between the various role players seem wooden and unconvincing...." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the characters in the book. Some find them to have promise, while others say they're unlikeable.
"...There seem to be no real obstacles for the protagonists; everything just happens to work out smoothly and the story, like the train it happens on,..." Read more
"...It also happens to boast a favorable cast. So I picked up the graphic novel with a pretty high standard in place...." Read more
"...The B&W art is good enough but often hard to tell characters apart. Not to mention a very underwhelming ending...." Read more
"...The characters have promise, but none are developed very far and the transitions are, in places, so abrupt that a couple of time I thought I must..." Read more
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Top reviews from the United States
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Artwork: The art is good, but relatively simplistic. It's also a pretty grainy black and white so if that's not a style you like then you probably won't appreciate this book.
Premise: The world has turned to a big chunk of ice and what's left of humanity lives in a giant train that circumnavigates the globe. People in the back of the train live in fetid squallor, often resorting to cannibalism, while the elite in the front live decadant lives of hedonism (sex and food mostly). Like with the movie, we follow the main character as he makes his way to the front. Probably alot of discussion value in the story in terms of human nature if that's your thing. Otherwise, it's a compelling story and worth reading.
Warning: It's not the same story, at all. The only similarities is that it's a train going through snow, that has the last remnants of humanity. Similar to how "The Walking Dead" comic and TV show diverge.
However: It's a good story all on it's own, the last page mentions a volume 2, and I purchased that as well just to see how it would go.
The plot offers a potential that was better executed on-screen and failed to fully come to life within the pages of this first volume. The blurb is pretty definitive and there is no need to explore the concept in-depth. Perhaps the biggest barrier standing between myself and possible love for this post apocalyptic story would be dialog. It leaned heavily towards dry and flat. There seemed to be a lack of real depth within the story, yet so much was happening.
The artwork was the one element that actually carried me through to the end. Had it not been for the bold, grey-scale illustrations offering a simplistic yet fitting representation of this bleak and dismal situation, I may have shelved this one. I struggle to imagine this story unfolding in full colour. Even the film was visually drab in the best of ways.
The characters play their part but offer little in terms of interest. Again, I have to blame dialog. I found myself disappointed with the portrayal of women within this container like society, viewed more as sexual objects and contributing little of value. To be fair, that could be the result of the current societal structure in such confined spaces, but I could not get into or support the idea.
While this was certainly not a terrible read, it failed to be an impactful one. I do feel that the GN places more emphasis on the political aspect of the story and manages to convey this successfully which was appreciated. But there were a lot of lack luster moments that struggled to capture just how dire the situation has become. I have read that there are some translation issues that might be at fault, but I honestly cannot offer any insight into the truth of those comments.
The end result for myself was “okay”. I don’t believe I will pick up the second volume right now. This is a series that boasts a fascinating story-line but is moving at a very leisurely rate. If you don’t mind the pacing, perhaps test the waters. For now however, I recommend the film which happens to be a favorite of mine.
Top reviews from other countries
The graphic novel is excellent.
Just as the film is different from the series,expanded and detailed the graphic novel is totally different from both.
And, I admit all the better for that.
It is a lot grimmer, short and the detail of the claustrophobic natue of mankind being limited to just 1001 rail cars pulled by a perceptual motion railway engine endlessly circling the globe.
The world is an icy wasteland of endless ice and snow.
The book is in black and white which really mimics the outer world of black and white and the harsh nature of life aboard the train is enhanced to the full.
De humanised, brutal yet totally believable guards ' police the train' like the 'best' run Soviet Gulags.
Two central characters as taken from the rear of the train on a long and incident filled trek to the Engine at the head.
This treatment really emphasises the world on the train and although shorter trumps both the TV series in explaining the true horror of a warm world now lost to Mankind.
A totally brilliant Graphic Novel.
The book is mostly monochrome, with occasional color highlights, and the art style is unique. Being hardcover, it's a proper wrapped cover, not a slipcover (as those always get ruined).
A few years ago a live-action Adele Blanc-Sec was released, which wasn't fantastic but did make me aware of the classic comic series, so I bought a few. Now I find myself in a similar boat as the live-action movie of "Transperceneige" (the original French title) comes out this year and we have the series translated in English for the first-time, just to plug the movie a little more!
I basically read through this in a single afternoon/evening. I couldn't put it down. I don't want to give away any spoilers (and therefore ruin the novel and the movie), but it's a slightly crazy idea of the last if the human-race being stuck on a forever-travelling 1001-carriage train. When reading it, I never "felt" that the train was that long, but maybe that just me! The entire setting is depressing and the political/social aspects of the book relate directly to real-life... even though it's 30 years old it still makes a good point about todays world (rich/poor, etc). The artwork, although somewhat dated, suits the tone completely with its stark colouring.
I bought both Vol1 and Vol2 at the same time. If you're a collector you'll want both. But with hindsight, Vol2 really wasn't necessary - it's almost a rehash of the first volume, and doesn't really add anything in it's own right. (If you read the notes inside, you find out it came out about 10/15 years the original with a different artist.) I don't know if the new movie will pull material from both sources, but I hope it just sticks with Vol 1.
Vol1 - 5/5
Vol2 - 3/5
***** SPOILER ALERT *****
In a bleak and desolate future there is a 1001 carriage long train which travels constantly through the frozen wastes of an environmentally destroyed earth. The train itself is a microcosm of the previous world at large. Social and political inequality still thrives with the poor being crammed in the back of the train, living in like sardines in abject squalor; and the rich living a life of luxury and hedonism in the front carriages. The logistics of maintaining social order mean that everyone must keep to 'their place' on the train. No social climbing is allowed and no chance to better yourself. The story centres around Proloff, a man who escapes the tail section and is subsequently placed in quarantine as there is a killer virus amongst the poorest passengers, he is joined by an arrested woman called Adeline who is a campaigner for equal rights, and together they are ushered through the train by the military force towards their fate. As they move through Snowpiercer it is evident that life is very different, and some what decadent, for the more fortunate train dwellers. The poor have been lied to and told that meat, fruit and vegetables have become extinct, yet the privileged dine on them whilst the tail section residents eat processed cockroaches. Drugs and sex are the favourite pass times of the rich, they live without empathy for the poor and seek only pleasure. During their arrest Proloff and Adeline overhear that the tail section is going to be released as the engine is beginning to fail, they try to warn the end carriages, managing successfully, but putting their own lives at greater risk. On the run they eventually they reach the last compartment before the engine and are cornered, Proloff breaks the windows as he and Adeline would rather die than be captured, but he is rescued by the train driver and hauled into the engine compartment. There the driver, Forester, unveils the truth about the train and the last frame is of Proloff alone driving an empty train, all it's inhabitants killed by the virus.
As an idea the story is excellent with sharp observations and chilling predictions on the future of society. There are some horrific moments (especially the cockroaches and meat) and some parts of the novel which drag a bit. As with other reviews I strongly agree that the train does not feel anything like 1001 carriages long and I feel that there was a lost opportunity somewhere in the middle where the tension and horror could have been upped, more detail and characters could have made a richer story.
The artwork is somewhat retro (it is 30 years old) but the black and white starkness of it compliments the story matter. But like the movie Alien, the dated feel it isn't a distraction. A full colour approach would have minimalised the harsh and bleak nature of Snowpiercer and the art does skillfully capture the claustrophobic and hopeless microcosm. The length of the book is somewhat short, which works well in one respect as it was getting a little drawn out; but I do think that if the story had been expanded, with stronger characters, sub plot and more detail regarding the social aspects than it would have benefited from being longer. It's one of those strange books that firstly you think "thank goodness that's over" but you end up wanting to know more. What I did miss was character development though and building relationships between them. Being that it was about the decline of humanity, it would have been a richer story if a greater human element hand been added, I never quite got attached to any of the protagonists and at the end of the book really didn't bother what happened to them. In hindsight I wonder if any of the dialogue and story was lost in translation, as the book is originally French. Very often, especially in foreign films, a beautiful piece of dialogue is butchered by insensitive translation. Having said that though I did enjoy the novel and would possibly read it again.
If you have arrived here via the movie adaptation I should warn you that the book is quite different. The movie took the bones and rounded it out with muscle and heart, the story is more explosive too with a more dramatic but hopeful ending.
All in all I enjoyed the graphic novel but wished I had read it before seeing the movie as I was a little dissapointed. It is however a fascinating premise that makes you consider just what direction society is going to take. And will we survive ...............
Many thanks for reading.








