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It’s been one of the hottest summers on record in the US, but things could always be worse — a fact brought home by Mad Cave Studios’ upcoming series Long Cold Winter, which brings two of Italy’s finest comic creators together to tell an ecological horror story that feels not too difficult to believe.

The official description of the series from Mad Cave goes like this: “In the not-too-distant future, the air on Earth has become unbreathable. However, a multinational company called Air Co. has constructed generators that provide oxygen for those who can afford it. Peace Dog, a desperate ex-soldier, who has been willing to do anything to obtain breathable air is haunted by his past and hunted by bounty hunters, though, he may have found a way out of his current predicament by helping a mysterious robot child escape the dangerous and congested city. But, someone from his past has no intention of letting him leave…alive.”

“I care a lot about this story set in a dark and fragile future because it raises some reflections that concern all of us, as men and as citizens of the world,” writer Francesca Perillo explained in a statement about the series. “Today we inhabit planet Earth without awareness; we are distracted, we live overwhelmed by technology and progress and I believe it is necessary to return to taking care of ourselves and our relationship with the environment. I personally spent my childhood in the countryside; my grandparents taught me the value of respect for nature and I am thrilled to have been able to address this topic. Long Cold Winter is a story aimed at a young adult audience for those who love science fiction and westerns. It may seem like a cruel story - and maybe it is - but it carries with it a message of hope.”

Visually, artist Stefano Cardoselli said he was inspired by Sergio Leone’s films, spaghetti westerns and George Miller’s Mad Max, “which I really like,” adding, “I tried to emphasize the movement and action of the story by alternating close-ups with long shots. The frequent changes of setting help the reader to perceive the slow (and painful) journey of the two protagonists who cross metropolises, deserts and small villages full of dust.”

You can see those influences in the gallery of preview pages from the first issue, below. 

Long Cold Winter #1 (of 4) — which is lettered by Buddy Beaudoin, with colors from Lorenzo Scaramella — will be released December 4.

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