Post by BloodyMonkeyZ on Jul 21, 2013 12:59:08 GMT -6
A new miniseries from Cullen Bunn and Joelle Jones. This time Cullen is taking us back into the world of Vikings and the incredibly talented Joelle Jones is bringing that world to life with her artwork.
The story starts out with Rikard leading a group of Viking warriors back towards their encampment chased by Wildmen. Unfortunately the camp won't open up to let them in because the others are too close and would get in before they could close up behind their brethren. Rikard and the others are forced to fight for their lives. It doesn't take long before they rout the Wildmen and are allowed into their camp. But it was all a setup. The witch Groa had anticipated the loss and after the Vikings thought they were safe and opened their gates to go out, the dead rose up, possessed by some demonic entities and lashed out at the unsuspecting Vikings.
What follows is the death of our hero, Rikard. Damn, dead hero in issue one, how will they carry on the story? Easy, the witch Bera (wife of Rikard) creates a Franken-Viking (or Vikingstein if you prefer. That rolls off the tongue better.) The newly resurrected Rikard is susceptible to commands from Bera, who has only one desire. She sends him out to kill Groa.
And thus begins the real story of Rikard. Within the first half of the saga, Rikard encounters a young girl (he doesn't toss her lifeless body into the water though) and they head out to defeat not just Groa but Bera as well. The war between these witches threatens the very homeland of the Viking people
This series is 6 issues long, but I wanted to get word of it out on the site before it was finished. The issues are already steadily rising in value, so it might cost a bit more than cover price to get the first print issues. The publisher, Oni, is really good about putting out trade editions that collect story arcs or series. My guess is that before the end of the year a trade will be available collecting all 6 issues. Just because I am reviewing it in two parts doesn't mean it will be collected that way.
It is no secret that I really enjoy the work of Cullen Bunn, but this story introduced me to the artist Joelle Jones. She shows quite a great versatility to her art between the lush scenery, the striking features of the Vikings and the grotesque bestiary the two of them came up with. I already seek out the titles that Cullen writes, now I have to add her to my list of artists to seek out.
Having only read the first half of the series I give it 4 stars. But I expect that the conclusion will likely raise the rating
The story starts out with Rikard leading a group of Viking warriors back towards their encampment chased by Wildmen. Unfortunately the camp won't open up to let them in because the others are too close and would get in before they could close up behind their brethren. Rikard and the others are forced to fight for their lives. It doesn't take long before they rout the Wildmen and are allowed into their camp. But it was all a setup. The witch Groa had anticipated the loss and after the Vikings thought they were safe and opened their gates to go out, the dead rose up, possessed by some demonic entities and lashed out at the unsuspecting Vikings.
What follows is the death of our hero, Rikard. Damn, dead hero in issue one, how will they carry on the story? Easy, the witch Bera (wife of Rikard) creates a Franken-Viking (or Vikingstein if you prefer. That rolls off the tongue better.) The newly resurrected Rikard is susceptible to commands from Bera, who has only one desire. She sends him out to kill Groa.
And thus begins the real story of Rikard. Within the first half of the saga, Rikard encounters a young girl (he doesn't toss her lifeless body into the water though) and they head out to defeat not just Groa but Bera as well. The war between these witches threatens the very homeland of the Viking people
This series is 6 issues long, but I wanted to get word of it out on the site before it was finished. The issues are already steadily rising in value, so it might cost a bit more than cover price to get the first print issues. The publisher, Oni, is really good about putting out trade editions that collect story arcs or series. My guess is that before the end of the year a trade will be available collecting all 6 issues. Just because I am reviewing it in two parts doesn't mean it will be collected that way.
It is no secret that I really enjoy the work of Cullen Bunn, but this story introduced me to the artist Joelle Jones. She shows quite a great versatility to her art between the lush scenery, the striking features of the Vikings and the grotesque bestiary the two of them came up with. I already seek out the titles that Cullen writes, now I have to add her to my list of artists to seek out.
Having only read the first half of the series I give it 4 stars. But I expect that the conclusion will likely raise the rating
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