Northlanders #17

Written by Brian Wood
Art by Vasilis Lolos

I have been enjoying this title since it first started a year and a half ago, but I have to say that this is far and away the best issue we've seen yet.

This issue is titled 'The Viking Art of Single Combat', and that's exactly what it shows - a fight to the death between Snorri the Black and Egil the Sledge-Hammer, champions of their lords, who are killing each other to settle a dispute between neighbouring villages.

While they fight, Wood provides plenty of exposition - for an all-action issue of a comic, there is much more writing than a regular book. He puts to good use the tons of research he has done for this series, holding forth on Viking battle technique, and weapons specifications.

Lolos hands in some of the best work of his career. The fight is dynamic, clear, and atmospheric throughout. I admire Lolos's work a great deal, and hope that this issue helps raise his profile some more (I also hope he'll finish Pirates of Coney Island someday soon....).

This is the perfect place to jump on this title. It's a done-in-one story that really showcases what Wood is trying to achieve with this book. If you have been on the fence about this title, now's the time to give it a chance. (If you live in Toronto, it's on sale at the Beguiling until Monday).