Northlanders #35

Written by Brian Wood
Art by Becky Cloonan

I had completely forgotten that the new issue of Northlanders was going to feature art from Becky Cloonan, so this became the nicest surprise of the week for me.

This issues sets off a new, two-part arc called 'The Girl in the Ice'.  It's set in Iceland around 1240, and focuses on an old man who lives alone in an isolated valley.  Wood establishes quickly that this man lives according to a pretty strict routine, and has an uneventful life, separate from the constant warring and drama that takes place between local clans.

One day, the man discovers the perfectly preserved body of a young woman who appears to have died a suspicious death.  He removes her from the ice and takes her home with him, where he attempts to learn all he can about her.  His examinations are interrupted by local soldiers, who demand that he billet two of them to protect the village.

The story is an interesting one, playing on themes of isolation and obsession.  Cloonan's artwork, as always, is fantastic, as she shows us the depths of the old man's isolation, but also the kindness in his face.  I love it when Wood and Cloonan work together, and always enjoy the shorter arcs on this title the most.