Viking (comics)
| Viking | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Image |
| Schedule | Monthly |
| Format | Ongoing series |
| Genre | Historical |
| Publication date | April 2009 – present |
| Number of issues | 3 (as of August 2009[update]) |
| Creative team as of April 2009 | |
| Writer(s) | Ivan Brandon |
| Artist(s) | Nic Klein |
| Letterer(s) | Kristyn Ferretti Nic Klein |
| Colorist(s) | Nic Klein |
| Creator(s) | Ivan Brandon Nic Klein |
Viking is a creator-owned comic book series published by Image Comics. It is written by its creator, Ivan Brandon,[1][2] with artistic work by Nic Klein.[3]
The general theme of the series seems to be a look at the day-to-day dealings of vikings through the lens of a crime syndicate viewing. The men involved have strong family ties, there is a clearly defined flow of illicit goods, and brutality and vendettas are clearly present. There is an undercurrent of comedy as well, though the humor is dark (i.e., a constipated Hrolf wondering which god to pray to such that he would be relieved of his six-day-old gut full of lamb).
Publication history
The first issue appeared April 22nd, 2009 but had sold out before it went on sale.[4]
Characters
- Aki - An enforcer for King Bram
- Annikki - Viking princess, Daughter of King Bram the Quiet
- Bork - A merchant / arms dealer
- Bram - A Viking king, he bears the title "The Quiet."
- Egil - A criminal raider of sorts, brother to Finn and Ketil.
- Finn - A criminal raider of sorts, brother to Egil and Ketil.
- Ketil - A young boy, the youngest of three children. Brother to Egil and Finn.
- Ozur - Egil, Finn, and Ketil's grandfather, an old man.
Plot Synopsis
Issue 1
Date of Publication: 22 April 2009
Egil and Finn kill a group of Vikings led by a man named Knut, stealing their cache of weapons for their own purporses, leaving one messenger alive to tout their bravado. Upon reception of his message, this messenger is put to death by Aki and King Bram.
Princess Annikki meanwhile practices her archery in the woods as her father looks on. A large bear trundles from the woods and curiously inspects her. King Bram means to kill it for threatening his daughter, but is stopped by Annikki, who escapes the situation with little more than a series of scratches along her left cheek where the bear pawed her during its inspection.
The brothers Egil and Finn sell their ill-gotten goods to Bork the merchant, and visit their grandfather, Ozur, whereupon they take their younger brother Ketil out for a day of family recreation.
The boy recklessly charges about playing at being a raider, when the three brothers are set upon by another group of Vikings. This is the murdered Knut's brother and his men, who stab Ketil and begin savagely beating Egil. Finn charges into the fray as he draws his weapon, ending the first issue of the series.
See also
- Northlanders, a comic book series about Vikings from Vertigo
Notes
- ^ Getting Into Viking with Ivan Brandon, Newsarama, January 21, 2009
- ^ Ivan Brandon Conquers Image with "Viking", Comic Book Resources, February 25, 2009
- ^ The Panel-ist: VIKING Artist Takes Us Inside His Process, Newsarama, April 7, 2009
- ^ Image's 'Viking' Sells Out Before Going On Sale (press release), Newsarama, March 27, 2009
References
- Viking at the Grand Comics Database
- Viking at the Comic Book DB