Don't get a big head now, Brian

Can we please discuss, just for a moment, the beauty that is Northlanders?

I mean, I've been riding Brian Wood's proverbial bandwagon for ages now, and you guys are probably sick of me going on and on about things like how awesome Local is, or much I enjoyed reading every story in Demo, or how excited I was when Brian sent me a copy of Supermarket IN ITALIAN!!!, but seriously. This thing is (if he's even at his crest yet,) truly his magnum opus.

Given that this line is only 5 issues in, I understand that this is no small claim.

However, I reply:

Have you read the friggin' thing?

My gosh, man. The beauty of it. The vast storytelling. The way I read this book is unlike any other I've gotten into since my "revival" a few years ago. I care about Sven. (And goshdarn it, I'll lay it out there, he's damned sexy.) But beyond that, the story is reaching around him in a way that you can't help but do anything other than hold your breath for the next issue.

This most recent one was the icing on the cake for me. We finally get a little bit of Sven's background, and an idea of who he is, where he came from, and why he's acting the way he is. (Although of course, not too good of an idea...) I can't believe for one, that this is coming at issue 5, and I'm not even bored yet. When was the last time you read a comic and didn't get a lick of back story until issue 5? Shit, when was the last time you read a #1 and cared, for that matter?

To be honest, period pieces don't generally work for me. I find it hard to relate to something taking place in a time that I've never experienced and haven't really been exposed to. (Follett's Pillars of the Earth did a good job of overcoming this for me, but many authors, regardless of medium, fail in this.) We don't have, as a culture, a great many viking stories. (And almost none with any sort of depth.) Other than Thor, and his dad Odin, what else do we know? That they wore horned helmets and had cool looking ships? That they pillaged and got drunk?

This comic injects more color into a boring subject for me than anything I've ever read before. It's not a history lesson, it's a modern-day story set in a distant past.

And to be honest, 1000 years suddenly doesn't seem that long ago.


PS-There is no better artist for this line than Davide Gianfelice. I'm a writer's reader, and so I give the majority of my focus to the unsung half of comic creation, but Davide really does what an artist is supposed to do-bring these characters to life even better than if they were simply just words on a page.

List Time!

Ok, so some of you may know how much I like lists. Others may know how much it bothers me when people only think of Superman or Batman or Wolverine when discussing comics. (Hopefully) All of you know how much richer the medium is than just the major titles being pushed by the big guys. If you're not, well, prepare to get educated, because I hereby present to you:

Dina's Definitive List of the Top 5 Comics not published by DC or Marvel

(in no particular order, other than the order that I think of them)
(Oh, and The Walking Dead is out, cause Kirkman's head is already going to explode)

5)Local (Oni Press)-This one almost didn't make the list, since it's a 12-issue story and we're currently waiting on issue #11, but it's too good not to pass up. This is an interesting line, as each issue is a stand-alone story, but each one is a different year in the life of the same girl. Without ruining the story (as if that's possible), the line follows Megan McKeenan, as she travels all over the country, not really belonging to any place at all. I assure you the comic is much better than I'm making it sound here, and the stories in each issue are amazing. The love that Brian and Ryan put into this book makes it come alive. Pick it up, you won't regret it.

4) Fell (Image)-Written by Warren Ellis, aka Internet Jesus, this is a gritty, noir-ish comic, and it's the steal of a lifetime at $1.99 a pop. (Or less-Seriously!) Fell is the story of Richard Fell, a homicide detective who gets reassigned to Snowtown, a version of Detroit on its worst day. Like Local, each issue is a singular story (no cliffhangers!), but the events in each issue are referred to in the ones that follow. This is a twisted sort of line, with sparse, but beautiful art by Ben Templesmith.

3)The Boys (Dynamite)-Ok, so this one started out being published by Wildstorm (owned by Marvel), but was promptly cancelled 6 issues in because it was just THAT offensive. Dynamite rescued this gem from extinction, and it has been living happily over on their roster ever since. This is from Garth Ennis, so expect your share of gross-outs, ultraviolence, and the old in-out. But in between the shock value is actually a great comic. This line actually follows the guys ("Boys", if you will) who keep the superheroes in line. No cheesy lovey-dovey Spiderman here, this comic's "supes" have names like "Blarney Cock", and "Love Sausage" (the link is safe, I promise!), and they're the bad guys. Refreshing, and although at times it's so shocking it's cliche', this one is a keeper.

2) The Sword (Image)-Oh Luna Brothers, how do you do it? This line is currently flying off the shelves just about everywhere, so take advantage of the free online version of issue #1 here. This comic sounds like a retread, but oh I assure you, it's not. Dara Brighton, a quadriplegic art student suddenly finds her family dead and her legs working. Oh, and did I mention she found a magical sword that lets her jump miles high and heal any wound? With the government (and just about the worst baddies ever) looking for her, I am still on edge about what happens next. Pick this one up for a superhero read without the "super" or the "hero".

1) Locke & Key (IDW)-This one is only three issues in, and it's already the thing I'm looking forward to most each month. Oh man, who the heck are these guys, and how have they created crack in page form? I can't say much about it because honestly, I'm still confused myself as to what's going on, but I can tell you this much-it's on this (and every month's) pull list. Get it!