Northlanders #21

I always had a rather morbid fascination with death.  Six Feet Under was one of my favorite TV shows for that very same reason, well the first few seasons of SFU anyway.  I could probably enjoy the position of funeral director.  If there was an internship program in this area to become one, I'd be the first person to sign up.  I just find it very interesting how somebody could live for 70-something years and then see how fast everybody forgets that person like they never even existed a month later.  I've always been a big fan of war movies, and I always found history to be my favorite subject at school too.  It comes as no surprise that the story starting in Northlanders #21 would be right up my sleeve.  I even decided over spending my last few dollars on Blackest Night #4 to get this instead!

I haven't been reading Northlanders for a little while, but I am no stranger to the series.  I no longer own the first two softcovers, but I did have them and read them both once.  It certainly isn't my favorite title out there, or even my my first choice of series coming from DC's sub imprint, but that doesn't mean for one moment that I can't find time to read it.  I would have to say that the first two arcs I read, even though I understand that they haven't been released in trade in the same order that they were printed in issues, are just slightly above mediocre.  That is no reason to dismiss a new arc as being in the same fashion before even glancing at it because just about every new arc in Northlanders is usually a totally self-sufficient standalone story that is a new jumping on point for readers.  The time and setting might be similar, but the plot and characters are different (except for The Return Of Sven).  To make a long story not so long, all you need to know going into issue #21 is that the story takes place somewhere around the beginning of the Middle Age in Europe somewhere.  Probably Ireland or Scotland, I'm guessing.

There are people dying everywhere where this story starts.  A plague has hit in the middle of a terrible winter and the politics of the particular town/fortress have decided that it is time to push the sick people out.  You even get to see the civilization's warriors push the sickly people out into the wild and lock the gate!!  They get right to the good stuff before part one is even over!! 

There are seven more parts to this story, and with the first installment being so fresh and interesting, there is no way in Hell that I'll be able to wait for the trade!  I'm about to read this issue again actually. It is that good.  The art is quite impressive for a Vertigo book too.  Certainly not an art style that is anything new, but the pencils and coloring are dead on in my opinion!  If you haven't bought this already, scrape up $3 and get to the comic book shop because this is going to be a good arc!  I'd borrow money to bet that more people will be talking about this one...