Customer Reviews

Muktuk Wolfsbreath, hard-boiled shaman (Vertigo)

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This is the collected three-issue mini series of Muktuk Wolfsbreath: Hard-boiled Shaman from DC/Vertigo. Muktuk is a Siberian shaman that walks the worlds to protect his people. Indeed, he comes across as a combination of a classic shaman and film noir detective in his efforts to uncover the supernatural causes of people's problems. He does this with the help of Weasel- his spirit guide/wisecracking sidekick.

The writer really did his research on the nature of classical shamanism in this remarkable series. Everything from spirit guides, riding the drum, power songs, dreams, the World Tree, enemy ghosts, the Great mother, crossing over into the Land of the Dead to rescue a spirit, etc.- there is a wealth of authentic detail woven into the story line. The art work also shares this same strong sense of authenticity.

And of course you get the sense that however useful and helpful a shaman might be- they are always outsiders and they make people nervous while they are around. At the end of the day, the people are always relieved to see them ride into the sunset on their reindeer sleigh. This even applies to other shamans....