Northlanders Vol. 2: The Cross + The Hammer [Paperback]

Brian Wood (Author), Ryan Kelly (Illustrator), Massimo Carnevale (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 4, 2009

See why Entertainment Weekly calls DMZ writer Brian Wood's fresh take on Viking lore, NORTHLANDERS, "a well researched, richly realized world that illuminates politics and culture without getting bogged down in history-book stuff."

This volume focuses on Lindisfarne, England; an ancient center of religion and learning that was the infamous site of the first Viking raid on a monastery. Witness the vicious attack from the perspective of a native - a young Saxon boy who dreams of the larger world, of better things, of heroes and myths and foreign gods. Are the Vikings what he's been waiting for?

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This reader-friendly second collection of Wood's series, illustrated by Kelly, tells an engaging tale of cultures clashing. A self-contained story, it relates to the previous volume only as an overall portrayal of the impact of the Vikings in Europe in a way that doesn't reduce them to the familiar blustery stereotype of ocean-faring, land-pillaging warriors. This volume is set against the backdrop of Viking colonies in Ireland in the early 11th century, a land portrayed with a harsh beauty by Kelly's artwork. Magnus, an Irishman, blames the conquerors in his lands for robbing and killing his people, and so begins to kill Viking settlers near Dublin. Lord Ragnar Ragnarsson is sent to investigate these crimes. While Magnus hides in the countryside with his young daughter, Brigid, Ragnar and his band of men follow the trail of dead bodies Magnus leaves in his wake. The resulting bloodbath is also an effective psychological portrait of the two main characters in a highly enjoyable book that is as smart as it is action packed. (July)
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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Vertigo (August 4, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 140122296X
• ISBN-13: 978-1401222963
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 0.4 x 10.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #355,766 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Brian Wood released his first graphic novel, Channel Zero, in 1997 to considerable critical acclaim and has continued to create at a brisk pace ever since. Focusing almost entirely on creator-owned projects, he's become one of the most important indie creators of the last decade. Standout books include his The Couriers and Channel Zero series, Demo, Local and Supermarket. He's earned multiple Eisner Award nominations and editions of his work have been published in close to a dozen foreign markets. Currently under an exclusive contract for DC/Vertigo, Wood continues to write his unique brand of iconoclastic creator-owned work with DMZ, Northlanders, Demo and The New York Four.

Brian lives with his wife and daughter in Ditmas Park, Brooklyn.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars I miss Sven, October 1, 2009

By 

Phillip Borghi - See all my reviews

This review is from: Northlanders Vol. 2: The Cross + The Hammer (Paperback)

The second volume of Northlanders is good, enjoyable and a worthwhile pick up. The main flaw is that even though I know Northlanders to be an anthology I think the second arc is not nearly as good as the first one. Mainly I am not sure if I missed something but this seemed to just be page after page of them main character killing, no real reason and no pay off. Also the end left me confused to what actually what happened right up before the end.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing, January 5, 2010

By 

D. J. Francis "OnlineMarketerBlog" (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Northlanders Vol. 2: The Cross + The Hammer (Paperback)

After vol 1 (which is EXCELLENT), this is a giant let-down. Both the writing and the art are so lackluster I'm honestly surprised by these other reviews.

The story doesn't draw you in, there's no backstory, no context, no reason to care about the characters at all. And the art is sloppy with backgrounds left blank. It is seriously just poorly done.

I'm heartened that the original artist is coming back for vol. 3. I will definitely read vol 3 based mostly on the strength of vol 1. But skip vol 2. It's just...bad.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth Examining Every Facet, December 27, 2009

By 

Sean Rueter "s1rude" (Baltimore, MD) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Northlanders Vol. 2: The Cross + The Hammer (Paperback)

Like the best fiction, The Cross + The Hammer, the second long-form story arc of Brian Wood's Northlanders, works on the reader in several different ways. Historical drama, police procedural, political allegory, character drama: this volume brings all of these to mind and wraps up in a twist that would make Hitchcock proud. To give away much more about the writing would risk spoiling it. Ryan Kelly's artwork is gorgeous; evoking a fantastic earthy vibe that I haven't seen from him before and that fits this tale perfectly. Wood's work can be hit or miss for me, but so far Northlanders has been a great showcase for his strengths and The Cross + The Hammer the best the series has been.