Continuing from our preview and review of Vikings #1 from Titan Comics, here are the preview pages and review of Vikings #2. The second installment of Vikings will be arriving on Wednesday 15 June. Set around season 3 of the TV series (with a different plot), the drama continues for Ragnar, Lagertha, Rollo and Floki.
There’s more gold, political intrigue, religion, trials and general brutal pillaging in the latest edition of the story. King Ecbert is troubled by raids from the violent giant of a Northman, Felman Losnedahl, and requests the help of Ragnar and the others. Losnedahl is burnin
g down the monasteries, stealing the gold and taking the young monks as slaves. With the chance of a large payday, Ragnar is convinced. Lagertha knows that helping will strengthen their claim to land, but Floki is unconvinced about aiding the Christian God. Ecbert’s reliance on the pagan Northmen and his fondness for Lagertha causes some dissent from his people. Plus we find out what happened in the painful trial in Kattegat.
Much like the TV series, religion is a big theme of the comics. The Northmen worship the Norse gods and Ragnar believes he is a descendant of Odin, which couldn’t be much more blasphemous to the Christians. As a sign of good faith and friendship, Ragnar’s bother Rollo has been baptised. Could this be offending the Norse gods? Every time the Northmen do something for the Christians it must be turning their gods against them, particularly in the eyes of Floki. Vikings is one of the TV series (and now comics) that takes the fundamental theme of religious conflict and uses it as a regular part of the story, and it’s fascinating to watch it play out.
Vikings #2 is written by Cavan Scott (Doctor Who, Star Wars, Penguins of Madagascar, The Beano and Sherlock Holmes to name but a few) with art by Staz Johnson (Marvel and DC), and as you can see it is great artwork. I do love an angry mob (not when they’re forming around me, of course) and the look of the original actors is captured perfectly. The thoughtful contemplation of Ragnar and the almost deranged look of Floki really come across.
Cover A is by Staz Johnson, with the alternate covers featuring photos (one of just Lagertha, the other featuring Lagertha, Ragnar and Rollo). I’m not sure I’d want to come face to face with any of them. Vikings number 2 is 32 pages long and is priced at $3.99. The useful guide in the opening pages means you don’t have to be familiar with the TV series if the comic catches your interest.
