Northlanders 17 is one of my favorite one-shot comics of all time. It’s actually the one that got me all into Northlanders in the first place.
It has no plot – simply a description of two Vikings in the middle of an honor fight to the death. The detailed narration that comes along with it is a perfect snapshot of the Viking culture that is at the heart elsewhere in Brian Wood’s stories. It is simple and perfect and Vasilis Lolos’ artwork is absolutely mesmerizing in its subtlety.
Anyone who thinks comics can’t be high art needs to take a look at this. (You can see much of it here if you don’t believe me.)
18-19 tells the story of a trio of women who must step up and defend themselves against some horrible Christians and 20 brings back our favorite Sven of Orkney, now hidden up in the Faroe Islands, letting his legend grow so strong some knuckleheads dare to try and kill him for glory.
Issue 21 begins an 8-issue arc. More on that as it completes.
