The adventure you're probably missing.
Wolfskin: Hundredth Dream #1
Avatar Press
Writen by: Warren Ellis
Art: Gialuca Pagliarani
Well this is what disappoints me about not seeing a new issue of Astonishing X-Men on the racks for months. Warren Ellis is a phenomenal writer. This new creator owned property, Wolfskin, is proving to be something epic in only its first issue. The narration and story telling is impressive and the art by Pagliarani is astounding. There are such visceral panels in this book that it puts some indy horror books to shame. You know the Prince Valliant comics that you find in your Sunday comics? Well this like those…if they were beyond awesome.
The story opens up with solid narration about the Dark Ages of Earth, a time period when technology has been slowly pushing out magic and mysticism from the world. Basically taking place in Europe the story is going to be following our raiding party on their voyage from what is now Britain to Scandinavia.
Yes I said raiding party. The opening of this story is like a dream team of party members coming together in an epic Role Playing game fantasy. There is the priest, the archer, the fire-mage, the tinkerer, and the title character, a barbarian. The thing that is interesting is that they are setting of on this voyage not for riches and glory, but to be free from a world of technology and just for the sake of adventuring.
The character introductions are interesting and Ellis keeps you involved in the book as you turn the pages. Seeing the monster that they are setting out to face (which reminds me of some recent iterations of the Void over in Marvel’s Siege story arc,) actually makes you wonder how these five men are going to fair any better than the army that has been fighting it.
If you are into D&D or fantasy role playing, a fan of Warren Ellis, like Conan, Hickman’s new S.H.I.E.L.D. series, or just want something that is a truly good read with outstanding art, this is a book to check out.
4.5 out of 5 Savagely Slain Rogues