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Northlanders Vol. 5: Metal and Other Stories (Northlanders #5)
by
Brian Wood (Goodreads Author),
Riccardo Burchielli , Fiona Staples , Becky Cloonan
The fifth volume of Northlanders finds DMZ artist Riccardo Burchielli joining Brian Wood’s Viking epic.Opening in 9th century Norway, Erik, a blacksmith, meets Ingrid, a girl enslaved by corrupt Christian missionaries. When Erik liberates Ingrid from her captors, they set out to live by the “old ways,” hoping to find something – anything – they can feel is their own. The C...more
Paperback, 192 pages
Published
July 12th 2011
by Vertigo
(first published August 2010)
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"Metal" contains the stories of a merchant captain in need of adventure, taking his crew off to distant shores and seeing strange creatures; an old man living in the mountains discovering the frozen body of a young girl beneath a lake; and a Viking Bonnie-and-Clyde taking on the anything Christian in their land.
It's this last story that's the longest, taking in 5 issues, while the frozen girl is 2 issues and the merchant captain is a one shot. The book is self-contained so it could be read as a...more
It's this last story that's the longest, taking in 5 issues, while the frozen girl is 2 issues and the merchant captain is a one shot. The book is self-contained so it could be read as a...more
By no means a bad book, this one gets the dubious distinction of being my least favourite "Northlanders" collection. It contains:
- A stand-alone issue with art by Fiona Staples (Saga, Vol. 1, Mystery Society) about "the first northman to sail West (as in: to Greenland)". Having reached Greenland, he goes crazy and kills whatever is left, only to be killed himself by the indigenous population.
- The five-parter title story METAL, with the supernatural thrown in this time. The Christians were comin...more
- A stand-alone issue with art by Fiona Staples (Saga, Vol. 1, Mystery Society) about "the first northman to sail West (as in: to Greenland)". Having reached Greenland, he goes crazy and kills whatever is left, only to be killed himself by the indigenous population.
- The five-parter title story METAL, with the supernatural thrown in this time. The Christians were comin...more
Collected from issues #29-36:
The «Sea Road» is a single-issue story that gives us a look at a Viking boat (the first?) heading West, along the way they encounter a volcanic Iceland, sea-monsters and finally make it to the shores of Greenland... going mad all along the way. Too bad, as an interaction with the natives could have made for interesting stories.
In «Metal», opening in 9th century Norway, Erik, a blacksmith, meets Ingrid, an albino girl enslaved by corrupt Christian missionaries. When...more
The «Sea Road» is a single-issue story that gives us a look at a Viking boat (the first?) heading West, along the way they encounter a volcanic Iceland, sea-monsters and finally make it to the shores of Greenland... going mad all along the way. Too bad, as an interaction with the natives could have made for interesting stories.
In «Metal», opening in 9th century Norway, Erik, a blacksmith, meets Ingrid, an albino girl enslaved by corrupt Christian missionaries. When...more
Seriously... this series just keeps getting better and better. I truly appreciate what Wood has accomplished here, jumping around to different time periods and different casts of characters, telling all sorts of tales within this particular culture, location, and era. METAL contains three different stories. All are fairly grim, but they're so damn good you just don't mind. Very sad to hear this series is coming to an end, but I'm excited there will still be a volume or two left for me to read. ;...more
Dva kratší "negerojské" příběhy (speciálně pak dosavadní vrchol celé série The Girl In The Ice) to celé pozvedávají o úroveň výše. Bohužel hlavní příběh Metal je podprůměrné mlácení již v minulých částech dávno vymlácené slámy; tentokrát ovšem poprvé s příměsí magie (nebo šílenství?) a jedním Lobem navrch. Opět jeden versus svět, opět střet starých náboženství s křesťanstvím, opět námět na dva sešity a nikoli pět částí. Navíc je tento příběh nakreslen vyloženě odpudivě a zmatečně.
I've yet to read a volume of Northlanders that I didn't love. Brian Wood does such a terrific job making the characters actual people, even in such an unfamiliar setting. The artists are colors are always first rate too. My only complaint is that these would probably look even better on an iPad. For some reason they print awfully dark on the paper that Vertigo chooses to use. Anyway, if you haven't checked out this series you're missing out!
First book read in the Northlanders series. Everything about it reeks of Scandinavian storytelling. Things get ugly and the endings aren't clearly defined. It is possible to look at this book and write it off as being cynical or purposely depressing, but it's so much more than that. It is just life as it truly is, neither good nor bad. Things happen, messes get made, and people move on. It's amazing.
The slow conversion of a pagan-warrior culture to Christianity. The author doesn't take a flattering point of view of Christianity, implying that it effectively ruined the proud viking culture. Sure, many tried to resist, but in the end it was futile. Part of Christianity's appeal was first to the peasant class, summing up the the words of Nietzche "it is a religion empowers a slave-master culture"
Couldn't even finish the first story. I just couldn't get into it. Maybe I wasn't in the proper mood, but every time I picked it up I put it right back down again. What an inconsistent series! Think I've learned my lesson about reading good reviews and beginning a book with high expectations. Doesn't matter if it's raved about, if it's not your schtick, you're not going to like it.
While the bookend stories are quite good, the title story of this volume is definitely a low-point for the series. The supernatural elements really clash with the gritty, historical realism of past installments, and overall the story just feels like a misguided attempt to cater to meatheaded metal fans who idoloze Manowar and The Sword (not that there is anything inherently wrong with that). On top of that, the art from Burcelli is quite ugly, and not up to the standards he set for himself with...more
From someone who actually knows more than your average bear about Norwegian Death Metal, this was a nice little treat. This is always a five star book, just like Criminal. This is the kind of book you smirk to yourself about, when people look down on you for reading comics, and think that it is for boys in Junior High.
The series goes strong, and Metal, in particular, is a particularly visceral tale. There's brutality and inhumanity and yet firm belief on all sides of the story, and it's an excellent experience when the protagonist of the tale is someone you're not even sure you should be liking at all (and yet you keep going...).
It's amazing how strong this series continues to be. There is so much intensity and cultural depth in each story that really some slackening in the pace or quality would be understandable, forgivable even, but each volume is as powerful as the last. I'm only sad that there are just two more left to read.
Ada tiga cerita di buku ini. The Sea Road & The Girl In The Ice, buat aku ini cerita yang bagus. Cukup cerita pendek tapi ceritanya dapet banget.
Sedangkan Metal, sebenernya bagus. Tapi sayang ending-nya kurang cakep.
That's all i can say.
Sedangkan Metal, sebenernya bagus. Tapi sayang ending-nya kurang cakep.
That's all i can say.
Northlanders is the only comic book series that I'm following these days (well, okay, so I buy it in the collected editions, but either way). Sharp-as-a-tack writing, gorgeous art, and Viking mayhem from the days of long ago: what's not to love?
I liked the last story (girl in the ice) but the rest, not so much. I'm still waiting for the same impact that the first in the series had made on me, and it's what got me to start getting this series. So far, it's still unmatched. :-(
Another good entry in this series. Think Conan, but set in the real world Viking era. Also, I am a big fan of the artwork of Becky Cloonan and Fiona Staples and they don't disappoint. I look forward to Volume 6.
they keep making these series and I keep reading them ..... but really. I suppose I keep wanting to read more about the rule of law versus the rule of the sword, but the time periods involved......no law, just sword.
Interesting combination of stories ranging from discovery of Greenland to clash between Norse and Christian beliefs to the search for truth of a young girls death.
The Becky Cloonan illustrated story was great but the Metal arc was hokey despite being laced with promise for a great yarn about Viking mysticism.
I think Northlanders may be the best ongoing comic series right now. Awesome stories/writing...very cool art. Lots of bearded vikings.
Another take on the viking world. Interesting and visually ok but it feels like they're retelling the same story over and over...
Fairly awesome, though not as awesome as Plague Widow.
I liked the Sea Road and The Girl in the Ice best.
Two shorter pieces, and one long story. The best so far, in a consistently great series.
Sweet viking passion!
Don't go mixing the supernatural into my beloved viking book! :) I didn't care much for the METAL arc, but the Girl in the Ice was very good.
A terrific series, altogether, and the three stories in this volume are no exception. This series can be read in any order; all of the stories are separate, taking place in distinct parts of Viking history. Good stuff, overall.
a solid collection of storys from the northlanders universe. politics and blood.
outstanding story: metal. moral: to trust in any god or deity means to be doomed. hell yeah!
outstanding story: metal. moral: to trust in any god or deity means to be doomed. hell yeah!
A fantastic collection of short stories that fit perfectly in the world of frigid ice and rigid steel that Brian Wood has crafted.
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You say that like it's a bad...more
Jan 20, 2013 02:17am