Reactions to “The Shield Maidens”
A few comments and reviews on what I consider one of the strongest bits of writing I’ve done:
Brian Wood continues to show what can be done with a Viking comic. Make no mistake, this is a clearly feminist text and yet, perhaps thanks to its gory Viking historical base, Wood makes it one that is accessible to the everyman rather than off-putting. While it’s emotionally heavy stuff, it’s more action-packed and inviting than it is didactic. That said, the feminist base makes this issue feel more intellectually substantial, more engaging, and more complex than a comic filled with guys getting stabbed in the gut with pointy sticks. - Weekly Comic Book Review
..Wood’s stories are deeper and richer, they have roots in the real world, and are far more relevant to today’s world and reading audience. He’s got a mind for historical research (construction techniques of the Romans) and an ear for dialogue that brings insight into the characters of the age and the types of insults they might hurl – “…here to send you to your nailed God.” - 13 Minutes
IMPRESSED BY THE TIMELESSNESS OF Northlanders #18. The best historical fiction reminds us that people who lived centuries ago were not all that different from you and I… Wood’s series of stand alone story arcs on the Vikings has delivered that level of quality with every issue so far, and is quickly correcting flagrant misconceptions about their culture brought about by three and a half decades of Hägar the Horrible. - ComicsAlliance
“…the last two issues of Northlanders have been some of the finest writing I’ve read in comics in quite some time… so meticulously researched, it feels very real, very emotionally grounded… it’s such a well-written series. I didn’t think [Brian Wood] could get any better.” - Blair Butler on G4’s Fresh Ink
