Vikings! Werewolves! What’s not to love? In Viking Moon, writer Joe Pruett imagines a brutal world where the two face off against each other, and it’s bloody brilliant.
Published by Image Comics and written by Eisner-winning writer Joe Pruett (Voices In My Head, Cable, Domino) with art from Marcelo Frusin (Hellblazer, Loveless, Kick-Ass: The New Girl), the blood-curdling saga sees Vikings face off against werewolves.
Viking Moon takes place years after legendary Viking explorer Leif Erikson established a settlement in North America. After his expedition ended in disaster, Ulf and his tribe of Vikings sail to the shores of Vneland (present day Newfoundland). As they traverse their new surroundings, they encounter indigenous people… and put targets on their backs. However, that’s not all they have to worry about. Lurking in the night are creatures of legend; werewolves. And where they’re involved, death is usually just around the corner.
While inherently fantastical, Viking Moon still bases its narrative on real history. It takes elements of the Dark Ages (which are historically ambiguous, hence the name), and spins them into a story where werewolves are loose. The process of filling in real-world gaps in history with a horror element makes it feel believable.
In true Viking style, it’s an action-packed and edge-of-your-seat story, but it’s not just an all-out bloodbath. The story has an emotional weight, too. For instance, Ulf hasn’t just traveled with his tribe of tough, battle-hardened Vikings. His wife and daughter are with him as well, adding extra emotional weight.
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Frusin takes full advantage of the chaotic, gritty and terrifying opportunities that the narrative presents. His art doesn’t lean too far into fantasy; it feels authentic to the Norse world. From the longships, to the costumes, to not having them wear horned helmets — it’s clear that thorough research was made. His line work is great, too. The immersive art excellently captures this terrifying world.
I’m surprised, to my knowledge, that there have never been any stories about Vikings facing off against werewolves. It works so well! If there have been others, I can’t imagine any of them would be nearly as good as Viking Moon. Whether you’re a fan of werewolf media or love series like Vikings and The Last Kingdom, this is absolutely a must-read series!
Rating: 4.5/5
Viking Moon debuts September 17 from Image Comics.
