By Benjamin Morin — Ever since I played the latest God of War game I have been obsessed with Norse mythology. For the unfamiliar, the game follows the titular God of War, Kratos, as he battles the pantheon of Norse gods. In between fighting monsters or other gods, there are slow moments where your guide — the decapitated Mimir — tells you the epic stories of the Nordic myths. It is in these quiet moments that Mimir’s tales grasped my imagination with stories I had never heard of before, such as Odin being the lord of the hanged and the blessing of the mead of poets. My exposure to these stories led me to search out a collection of these myths which inevitably brought me to Neil Gaiman’s Norse Mythology.

Originally a prose novel, Norse Mythology #1 is a graphic adaptation of Gaiman’s earlier work. Comprised of short tales woven together by the master storyteller that is Gaiman, Norse Mythology delivers a fantastic adaptation. For those unaware of the wealth of stories that make up the Norse myths, this book serves as an excellent introduction to the world.

Gaiman’s storytelling is on point here as he provides readers with a gateway into these legends of old. Though each story may be short, they are layered and engaging as all the best myths are. The writing alone is enough to capture your imagination and the book is then only made better by the illustrations.

What really sets the book apart from its prose counterpart is the exceptional artistic talent. Illustrated by the all-star artists of P. Craig Russell, Mike Mignola, and Jerry Ordway, this issue brings these ancient worlds to life. With each story illustrated by a different creative, they each imbue their respective narratives with their own personal style. Whether that's Russell's crisp fantastical renderings or Mignola’s eerily stoic line work, each narrative retains a distinct feel.

My one criticism of the book regards its ending. The issue ends abruptly on an unexpected cliff-hanger. After reading through two complete stories to come to the last one and have no resolution was rather surprising. I understand from a serialized book standpoint, the issue needs an ending that leaves you wanting more, but the abruptness of its brevity leads it to a rather inorganic flow.

Norse Mythology #1 fulfills a faithful adaptation of Gaiman’s prose while also giving the book its own unique flair. Never before have the Nordic myths of old been so perfectly depicted in comic book form. This debut issue provides a fantastic hook for the rest of the series and I cannot wait to see where Gaiman and Russell take us.

Overall: Neil Gaiman and P. Craig Russell deliver a fantastic comic adaptation of the Norse myths in Norse Mythology #1. This is a must-read for fans of this mythology, both old and new. 8.5/10

Neil Gaiman’s Norse Mythology #1

Neil Gaiman’s Norse Mythology #1
Writer: Neil Gaiman, P. Craig Russell
Artists: P. Craig Russell, Mike Mignola, Jerry Ordway
Colorist: Dave Stewart, Lovern Kindzierski
Letterer: Galen Showman
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Price: $3.99
#1 New York Times bestselling author Neil Gaiman and Eisner Award-winning comics legend P. Craig Russell breathe new life into the ancient Norse stories by taking readers through the creation of the Nine Worlds to the epic origin and adventures of Thor, Odin, and Loki all the way to the end of life--Ragnarok. Having previously written about deities in American Gods and The Sandman, Gaiman teams with Russell to finally bring readers to follow the northern gods in their own setting in this comic book adaptation of the hit novel!
Release Date: October 7, 2020

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Ben is a comic buff and film fanatic. A journalism major by day and a comic reviewer by night, he ardently consumes all forms of sequential art. On Twitter, he goes by @BiglikeBen.