NORTHERN BLOOD #1, from Blood Moon Comics on February 8th, 2023, spins a yarn of curses and blood when an ancient tomb filled with gold is disturbed by Nazi soldiers during WWII.
The Details
- Written by: J. Michalski, Antonio J. Rojo
- Art by: Antonio J. Rojo
- Letters by: Antonio J. Rojo
- Cover art by: Antonio J. Rojo, D.C. Alonso
- Comic Rating: Mature
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: February 8, 2023
Is It Good?
When will people learn? Never, ever, never, ever disturb a tomb full of treasure guarded by creepy skeletons. But of course, what’s bad for the Nazis in this comic is good for us because we’ve got a good old-fashioned horror story on our hands in NORTHERN BLOOD #1.
Sometimes simple and to the point is best, and that’s exactly what you get in J. Michalski’s script about a squad of WWII-era Nazis desecrating a hidden Norwegian tomb. The setup introducing the when, where, why, and how the Nazis came to be in the wrong place at the wrong time is clean as a whistle. The characters are basic but well-defined, their motivations make sense, and the backstory behind the undead is delivered with pristine efficiency.
That said, the setup’s simplicity is offset by its mild lack of originality. Soldiers waking the dead by disturbing a cursed tomb is hardly a new idea, so you may be tempted to think “been there, done that, nothing new.” Therefore, the value of this series will depend on the following issues. It’s not a bad setup, but it’s not an original one, either.
Rojo’s art is quite good. NORTHERN BLOOD #1 is a B&W comic (see preview images below), so the emphasis on mood and atmosphere falls on the shading and shadow techniques. Rojo nails the atmosphere through shading and shadow, so visually, this is an excellent read.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
We begin with Allied soldiers trudging their way through the wintry forest in 1940s Norway. The soldiers are ambushed by a squad of Nazis, and the Allies run for cover. Suddenly, two survivors fall through a hole in the grand and find they’ve discovered an ancient tomb guarded by skeletons dressed in Viking garb.
One of the Allies is killed in the fall, leaving one soldier left to explore the tomb and look for a way out as the Nazis close in. When the soldier finds a large treasure room, a Nazi knocks him out from behind, leaving the Nazis to start rummaging through the treasure.
We conclude with a stern reminder to “look but don’t touch,” an interrogation, an examination, and a history lesson.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
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NORTHERN BLOOD #1 nails the tried and true setup for an “undead wake up after soldiers disturb their cursed tomb” story. The action, pacing, and dialog are spot-on, and the visuals are great, but it remains to be seen if the following issues can do something original.
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