RUNES #1 – Review

RUNES #1, available from Source Point Press on July 28th, 2021, follows the trials of a shipwrecked Northman on Southern shores as he survives the elements, wary villagers, and witches to return to his home to kill the men who framed him for murder.

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The Details

• Written By: Ivan Lacitignola
• Art By: Francesco Iaquinta
• Colors By: Ivan Lacitignola, Alessia Teruggi
• Letters By: Ivan Lacitignola, Alessia Teruggi
• Cover Art By: Francesco Iaquinta
• Cover Price: $3.99
• Release Date: July 28, 2021

Was It Good?

For anyone with a soft spot for Conan-esque, Vikings-like revenge stories, this comic hits a sweet spot.

The main protagonist carries himself with all the grim certainty of a warrior, in the truest sense of the word. He’s almost all action, but his thoughts a clear, certain, and determined. In some ways, the Northman is like a shark… a perfect specimen of peak performance and efficiency. No movement is wasted except to survive. No thought is wasted beyond attaining his goal. Men and mountains are simply obstacles to be overcome.

There’s an admirable quality about characters of this sort. Brutally focused on what they want, and not allowing for anything to stand in their way. Trained to such a high degree in combat that a whole village of fishermen aligned against him is nothing more than a petty annoyance. The writing in this comic perfectly captures the simplicity of an ultimate warrior.

The art is dark, unpolished, and rough, matching the Northman’s personality and the circumstances of his current predicament. Even during the daylight scenes, every cliff and fishing hut is drawn with thick, heavy lines to give the scenery immense weight. This is a hard world Iaquinta has constructed, and it suits the material perfectly.

This first issue is a quintessential example of the lone wolf, warrior/survivor. If you like those types of stories, this one’s for you.

What’s It About?

[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]

One stormy night, a Northman washes ashore amid the wreckage of his ship. Exhausted, unarmed, and without provisions he finds shelter in an abandoned mill.

When the nearby fishing villagers find the wreckage, they realize their natural enemies, the Northmen, may be nearby. When a small search party approached the abandoned mill, the Northman uses the only weapon he can find, a sledgehammer, to brutally put down the search party.

In a flashback scene, we see the Northman was on his ship on his way to exile after being falsely accused of murder. The storm… and perhaps the gods… had other plans. After laying waste to the search party, the Northman finds another survivor and forces him to reveal who framed him for murder. With the names of his betrayers revealed, the Northman’s quest for revenge begins.

The Northman is not the only dangerous presence on these shores. The local fishermen fear a witch with the power to summon the dead to do her bidding. When she hears about the new arrival, she casts a spell to put her own plans in motion. Before the issue concludes, the Northman’s attempts at blending in to find provisions and a place to rest are cut short by an encounter with the local militia.

Final Thoughts

RUNES #1 is a pure example of the lone warrior on a quest for revenge against those who’ve betrayed him. The art, like the writing, is gritty and powerful. This is a must-have for fans of Conan and Vikings.

Score: 9/10