Konungar: War of Crowns #1
Titan Comics/Statix Press 2018
Written by Sylvain Runberg
Illustrated by Juzhen
Translated by Ivanka Hahnenberger
In the Viking kingdom of Alstavik, a violent civil war rages between two brothers who claim succession to their father’s throne. With the people’s allegiance divided, and the slaughter of innocents a daily occurrence, there is no sign of peace. Enemies of the kingdom are seizing this opportunity, and if the two brothers can’t reconcile, the return of an old and dangerous foe spells certain doom for Alstavik.
Oh my goodness this was one of the most stunning debut issues I may have ever seen. From the way I am introduced to Juzhen and then to see how the story begins well it’s stupendous stuff. I might have been halfway through this issue before I thought to myself this is as good (if not better) as Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weiss have done. There is something to be said for the setting of this story in the Viking homeland in Scandinavia where it can be so incredibly lush as well as so horribly harsh.
Mixing in something real to go along with the fantasy is brilliantly done by Sylvain as we see reference to the Norse gods to go along with the different species that we meet. Also it is so easy to see the brother versus brother in a fight for the crown since I am sure over many centuries that is exactly what happened. Naturally each boy will grow into a man and along the way will find those that will support him because of his nature and willingness to be himself concede to no one not even their own flesh and blood. Of course that this will leave them open to one of the fiercest forces they’ve ever encountered well that’s just a bonus.
I found myself swept up in the story and the way Sylvain uses the then and now style of storytelling. Letting us see the past, see the moments that changed how the brothers were seen by their father and shapes how we see them now. I actually like the way we see how entitlement is being handled as Rildrig was passed over in favour of Sigvald. I can see why this occurred but then again I am not Ridrig and from what I am gathering here he’ll never understand why his father that choice for he is too blinded by what he perceives is rightfully his. How incredibly relevant to what we see in people today as they are coddled and misled in how they are raised.
Good god almighty the work that Juzhen does on the interiors is beyond amazing. The use of shading and light sources to highlight features is so good. The way he utilises the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels shows off this masterful eye for storytelling. That we see backgrounds and the views of sweeping landscape puts me in awe of the kind of talent that I am looking at. I have not idea who this Juzhen is and if they are male or female but that doesn’t really matter because the quality of this work is so outstanding, it evokes all the emotions and feelings that we need to get from the moment and the attention to detail is simply gorgeous.
Who knew that Sylvain could write novels such as this and then turn around and write comics or adapt his own work to the genre in such stunning style? This is for me one of the best sword & sorcery fantasy work that has come along since Dragonlance was introduced. The writing, pacing and characterisation are so complete and the interiors are breathtaking making this an absolute must have.
Titan Comics/Statix Press 2018
Written by Sylvain Runberg
Illustrated by Juzhen
Translated by Ivanka Hahnenberger
In the Viking kingdom of Alstavik, a violent civil war rages between two brothers who claim succession to their father’s throne. With the people’s allegiance divided, and the slaughter of innocents a daily occurrence, there is no sign of peace. Enemies of the kingdom are seizing this opportunity, and if the two brothers can’t reconcile, the return of an old and dangerous foe spells certain doom for Alstavik.
Oh my goodness this was one of the most stunning debut issues I may have ever seen. From the way I am introduced to Juzhen and then to see how the story begins well it’s stupendous stuff. I might have been halfway through this issue before I thought to myself this is as good (if not better) as Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weiss have done. There is something to be said for the setting of this story in the Viking homeland in Scandinavia where it can be so incredibly lush as well as so horribly harsh.
Mixing in something real to go along with the fantasy is brilliantly done by Sylvain as we see reference to the Norse gods to go along with the different species that we meet. Also it is so easy to see the brother versus brother in a fight for the crown since I am sure over many centuries that is exactly what happened. Naturally each boy will grow into a man and along the way will find those that will support him because of his nature and willingness to be himself concede to no one not even their own flesh and blood. Of course that this will leave them open to one of the fiercest forces they’ve ever encountered well that’s just a bonus.
I found myself swept up in the story and the way Sylvain uses the then and now style of storytelling. Letting us see the past, see the moments that changed how the brothers were seen by their father and shapes how we see them now. I actually like the way we see how entitlement is being handled as Rildrig was passed over in favour of Sigvald. I can see why this occurred but then again I am not Ridrig and from what I am gathering here he’ll never understand why his father that choice for he is too blinded by what he perceives is rightfully his. How incredibly relevant to what we see in people today as they are coddled and misled in how they are raised.
Good god almighty the work that Juzhen does on the interiors is beyond amazing. The use of shading and light sources to highlight features is so good. The way he utilises the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels shows off this masterful eye for storytelling. That we see backgrounds and the views of sweeping landscape puts me in awe of the kind of talent that I am looking at. I have not idea who this Juzhen is and if they are male or female but that doesn’t really matter because the quality of this work is so outstanding, it evokes all the emotions and feelings that we need to get from the moment and the attention to detail is simply gorgeous.
Who knew that Sylvain could write novels such as this and then turn around and write comics or adapt his own work to the genre in such stunning style? This is for me one of the best sword & sorcery fantasy work that has come along since Dragonlance was introduced. The writing, pacing and characterisation are so complete and the interiors are breathtaking making this an absolute must have.
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