Dark Horse Comics 2015
Written by Victor Gischler
Illustrated by Tazio Bettin
Coloured Assists by Enrica Eren Angiolini
Let me say this three issues just isn’t enough! We need more of this group and their adventures in the coming months. Not only has Victor managed to take some of history's most renowned figures and turned their world upside down but Tazio has managed to bring all this to life in such a way that leaves the reader breathless.
Kate and George are looking at the runes that according to her Uncle are probably norweigan in nature but they need the map to really figure out what all this is for. Unfortunately George isn’t able to lie and when asked if they have the map he’s forced to tell the truth. I have to say that by incorporating the Vikings into this story was a genius by Victor because as we’ve come to learn and accept they came to new world long before Columbus stumbled upon it.
So while Kate and George are helping her Uncle Hammond Ben and Paul are left to deal with Hammond’s men outside. So while those inside unlock some of the secrets outside Ben has created the world’s first machine gun tank hybrid and thanks to science he’s kicking ass and not taking any names. I have to admit I love the dialogue here and when he screams out “Suck hot science, ya bastards” I was ready to howl in delight. Plus their friendship and the names they call each other just endear them a little more to the reader it’s just fun to see.
As George and Kate head towards a ship in a cavern under the town they are besieged by those who were left, now undead warriors protecting what the Vikings left behind. Again the dialogue here is flawless with the exception of what I feel shouldn’t be here the F word being dropped like here in modern times. Though when Hammond catches up to them again we are reminded of the pecking order of breeding in this era and where George falls into that.
Well as far as origins go and how these four people became known as the Order of the Forge is incredibly well done. I have to say too that the Easter Eggs we’re given in the story itself that could possibly lead to how they become more important in that annuls of history well that’s just an added bonus. In the meantime they’ve managed to make a very strong enemy in Lord Hammond but they have powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men, and women and should be able to deal with anything that comes their way.
The forge they found on the Viking ship however is something that needs more exploration. If it’s something that stymies and excites Ben Franklin then it’s also something far more advanced than anything that should exist or have existed.
Dark Horse has an uncanny knack for finding those properties that can tie into comics really well and make them far more fascinating than their original source. They folks here have done just that this is how history is rewritten.