NORSE MYTHOLOGY II #1/ Story and Words by NEIL GAIMAN/ Script and Layouts by P. CRAIG RUSSELL/ Letters by GALEN SHOWMAN/ Art by MATT HORAK/ Colors by LOVERN KINDZIERSKI/ Cover by P. CRAIG RUSSELL & LOVERN KINDZIERSKI/ Variant Cover by DAVID MACK/ Published by DARK HORSE COMICS

Many winters ago Neil Gaiman wrote a retelling of classic Norse myths. It was well-crafted and well-received. This led to an adaptation of Gaiman’s stories into a graphic novel by his frequent collaborator P. Craig Russell. It too was well-received and well-crafted. Now, a second volume of Norse Mythology has come forth and, to the surprise of no one, it too is a fine work.

Picking up where the first volume left off, this first issue begins the story of “The Mead of Poets” and how the gift of poetry came to Man. It is not a happy story, it must be said, being full of “murder and trickery and lies.” It is, however, an amusing tale, and Russell’s script captures the essence of Gaiman’s text and the original myths.

The series thus far has been blessed with some amazing artists, many of them former collaborators on Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman. Matt Horak, best known for his work on The Punisher, proves a worthy addition to this august company, lending his eye for grisly detail to a gruesome tale involving a wise god’s murder and his bloodied body being brewed into booze that give those who drink of it a gift with words. His work is ably backed by the colors of Lovern Kindzierski and the letters of Galen Showman, whose fine work will be familiar to those who read the first volume of Norse Mythology.

If everything you know of Thor and Loki comes from the comics and movies, prepare yourselves for an education and an enjoyable read. The second volume of Norse Mythology is the equal of the first. This is a finely made comic and a worthy gift to the gods of Asgard.

Norse Mythology II #1 releases on June 16, 2021.