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Black Road #2
Black Road, Vol. 2: A Pagan Death
Having located Bishop Oakenfort on the extreme northern coast of Norssk, Magnus The Black moves in on this rogue Vatican outpost with the intent to shut it down. But as formidable a Viking warrior as Magnus is, he is still one man versus a fortress. The epic conclusion to the story started with volume 1's "The Holy North."
Collects issues 6 through 10.
Collects issues 6 through 10.
120 pages, Paperback
First published July 26, 2017
1 person is currently reading
130 people want to read
About the author
Brian Wood
1,173 books961 followersBrian Wood's history of published work includes over fifty volumes of genre-spanning original material.
From the 1500-page future war epic DMZ, the ecological disaster series The Massive, the American crime drama Briggs Land, and the groundbreaking lo-fi dystopia Channel Zero he has a 20-year track record of marrying thoughtful world-building and political commentary with compelling and diverse characters.
His YA novels - Demo, Local, The New York Four, and Mara - have made YALSA and New York Public Library best-of lists. His historical fiction - the viking series Northlanders, the American Revolution-centered Rebels, and the norse-samurai mashup Sword Daughter - are benchmarks in the comic book industry.
He's written some of the biggest franchises in pop culture, including Star Wars, Terminator, RoboCop, Conan The Barbarian, Robotech, and Planet Of The Apes. He’s written number-one-selling series for Marvel Comics. And he’s created and written multiple canonical stories for the Aliens universe, including the Zula Hendricks character.
From the 1500-page future war epic DMZ, the ecological disaster series The Massive, the American crime drama Briggs Land, and the groundbreaking lo-fi dystopia Channel Zero he has a 20-year track record of marrying thoughtful world-building and political commentary with compelling and diverse characters.
His YA novels - Demo, Local, The New York Four, and Mara - have made YALSA and New York Public Library best-of lists. His historical fiction - the viking series Northlanders, the American Revolution-centered Rebels, and the norse-samurai mashup Sword Daughter - are benchmarks in the comic book industry.
He's written some of the biggest franchises in pop culture, including Star Wars, Terminator, RoboCop, Conan The Barbarian, Robotech, and Planet Of The Apes. He’s written number-one-selling series for Marvel Comics. And he’s created and written multiple canonical stories for the Aliens universe, including the Zula Hendricks character.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
August 3, 2017
Bleak? Pfft. It's the dark ages. What'd you expect, a carnival of good feelings?
Volume 2 is absolutely dark. As it should be. Christians were assholes in their holy crusade, and Wood's anger bleeds from the pages. Magnus the Black is fucking shit up and taking names, while slowly unraveling the world around him.
And the artwork continues to be exquisite.
February 8, 2018
This is billed as a "Magnus the Black Mystery" at least ten times in the book, but the only mystery is why Brian Wood deems this a mystery. There's no mystery here, there's barely a plot other than "How bleak can we make this?" Julia saves people, then rats them out and we still don't have any answers of what she was really up to by the end of this story. I didn't really see a point to this other than to show how awful the Catholic Church was in the middle ages. Magnus is an interesting character if Wood actually gave him something interesting to do. The end of the book was just awful.
September 25, 2017
Bullet Review:
This is one of those comic book sequels where you go "Was that really worth it to read the sequel?" It's not bad per se, just...meh. Based on the finality of the ending, I don't suspect a volume 3, which makes ending on this so blah.
Oh well, there is worse out there...great nuanced view of religion in here BTW.
This is one of those comic book sequels where you go "Was that really worth it to read the sequel?" It's not bad per se, just...meh. Based on the finality of the ending, I don't suspect a volume 3, which makes ending on this so blah.
Oh well, there is worse out there...great nuanced view of religion in here BTW.
August 12, 2019
This is the second of a two-part series. It is a fairly interesting story about Europe during the initial Christian conquest of Scandanavia and thus quite tragic in nature. It is a pity that the series did not continue beyond this second volume, but then if they had nothing else to say, perhaps it was better to end it on a good note.
August 5, 2017
In the second volume about Magnus the Black we follow him and Kitta the blacksmith to the Christian bastion. There is still a "holy man" to deal with. Funnily enough, he is a threat to the Vatican as much as to the people of the North since he wants to unseat the Pope and become the leader of all Christians (his version of Christians I should say). In order to achieve that, he has found a certain artifact that is now being brought to him. But in his Christian arrogance he hasn't counted on the possibility of one man being able to bring him down.
This second volume is at least as bleak as the first. We get a few flashbacks to how the occupation started and why Magnus decided to becme a traitor to his people. He's not just big and strong but also smart and kind, though tortured by his wife's death. The bleakness of the times and events is emphasized by the gritty art and dark, earthy colours (not much brightness there) as is only fitting.
What I like most about this series is the examination of faith vs religion, as well as overall change and how people respond.
This second volume is at least as bleak as the first. We get a few flashbacks to how the occupation started and why Magnus decided to becme a traitor to his people. He's not just big and strong but also smart and kind, though tortured by his wife's death. The bleakness of the times and events is emphasized by the gritty art and dark, earthy colours (not much brightness there) as is only fitting.
What I like most about this series is the examination of faith vs religion, as well as overall change and how people respond.
September 22, 2017
It's really hard to follow but I still like it.
October 14, 2020
The story peters out and the plot never really congeals or resolves. Sad end to a good start.
October 13, 2018
I really want to like this more than I do. I'm generally a fan of Brian Wood and here he takes his work on Northlanders and focuses on a single Viking, Magnus the Black, who is attempting to make the inevitable conversion of Norrsk (Norway?) as peaceful as possible, working with both sides as events may warrant. Why these books are called "mysteries" is beyond me (it's a mystery!), since there's really nothing mysterious at all. They are straightforward, violence-forward stories about the rough life in the Norse colonies under attack by Christendom. Here, he faces off with a bishop who supposedly holds the sword that was used to kill Jesus on the cross (not a lance, but a sword), a weapon that gives its bearer godly powers. The artwork is great, minimalist yet powerful. The stories just leave a bit something to be desired. Wood doesn't always fill in all the blanks and there are a lot of wordless sequences which aren't always that clear. Now, an actual graphic novel that followed a Viking detective as he solved mysteries? I'd be on that in a flash. This just doesn't cut it.
December 31, 2019
Strange, but good ending. I'm glad that author didn't tried to strech this and finished when everything was said.
August 11, 2017
The beginings of Christianity as it pervades the Norselands through the eyes of two women and Magnus the Black as the grapple with the new world.
April 24, 2018
Finally picked this one up and finished the story. This is a Magnus the Black story and continues from events from volume 1. Magnus continues his quest through Norsk to find out about the fortress that Bishop Oakenfort has built to convert the north to christianity. His companion Kitta travels with him and together they get into the walled town. He finds out that the Bishop has a valuable relic coming to the fortress to solidify his power in the north. He is a rogue and seeks to establish a power base outside the view of the Vatican. The relic is the sword of Longinus, thought to be a spear in the stories but according to the Bishop it is the very sword used to stab Christ in the side. Magnus is caught and Oakenfort decides to face him in the view of the townsfolk and knights who serve him. He has Magnus staked and chained to limit his mobility but in the end Magnus kills him with his own holy relic, and then takes on his guardian knights and slays them as well. The last piece of the puzzle is for Magnus to track down and find Julia, who had went to the town after Oakenfort also, but who missed her chance to kill him. Finding no reason to live, she wanders off and when Magnus finds her she goes to her final rest of her own free will and in the fashion in which she wanted to. And the tale ends there.
This again, as the first volume was, is amazing! I love the story and the art just seems to suit this style of book. Highly recommend both volumes in this tale. It's just good stuff!
Danny
This again, as the first volume was, is amazing! I love the story and the art just seems to suit this style of book. Highly recommend both volumes in this tale. It's just good stuff!
Danny
September 11, 2019
Again the Christians are shown in a bad light. They are violent, greedy and following a hypocritical god that blesses their wrongdoings while they ignore his commandments. There are few exceptions to this rule, but the main character, a pagan, notices and agrees with them. Given their army and gold, the Christian conversion is inevitable. The pagans can must choose between a swift death or a conversion akin to slavery.
Magnus has a two-fold mission: to survive an inevitable future encounter with Julia and to confront bishop Oakenfort who plans to break away from Rome and remake the Christian religion in his image. Oakenfort has been using stolen relics from the Vatican to fund his rebellion. The most important relic - the sword said to have pierced Christ's side while on the cross - will likely draw many worshippers over to his side.
Magnus has a two-fold mission: to survive an inevitable future encounter with Julia and to confront bishop Oakenfort who plans to break away from Rome and remake the Christian religion in his image. Oakenfort has been using stolen relics from the Vatican to fund his rebellion. The most important relic - the sword said to have pierced Christ's side while on the cross - will likely draw many worshippers over to his side.
June 14, 2021
(4 of 5 for nice nordic/medieval tale of one big bad mercenary)
I managed to read the second book before putting down my notes so now I'm unable to separate one from another in any meaningful way. So for the rest of the comment, head to my comment on first book.
I managed to read the second book before putting down my notes so now I'm unable to separate one from another in any meaningful way. So for the rest of the comment, head to my comment on first book.
June 13, 2018
I want to give this 3.5 but I can't. Didn't fully stick the landing.
December 15, 2017
Overall an enjoyable series and a good second half. While the story is sometimes unclear, especially what happens between some of the characters, the artwork is great and there are some pretty exciting moments. It seems this could have been developed more strongly with two more volumes, and Brian Wood and team could have crafted a stronger villain as well, which would serve to raise the stakes for what Magnus the Black faces.
As it is, Brian Wood does a nice job of showing a bleak world set far in the past and what happens when two different religions collide - violence ensues. When it comes to belief in God or gods, humans are very stubborn, and Magnus stands out as the only character in this story able to see the good in both his own pagan beliefs and the new Christian ones invading his land.
Whereas most of the characters assailing the massive Christian fortress are doing so to rid the land of this religious invasion, Magnus is doing so to avenge a Christian man placed in his charge who he came to admire and respect. In the end I think Magnus is trying to show that we should pledge our allegiance to the goodness in people rather than an organization that expects blind obedience.
As it is, Brian Wood does a nice job of showing a bleak world set far in the past and what happens when two different religions collide - violence ensues. When it comes to belief in God or gods, humans are very stubborn, and Magnus stands out as the only character in this story able to see the good in both his own pagan beliefs and the new Christian ones invading his land.
Whereas most of the characters assailing the massive Christian fortress are doing so to rid the land of this religious invasion, Magnus is doing so to avenge a Christian man placed in his charge who he came to admire and respect. In the end I think Magnus is trying to show that we should pledge our allegiance to the goodness in people rather than an organization that expects blind obedience.
July 12, 2020
In my review of vol. 1, I signed off saying: "To be sure, there is quite a bit to be explained in the second volume..." Yes, well, there is none of that. Why Julia does what she does (especially at the very end), why this is labeled a "mystery", what the point of it all was (OK, that last one has SOME explanation, although it is pretty thin).
The good thing about this comic is the art: relatively minimal, bleak colored, narrative.
Also I like Magnus and Kitta as characters but they are like actors given little to no direction. Julia is hell-bent on killing Magnus (nobody knows why) but actually saves Kitta's life at some point (WHY?). Magnus is some sort of pacifist killer with too much insight for his own good and Kitta is downright brutal.
But the whole thing... It's like Wood had an initial idea and then his mind wandered, he sort of half-remembered what he wanted to write but got bored halfway.
I might have given the second volume 3 stars bebause it is an effortless (if unsatisfying) read and great to look at. But it really pisses me off when writers seem to piss a good story away.
When it comes to Brian Wood, I think this might be it for me.
The good thing about this comic is the art: relatively minimal, bleak colored, narrative.
Also I like Magnus and Kitta as characters but they are like actors given little to no direction. Julia is hell-bent on killing Magnus (nobody knows why) but actually saves Kitta's life at some point (WHY?). Magnus is some sort of pacifist killer with too much insight for his own good and Kitta is downright brutal.
But the whole thing... It's like Wood had an initial idea and then his mind wandered, he sort of half-remembered what he wanted to write but got bored halfway.
I might have given the second volume 3 stars bebause it is an effortless (if unsatisfying) read and great to look at. But it really pisses me off when writers seem to piss a good story away.
When it comes to Brian Wood, I think this might be it for me.
November 18, 2017
The good: the art is beautiful and is the best thing about this book. The coloring is superb. This is a book that’s set in the dark ages, which we don’t get enough of.
The bad: this entire series was 10 issues long, but it could’ve been cut down to 6. This is the single most decompressed comic I’ve read and I feel like there are a ton of wasted panels and pages. The page layouts aren’t special and are kind of boring. The story tries to seem more complex than it is by being nonlinear. The story is also hard to follow at times because it’s nonlinear, but I may have just had trouble following it because I was mostly bored by it. I finished this entire book in something like 30 minutes, so that should give you an idea of how little this book has to offer.
I didn’t completely hate this, but I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone, unless you just love the art in this.
The bad: this entire series was 10 issues long, but it could’ve been cut down to 6. This is the single most decompressed comic I’ve read and I feel like there are a ton of wasted panels and pages. The page layouts aren’t special and are kind of boring. The story tries to seem more complex than it is by being nonlinear. The story is also hard to follow at times because it’s nonlinear, but I may have just had trouble following it because I was mostly bored by it. I finished this entire book in something like 30 minutes, so that should give you an idea of how little this book has to offer.
I didn’t completely hate this, but I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone, unless you just love the art in this.
June 22, 2018
A Magnus The Black mystery. Even better than Volume 1, the continuation and conclusion of the story that began with "The Holy North". Volume 1 relates how Christianity found it's way to the land of the Vikings when a displaced Roman bishop leaves Rome to establish a Catholic fortress in the frozen north country. Ex-warrior Magnus, losing his home and family as the Christian conversion of pagan lands begins, becomes a bodyguard for hire for the Church and in doing so alienates himself from his own people. On a journey north through the Black Road, to convey a Cardinal and his young female apprentice to the fortress of Bishop Oakenfort, the Cardinal is killed during an ambush. Magnus continues to escort the apprentice Julia, who's also a trained warrior, only to be betrayed and left for dead once they get close to the destination.
As Volume 2 begins, a healed Magnus keeps traveling north to seek revenge against Julia. He's accompanied by a female mercenary-turned-blacksmith on the Black Road. As they arrive within sight of the fortress they learn of a holy relic in transit to Oakenfort, an item that will aid him in uniting all of Christiandom under his demented leadership. They form a plan to thwart his efforts and embarrass the Church by stealing the relic and using it against Oakenfort. Also, Julia awaits within the walls. Unfortunately for the soldiers serving the Bishop, they mistake the burly Magnus for someone as slow and stupid as he appears to them. Much to their regret.
This is an epic story that allows the crafty scripting of Wood and the intriguing art of Brown to really explore the potential of this setting. Along with the suspense there is plenty of absorbing conversations regarding religion, holy relics, power and politics and more honest values in life. The numerous fight and action scenes really allow Brown to showcase what he's capable of. Recommended.
As Volume 2 begins, a healed Magnus keeps traveling north to seek revenge against Julia. He's accompanied by a female mercenary-turned-blacksmith on the Black Road. As they arrive within sight of the fortress they learn of a holy relic in transit to Oakenfort, an item that will aid him in uniting all of Christiandom under his demented leadership. They form a plan to thwart his efforts and embarrass the Church by stealing the relic and using it against Oakenfort. Also, Julia awaits within the walls. Unfortunately for the soldiers serving the Bishop, they mistake the burly Magnus for someone as slow and stupid as he appears to them. Much to their regret.
This is an epic story that allows the crafty scripting of Wood and the intriguing art of Brown to really explore the potential of this setting. Along with the suspense there is plenty of absorbing conversations regarding religion, holy relics, power and politics and more honest values in life. The numerous fight and action scenes really allow Brown to showcase what he's capable of. Recommended.
February 1, 2018
With the first Black Road volume, I couldn't really figure out why Magnus was so hellbent on destroying Bishop Oakenfort, but was happy to go along for the ride because Magnus, his companions, and this Viking world were so compelling. Now that we're in volume two, I expected some answers...and received essentially none. That's not to say there weren't a few flashbacks to flesh out Magnus's story! But it seems like he's mostly just there to get in a fight because the bishop chopped too many trees down.
That said, it's still Black Road, so it still draws you in with good dialogue, great art, and thrilling action. I don't necessarily know what any character's motivation was, but I still had a good time reading as they all pillaged through the frozen north.
A sidenote: if you were hoping for a resolution to the twist ending of volume one, prepare to be disappointed because there's no solid explanation for why the girl from Haifa betrayed him. Kinda disappointing.
That said, it's still Black Road, so it still draws you in with good dialogue, great art, and thrilling action. I don't necessarily know what any character's motivation was, but I still had a good time reading as they all pillaged through the frozen north.
A sidenote: if you were hoping for a resolution to the twist ending of volume one, prepare to be disappointed because there's no solid explanation for why the girl from Haifa betrayed him. Kinda disappointing.
February 17, 2018
Wood continues a solid story that captures well the dynamic of interaction between Pagan and Christian forces in northern Europe during the years of Christianity's initial expansion. Magnus is a fascinating character because of the conflict at his core--he's not Christian and has no intention of converting, but he's willing to work with the Christians to try to minimize the violence of the transition. He's basically a good man on the side of good people then, willing to confront bad actors on both sides of the religious divide. This makes him not quite trusted by anyone.
The art is solid too. Sketchy in places, but sketchy in a way that is consistent and so clearly intentional. It has a roughness to it that fits the story, setting and characters. This is one of my favorite Brian Woods comics.
The art is solid too. Sketchy in places, but sketchy in a way that is consistent and so clearly intentional. It has a roughness to it that fits the story, setting and characters. This is one of my favorite Brian Woods comics.
September 7, 2017
Conclusion to this tale of the rise of Christianity in the frozen North.
This comic collection deals with Magnus, a fierce warrior, out to defeat a renegade Bishop who plans to establish his own Christian rule in the North of Scandinavia. Alongside him is Kitta, a smith, and ahead of him is Jessica, a Jewess also possibly out to kill the bishop. Flashbacks, betrayal, battles, bloodshed and death of loved ones are all part of the plot.
Well-illustrated and interesting, this is worth a look. It all arrives at a satisfactory conclusion and it's recommended to lovers of tales about barbarians or history.
This comic collection deals with Magnus, a fierce warrior, out to defeat a renegade Bishop who plans to establish his own Christian rule in the North of Scandinavia. Alongside him is Kitta, a smith, and ahead of him is Jessica, a Jewess also possibly out to kill the bishop. Flashbacks, betrayal, battles, bloodshed and death of loved ones are all part of the plot.
Well-illustrated and interesting, this is worth a look. It all arrives at a satisfactory conclusion and it's recommended to lovers of tales about barbarians or history.
January 23, 2018
I liked this second TPB *much* more than the first one. It helped that most of the characters were already established by the first volume, but more than that the first volume really was only half a story and ended on an awkward cliffhanger I didn't really like -- not to mention that it was nothing like the back of the book led me to believe!
This second volume, on the other hand, lives up to the promise of the best moments in Vol. 1 and brings the story home to a (mostly) satisfying ending. I think the publisher would do better to combine both books into a single volume and sell them together; they'd have a lot more happy readers.
This second volume, on the other hand, lives up to the promise of the best moments in Vol. 1 and brings the story home to a (mostly) satisfying ending. I think the publisher would do better to combine both books into a single volume and sell them together; they'd have a lot more happy readers.
July 16, 2022
Disappointing conclusion. I guess I expected a grand arc not a dead villain in 10 issues. I like the main character Magnus Black and some of the dialogue is really solid and poignant but I don’t really understand what his motivation was. There are no other developed characters. His ally pops up and though they clearly have a past we don’t get to know her. Also the character of Julia made zero sense to me and she has a large role. Why was she here? What did she want? And most of all why the heck did she kill herself?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 2, 2018
Brian Wood should really consider asking for help about his narration and the ommited motive of Julia for her actions really bugged in the end.
I liked the "Gladiator, the movie " style of Magnus in his last fight, and the conclusion was almost acceptable. This volume I got used to their wierd narration, I really liked Magnus the black, but actually I am glad it finished. I couldn't read a 3 volume of it. :))
I liked the "Gladiator, the movie " style of Magnus in his last fight, and the conclusion was almost acceptable. This volume I got used to their wierd narration, I really liked Magnus the black, but actually I am glad it finished. I couldn't read a 3 volume of it. :))
September 18, 2018
Magnus the Black is a large viking looking into the death of a Christian Cardinal he befriended on the Black Road. The path leads to a fortress in the far north where a treacherous Bishop is looking to take over the Christian Church. Despite referring to itself as a "Magnus the Black Mystery," there isn't much of a mystery here. There is a good story, just not a mystery, as Magnus seeks revenge for the death of his friend.
April 14, 2020
The story of Magnus the Black comes to a stopping point, if not a conclusion, as he deals with the Christian stronghold in the northernmost reaches of his homeland. Magnus is a simple man, with no axe to grind against either the pagan faith he was born into or the Christian faith spreading across the land. But he will not rest until he destroys those who would use their faith to enslave and destroy others. A simple tale of justice, revenge and faith well told.
August 25, 2024
BLACK ROAD, vol 2 - A PAGAN DEATH
Stunning tale of a hero’s quest
#6- A Pagan Death - "Julia's out there somewhere, and she knows I'm wounded and disadvantaged." - Magnus
#7- God's Power on Earth - "Because we have a plan." - Magnus
#8- Sword-Norssk - "You think me unfair, to fight a chained man?" - Oakenfort
#9- Shatterpoint- "I killed this mad priest..."
#10- Magnus the Black - "Me, I left my anger back there with Oakenfort. Now, I'm simply motivated."
Stunning tale of a hero’s quest
#6- A Pagan Death - "Julia's out there somewhere, and she knows I'm wounded and disadvantaged." - Magnus
#7- God's Power on Earth - "Because we have a plan." - Magnus
#8- Sword-Norssk - "You think me unfair, to fight a chained man?" - Oakenfort
#9- Shatterpoint- "I killed this mad priest..."
#10- Magnus the Black - "Me, I left my anger back there with Oakenfort. Now, I'm simply motivated."
October 24, 2017
So I think I read the first volume wrong, and this one hinted at it: “A Magnus the Black Mystery.” The minimal style. The solo man doing what’s right in a world of wrong. It’s a Scandic noir novel. Bravo. Bra-fucking-vo. It’s simple, it’s violent, and it’s noir. Now I have to go back and reread the first one...
July 18, 2018
Magnus the Black has located Bishop Oakenfort, the rebel cleric, and discovered his plans. With assistance, he manages to get inside the fortress and confront Bishop Oakenfort, putting the holy relic to a test. Will he succeed in defeating the rogue bishop? Will he finally get a straight answer from Julia? Well, read the book already and find out!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews