I very rarely put comic books in here. But this Thorgal volume was a whopping 196 pages of full-color content, complimented with sketches and background history surrounding the inception of Thorgal by Van Hamme and Rosinski. Please, allow me the indulgence :)
Unfamiliar with Thorgal, I found this integral volume to be a masterpiece. It oozes flavor, in many different shapes and forms. There are mythological and viking influences, some Arthurian challenges and quests, as well as brushes of science fantasy and psychedelic acid punk (although this last one is watered down). Clear influences from Prince Valiant and the early TSR Dungeons and Dragons.
There are a total of four stories in this first volume, each its own isolated affair. Thorgal, Aaricia and Gandalf get the most development, backstory and characterization in the first two. Although a lot of background information (e.g. the animosity between Gandalf and Thorgal) is waved out for the reader, this doesn't retract from the experience. We get sorcery, vikings, underground biomes, magi-tech, ogres, dwarves, witches, and much much more.
The illustration work by Rosinski is top notch, and improves as the tome advances. The colors are very vivid, and pop out of the page. Including an illustration sheet was a brilliant touch.
This is a must for comic book fans, beautifully edited and nicely hardbound.
I intend to continue purchasing and enjoying this excellent series.