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Norse Mythology: The Graphic Novels #2
Norse Mythology, Vol. 2
Il secondo volume della trasposizione a fumetti dell'omonimo romanzo di Neil Gaiman con i disegni della leggenda dei fumetti, vincitore dell'Eisner Award, P. Craig Russell.
152 pages, Hardcover
Published April 5, 2022
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324 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
February 21, 2022
Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for this DRC in return for an honest opinion.
Anyone who has talked to me about books for more than 3 seconds knows how much I adore Neil Gaiman. I think if ever there was a genuinely magical human, or someone more in touch with the beautifully imaginative side of life, that it would be him. Reading the Norse Mythology book and then the graphic novel just kind of cements that adoration further.
The story about Sutting/Oden is by far my favorite (aside from any of the Loki storylines). Are you a bad poet? Blame Odin, and his mead farts.
Norse Mythology Volume 2 will be available on April 5th of this year. It’s a beautiful addition to any collection.
Anyone who has talked to me about books for more than 3 seconds knows how much I adore Neil Gaiman. I think if ever there was a genuinely magical human, or someone more in touch with the beautifully imaginative side of life, that it would be him. Reading the Norse Mythology book and then the graphic novel just kind of cements that adoration further.
The story about Sutting/Oden is by far my favorite (aside from any of the Loki storylines). Are you a bad poet? Blame Odin, and his mead farts.
Norse Mythology Volume 2 will be available on April 5th of this year. It’s a beautiful addition to any collection.
April 26, 2022
Norse mythology hijinks as the various gods and creatures take turns stealing stuff from and pulling tricks on one another. Fun.
FOR REFERENCE
A graphic novel adaptation of the Neil Gaiman prose book, Norse Mythology, this volume collects issues #1 through #6 of the second arc of the Dark Horse comic-book series Norse Mythology, a/k/a Norse Mythology II.
Contents:
Story and Words by Neil Gaiman. Script and Layouts by P. Craig Russell.
• The Mead of Poets [issues #1-2] / Art by Matt Horak
• Thor's Journey to the Land of Giants [issues #3-4] / Art by Mark Buckingham
• The Apples of Immortality [issue #5] / Art by Gabriel Hernández Walta
• The Story of Gerd and Frey [issue #6] / Art by Sandy Jarrell
• Cover Gallery / Art by P. Craig Russell and David Mack
• Sketchbook / Art and Notes by Sandy Jarrell, Mark Buckingham, Matt Horak, and Gabriel Hernández Walta
FOR REFERENCE
A graphic novel adaptation of the Neil Gaiman prose book, Norse Mythology, this volume collects issues #1 through #6 of the second arc of the Dark Horse comic-book series Norse Mythology, a/k/a Norse Mythology II.
Contents:
Story and Words by Neil Gaiman. Script and Layouts by P. Craig Russell.
• The Mead of Poets [issues #1-2] / Art by Matt Horak
• Thor's Journey to the Land of Giants [issues #3-4] / Art by Mark Buckingham
• The Apples of Immortality [issue #5] / Art by Gabriel Hernández Walta
• The Story of Gerd and Frey [issue #6] / Art by Sandy Jarrell
• Cover Gallery / Art by P. Craig Russell and David Mack
• Sketchbook / Art and Notes by Sandy Jarrell, Mark Buckingham, Matt Horak, and Gabriel Hernández Walta
May 4, 2023
I'm enjoying my time diving into Norse mythology through a number of different facets - through Rick Riordan's Magnus Chase series, through Norse Mythology (graphic novels and novel), and even through Red Rising (some Norse mythology references).
In this 2nd volume, we are shown the following four different stories:
• The Mead of Poets [issues #1-2] / Art by Matt Horak
• Thor's Journey to the Land of Giants [issues #3-4] / Art by Mark Buckingham
• The Apples of Immortality [issue #5] / Art by Gabriel Hernández Walta
• The Story of Gerd and Frey [issue #6] / Art by Sandy Jarrell
April 17, 2022
Gaiman knows Nordic lore
Really enjoy the visual representation of Norse mythology. Entertaining read. Wonderful artistry. Hope he does another volume! Elfheim looks beautiful ❤️
Really enjoy the visual representation of Norse mythology. Entertaining read. Wonderful artistry. Hope he does another volume! Elfheim looks beautiful ❤️
August 4, 2023
In this volume, Russell adapts several stories. We see the death of the God of Poetry by the hands of two dwarves, and how the Odin gets revenge on them. In another story, Thor and Loki travel to the land of giants and are put through several tests of their abilities that turn out to be major illusions. Loki mistakenly gives away the goddess who guards the Apples of Immortality and has to get her back before he's tortured by his aging family. We follow Frey and how he found and married his wife, but gave up the sword that might save him during Ragnarok.
Read the full review, and find more graphic novel reviews, at The Graphic Library.
Read the full review, and find more graphic novel reviews, at The Graphic Library.
May 27, 2022
"That's the thing about Loki, we are grateful to have him even when we hate him the most".
But the artist did a terrible job depicting him. It's poor taste to make him a typical, pale and unattractive villain. We're talking about a God. And why does Odin have a thunderbolt on his eye patch? Still, the art is over all nice and the mythology is well enough covered.
But the artist did a terrible job depicting him. It's poor taste to make him a typical, pale and unattractive villain. We're talking about a God. And why does Odin have a thunderbolt on his eye patch? Still, the art is over all nice and the mythology is well enough covered.
April 10, 2023
Okay, let's be real...these stories are utterly ridiculous and stupid.
And yet, there's so much fun to be had here. The storytelling is excellent, and the art—a different artist for each story—is uniformly fantastic.
And yet, there's so much fun to be had here. The storytelling is excellent, and the art—a different artist for each story—is uniformly fantastic.
July 21, 2024
This is a great continuation of the Norse Mythology guided by Neil Gaiman. Fewer stories but each were more indepth and less 'comic-like' despite the graphic element. It's also nice that the stories have various graphic artists as that really gives interest to the characters and how they perceive them. I also like the last chapter that shows some of the cover concepts and character and page developments that the artists pursued on the way to their final result. Seeing the final result without those draw-ups and concept developments, doesn't allow the normal person to get a glimpse of the work you go through in order to get to the end. It still doesn't show your actual time, but there isn't a craft out there that you can see that I suppose.
I recommend this book!
I recommend this book!
July 25, 2022
Gaiman is a master storyteller; his craft felt underwhelming with this graphic novel. I'd like to love it more.
May 26, 2023
Good!
Is this a graphic novel? Or must those take the structure of a novel?
Is this a graphic novel? Or must those take the structure of a novel?
November 7, 2025
Lots of giants and pranks being pulled…looking at you Loki!
August 22, 2022
Poetry and giants.
June 28, 2022
5/5
Several years ago I started but did not finish Gaiman's Norse Mythology in its original text-only form. Something about it just didn't hold my attention through to the end. Now, though, I'll gladly read every one of his stories in graphic novel form--this was a super quick read and an utter delight. I found the illustrations charming, Gaiman's wit abundant, and the stories themselves fascinating, whether or not I was previously familiar with them. The story of Utgardsloki had particular staying power for me; I can already tell it's wedged its way deep into my imagination and I'll keep thinking about it for a long while hence. Would recommend for anyone regardless of mythological interest--it's just good fun!
Several years ago I started but did not finish Gaiman's Norse Mythology in its original text-only form. Something about it just didn't hold my attention through to the end. Now, though, I'll gladly read every one of his stories in graphic novel form--this was a super quick read and an utter delight. I found the illustrations charming, Gaiman's wit abundant, and the stories themselves fascinating, whether or not I was previously familiar with them. The story of Utgardsloki had particular staying power for me; I can already tell it's wedged its way deep into my imagination and I'll keep thinking about it for a long while hence. Would recommend for anyone regardless of mythological interest--it's just good fun!
February 5, 2022
Note: I received a review copy of Norse Mythology Volume 2 from Dark Horse Comics and Edelweiss+. All thoughts are my own.
Dark Horse Comics continues its adaptation of Neil Gaiman's "Norse Mythology" with "Norse Mythology Volume 2." Collecting four more retellings of Norse myths, "Norse Mythology Volume 2" features artwork from Matt Horak, Mark Buckingham, Gabriel Hernández Walta, and Sandy Jarrell. And, much like the first volume, adaptor P. Craig Russell and the various artists deliver a faithful, entertaining retelling of these stories. If you've read Gaiman's original book, you'll enjoy seeing these tales brought to life like this. And if you haven't, then "Norse Mythology Volume 2" is a great place to start.
Picking up where the previous volume ended, "Norse Mythology Volume 2" adapts the next four stories in Gaiman's original book. "The Mead of Poets" explains how good (and bad) poets get their inspiration. "Thor's Journey to the Land of Giants" follows Thor and Loki as they fall prey to the trickery of a giant. "The Apples of Immortality" sees Loki having to figure out a way to rescue the Gods' source of eternal life. And "The Story of Gerd and Frey" follows Frey as he tries to fill a void in his heart. For me, this volume is kind of a mixed bag. This part of Gaiman's "Norse Mythology" is easily my least favorite. And this adaptation suffers from that. None of the stories are bad or anything. They're just not as iconic as those in volume 1 or those set to be adapted in volume 3.
All of the stories are solid, though. The standouts are probably "The Mead of Poets" and "Thor's Journey to the Land of Giants". Both of these stories straddle the line between the inherent silliness of the gods and their over-the-top brutality. Plus, they're just a lot of fun too. And they're also the longest stories in the collection, meaning there's more time to delve into them and enjoy all that's going on. "The Apples of Immortality" and "The Story of Gerd and Frey" are both enjoyable in their own rights. But, overall, they're less memorable than the first two. Once again, there's no overarching storyline. But that's fine. Honestly, a lot of the joy comes from the disconnected nature of the stories. And it gives the whole collection a nice re-readability factor. You can just randomly pick it up and read whatever story you want without any trouble.
Adaptation-wise, "Norse Mythology Volume 2" continues the trend begun in volume 1. It's a faithful adaptation, with the bulk of the text lifted directly from Gaiman's original book. There are a lot of captions, still, but unlike his work in the "American Gods" adaptations, Russell better embraces the visual possibilities of a graphic novel. Here, he allows the art to do a lot of the storytelling, primarily using the captions to set scenes or tie various scenes together. Overall, this approach works very well. It still feels like you're reading Gaiman's original book but with the added benefit of some truly gorgeous illustrations to bring the stories to life. And it's a great experience. Speaking of the illustrations, the best part of these "Norse Mythology" adaptations continues to be the artwork - both how good it is and how varied it is.
Each story is illustrated by a different artist. Matt Horak illustrates "The Mead of Poets". Mark Buckingham tackles "Thor's Journey to the Land of Giants". Gabriel Hernández Walta does "The Apples of Immortality". And Sandy Jarrell illustrates "The Story of Gerd and Frey". While each artist brings their own style to their stories, each story still shares a cohesive look overall. That combination of variety within the constraints of a certain look proves absolutely delightful. And it only adds to the feeling that you're reading a collection of stories about these gods. There's not a page in "Norse Mythology Volume 2" that isn't gorgeous to behold. Personally, I found myself most drawn to Horak and Walta's artwork. But every artist brings their A-Game here. And the end result is well worth the price of entry.
At the end of the day, "Norse Mythology Volume 2" may not be my favorite installment in the "Norse Mythology" series. But it is an enjoyable, faithful adaptation of Neil Gaiman's original book. Each individual story is well-adapted, even if most of them aren't as memorable as some past (or future) stories. And the artwork remains absolutely incredible. If you're a fan of Gaiman's work, or of Norse mythology in general, "Norse Mythology Volume 2" is well worth a read. And if you're new to Norse mythology, there's honestly no better place to start than with these adaptations.
Dark Horse Comics continues its adaptation of Neil Gaiman's "Norse Mythology" with "Norse Mythology Volume 2." Collecting four more retellings of Norse myths, "Norse Mythology Volume 2" features artwork from Matt Horak, Mark Buckingham, Gabriel Hernández Walta, and Sandy Jarrell. And, much like the first volume, adaptor P. Craig Russell and the various artists deliver a faithful, entertaining retelling of these stories. If you've read Gaiman's original book, you'll enjoy seeing these tales brought to life like this. And if you haven't, then "Norse Mythology Volume 2" is a great place to start.
Picking up where the previous volume ended, "Norse Mythology Volume 2" adapts the next four stories in Gaiman's original book. "The Mead of Poets" explains how good (and bad) poets get their inspiration. "Thor's Journey to the Land of Giants" follows Thor and Loki as they fall prey to the trickery of a giant. "The Apples of Immortality" sees Loki having to figure out a way to rescue the Gods' source of eternal life. And "The Story of Gerd and Frey" follows Frey as he tries to fill a void in his heart. For me, this volume is kind of a mixed bag. This part of Gaiman's "Norse Mythology" is easily my least favorite. And this adaptation suffers from that. None of the stories are bad or anything. They're just not as iconic as those in volume 1 or those set to be adapted in volume 3.
All of the stories are solid, though. The standouts are probably "The Mead of Poets" and "Thor's Journey to the Land of Giants". Both of these stories straddle the line between the inherent silliness of the gods and their over-the-top brutality. Plus, they're just a lot of fun too. And they're also the longest stories in the collection, meaning there's more time to delve into them and enjoy all that's going on. "The Apples of Immortality" and "The Story of Gerd and Frey" are both enjoyable in their own rights. But, overall, they're less memorable than the first two. Once again, there's no overarching storyline. But that's fine. Honestly, a lot of the joy comes from the disconnected nature of the stories. And it gives the whole collection a nice re-readability factor. You can just randomly pick it up and read whatever story you want without any trouble.
Adaptation-wise, "Norse Mythology Volume 2" continues the trend begun in volume 1. It's a faithful adaptation, with the bulk of the text lifted directly from Gaiman's original book. There are a lot of captions, still, but unlike his work in the "American Gods" adaptations, Russell better embraces the visual possibilities of a graphic novel. Here, he allows the art to do a lot of the storytelling, primarily using the captions to set scenes or tie various scenes together. Overall, this approach works very well. It still feels like you're reading Gaiman's original book but with the added benefit of some truly gorgeous illustrations to bring the stories to life. And it's a great experience. Speaking of the illustrations, the best part of these "Norse Mythology" adaptations continues to be the artwork - both how good it is and how varied it is.
Each story is illustrated by a different artist. Matt Horak illustrates "The Mead of Poets". Mark Buckingham tackles "Thor's Journey to the Land of Giants". Gabriel Hernández Walta does "The Apples of Immortality". And Sandy Jarrell illustrates "The Story of Gerd and Frey". While each artist brings their own style to their stories, each story still shares a cohesive look overall. That combination of variety within the constraints of a certain look proves absolutely delightful. And it only adds to the feeling that you're reading a collection of stories about these gods. There's not a page in "Norse Mythology Volume 2" that isn't gorgeous to behold. Personally, I found myself most drawn to Horak and Walta's artwork. But every artist brings their A-Game here. And the end result is well worth the price of entry.
At the end of the day, "Norse Mythology Volume 2" may not be my favorite installment in the "Norse Mythology" series. But it is an enjoyable, faithful adaptation of Neil Gaiman's original book. Each individual story is well-adapted, even if most of them aren't as memorable as some past (or future) stories. And the artwork remains absolutely incredible. If you're a fan of Gaiman's work, or of Norse mythology in general, "Norse Mythology Volume 2" is well worth a read. And if you're new to Norse mythology, there's honestly no better place to start than with these adaptations.
April 24, 2023
I love Norse mythology with all my heart and especially the retellings of Neil Gaiman. These comics are beautifully designed and a wonderful addition for fans.
February 25, 2022
This was an enjoyable collection of myths reenvisioned by Neil Gaiman. I am a big fan of mythology and am getting into Norse Mythology more and more. Also, I love Neil Gaiman's works but I have yet to read his full book. I have been reading his graphic novel versions of his books more recently and was excited when I saw that this book was up for review on Edelweiss.
Out of the collection of four myths here, I only knew one of them and that was "Thor's Journey to the Land of Giants", which was definitely my favorite from this volume as a whole. I enjoyed the story and how the giant was able to trick both Thor and Loki. The whole beginning of the story with Thor's goats was a part that stood out to me.
Another one of the myths that I enjoyed from the whole was "The Apples of Immortality". This was another dealing with Loki, who is trying to figure out how to rescue a woman who holds the source of the Gods' immortality. Loki is good at messing up things for those around him and he sure does in this myth. But he also shows his resourcefulness and cunningness in this volume. He is known for being the God of Trickery and this story was a good example of that.
The other two myths in this volume "The Mead of Poets" and "The Story of Gerd and Frey" did not stand out to me as much as the other two. I have heard the line at the end of "The Mead of Poets" about where bad poetry comes from and also the overall idea of where great poetry comes from. Though I did not know the myth behind the idea. So that was interesting. "The Story of Gerd and Frey" just was Frey trying to fill his life with happiness by marrying a Giant. As a story, it was okay but along with the other stories in this volume, it was probably the least interesting to me.
I also wanted to touch on the artwork in this volume. The art style in this volume grew on me as I was reading it. Each comic has a different style to them but still feels connected enough to go along with each other.
This volume as a whole stood out to me a lot and makes me want to pick up Neil's full Norse Mythology book even more. I really enjoyed most of the stories in this volume and would like to see the others in the full book. Also, I plan on picking up the first volume in this graphic novel series of the myths. I wanted to before reviewing this but did not yet. I will be sometime this year hopefully. But if you have not read the first volume you definitely do not have to. This volume holds up on its own because each of the myths can be read without reading the ones before them. It's a short story collection.
*I was given an ARC of the graphic novel from Edelweiss. All opinions are my own. Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss. *
Out of the collection of four myths here, I only knew one of them and that was "Thor's Journey to the Land of Giants", which was definitely my favorite from this volume as a whole. I enjoyed the story and how the giant was able to trick both Thor and Loki. The whole beginning of the story with Thor's goats was a part that stood out to me.
Another one of the myths that I enjoyed from the whole was "The Apples of Immortality". This was another dealing with Loki, who is trying to figure out how to rescue a woman who holds the source of the Gods' immortality. Loki is good at messing up things for those around him and he sure does in this myth. But he also shows his resourcefulness and cunningness in this volume. He is known for being the God of Trickery and this story was a good example of that.
The other two myths in this volume "The Mead of Poets" and "The Story of Gerd and Frey" did not stand out to me as much as the other two. I have heard the line at the end of "The Mead of Poets" about where bad poetry comes from and also the overall idea of where great poetry comes from. Though I did not know the myth behind the idea. So that was interesting. "The Story of Gerd and Frey" just was Frey trying to fill his life with happiness by marrying a Giant. As a story, it was okay but along with the other stories in this volume, it was probably the least interesting to me.
I also wanted to touch on the artwork in this volume. The art style in this volume grew on me as I was reading it. Each comic has a different style to them but still feels connected enough to go along with each other.
This volume as a whole stood out to me a lot and makes me want to pick up Neil's full Norse Mythology book even more. I really enjoyed most of the stories in this volume and would like to see the others in the full book. Also, I plan on picking up the first volume in this graphic novel series of the myths. I wanted to before reviewing this but did not yet. I will be sometime this year hopefully. But if you have not read the first volume you definitely do not have to. This volume holds up on its own because each of the myths can be read without reading the ones before them. It's a short story collection.
*I was given an ARC of the graphic novel from Edelweiss. All opinions are my own. Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss. *
September 15, 2022
The world of Asgardian gods opens up in this graphic novel. We see that the divinities can fall prey to the machinations of others and even walk foolishly to their own dooms.
The pages are soaked in the images of gods, dwarves, giants and mortals attempting to negotiate the world with each other. It abounds with cruelty, hunger, desire, love and unexpected absurdity. While Loki is seen as the merry trickster once more, we are reminded that Odin himself is a sly one, capable of taking on giants and beating them at their own games.
In the previous novel, we witnessed the laughable image of manly Thor dolled up in a voluminous wedding dress in order to retrieve his stolen hammer. Bruce Coville wrote that this seems to be the only comical story within the Norse pantheon of myths.
But, in this graphic, it would seem that humor and horror often go hand in hand. A god Kvasir is slain for his blood so that it will be an ingredient in magical mead that bestows poetic gifts on the drinker. In this same story, nine people are tricked into killing each other (a scene that might be seen as awful or hilarious, depending on your temper) and Odin vomits up and shits out the swallowed magical mead in almost equal portions, a scene that’s as funny as it sounds. Loki resorts to ribald self-harm to get a giantess to laugh after Thor kills the giantess’s father.
Okay, so the jokes aren’t high wit. These are Norse gods; what do you expect? But the illustrations bear out the stories handsomely. Metal gleams; food drips in succulent splendor; giants loom off the sheet; gods age and regain youthful splendor on the same page; red-bearded Thor bristles with anger, embarrassment or thought and handsome naked Frey perches whimsically on an equally unclad Gerd as they enjoy wedded bliss. (This scene is bucolic, sweet and almost too cute for words.)
For more graphic splendor, check out the variant covers in the back of the book. They are truly stunning and you wonder how the editors managed to pick one above the others.
The pages are soaked in the images of gods, dwarves, giants and mortals attempting to negotiate the world with each other. It abounds with cruelty, hunger, desire, love and unexpected absurdity. While Loki is seen as the merry trickster once more, we are reminded that Odin himself is a sly one, capable of taking on giants and beating them at their own games.
In the previous novel, we witnessed the laughable image of manly Thor dolled up in a voluminous wedding dress in order to retrieve his stolen hammer. Bruce Coville wrote that this seems to be the only comical story within the Norse pantheon of myths.
But, in this graphic, it would seem that humor and horror often go hand in hand. A god Kvasir is slain for his blood so that it will be an ingredient in magical mead that bestows poetic gifts on the drinker. In this same story, nine people are tricked into killing each other (a scene that might be seen as awful or hilarious, depending on your temper) and Odin vomits up and shits out the swallowed magical mead in almost equal portions, a scene that’s as funny as it sounds. Loki resorts to ribald self-harm to get a giantess to laugh after Thor kills the giantess’s father.
Okay, so the jokes aren’t high wit. These are Norse gods; what do you expect? But the illustrations bear out the stories handsomely. Metal gleams; food drips in succulent splendor; giants loom off the sheet; gods age and regain youthful splendor on the same page; red-bearded Thor bristles with anger, embarrassment or thought and handsome naked Frey perches whimsically on an equally unclad Gerd as they enjoy wedded bliss. (This scene is bucolic, sweet and almost too cute for words.)
For more graphic splendor, check out the variant covers in the back of the book. They are truly stunning and you wonder how the editors managed to pick one above the others.
November 30, 2022
This graphic novel is a collection of classical Norse mythology tales with Loki, Odin, Thor, Freya and all the rest. The text is very brief and straight to the point like a classical children's fairy tale or a retelling of a myth. I wonder if Gaiman's original text has a bit more flare, because in the graphical form it didn't really come out in any aspect.
Part of the still ongoing Neil Gaiman by Dark Horse HumbleBundle. Seems there are some pretty nice graphic novels there!
Part of the still ongoing Neil Gaiman by Dark Horse HumbleBundle. Seems there are some pretty nice graphic novels there!
November 15, 2023
Reviewing all three volumes, not just this one.
This series was a wonderful little treat. As always with comic adaptations of prose, and certainly with P. Craig Russel's adaptations of Gaiman works, the storytelling can be a little stiff at times. But Russel has gotten much, MUCH better about this over the years, and I think this is one of his more successful efforts. The art is allowed to tell most of the story, and that aspect is what really shines here. These myths are so laden with distinct fantastical imagery and icons, and I think they were done justice. Some artists were better than others, of course, as is the nature of anthology. But none were bad.
Honestly I wish there had been more diversity of artists though. Most of them stuck pretty closely to what Russel established, but the stories by Mignola or Rubin are evidence that this was not a requirement. I feel that several more highly distinct art styles really could've elevated this project above simple adaptation.
Regardless of the art, the stories themselves are beautiful. Obviously we're dealing with mythology here, so not everything makes perfect sense. If you're looking for consistent fantasy worldbuilding, never look to real, living mythology. These stories have passed through the mouths, ears, and eyes of countless generations across the centuries, changing every time they are spoken. They reflect the stages through which they have passed. These stories contain the struggles, loves, fears, and aspirations of the people who told them, the people who still tell them, and you who read them. Do not look for simple allegory, but study the way characters look at each other. Study how they speak about the world. Study their desires and their worries. Study for long enough, and you will see people you know in this book. You will see yourself.
I am glad Neil Gaiman has found a way to embrace the absurdity of it all, and find a new way to keep these stories alive for a new generation. With the exploding popularity of Norse mythology in our television, films, and video games, it's more important than ever to remind ourselves where it all came from. This too, is another stage through which Nordic stories have passed, and future retellings will reflect it long after it has been forgotten. The cycle begins anew.
This series was a wonderful little treat. As always with comic adaptations of prose, and certainly with P. Craig Russel's adaptations of Gaiman works, the storytelling can be a little stiff at times. But Russel has gotten much, MUCH better about this over the years, and I think this is one of his more successful efforts. The art is allowed to tell most of the story, and that aspect is what really shines here. These myths are so laden with distinct fantastical imagery and icons, and I think they were done justice. Some artists were better than others, of course, as is the nature of anthology. But none were bad.
Honestly I wish there had been more diversity of artists though. Most of them stuck pretty closely to what Russel established, but the stories by Mignola or Rubin are evidence that this was not a requirement. I feel that several more highly distinct art styles really could've elevated this project above simple adaptation.
Regardless of the art, the stories themselves are beautiful. Obviously we're dealing with mythology here, so not everything makes perfect sense. If you're looking for consistent fantasy worldbuilding, never look to real, living mythology. These stories have passed through the mouths, ears, and eyes of countless generations across the centuries, changing every time they are spoken. They reflect the stages through which they have passed. These stories contain the struggles, loves, fears, and aspirations of the people who told them, the people who still tell them, and you who read them. Do not look for simple allegory, but study the way characters look at each other. Study how they speak about the world. Study their desires and their worries. Study for long enough, and you will see people you know in this book. You will see yourself.
I am glad Neil Gaiman has found a way to embrace the absurdity of it all, and find a new way to keep these stories alive for a new generation. With the exploding popularity of Norse mythology in our television, films, and video games, it's more important than ever to remind ourselves where it all came from. This too, is another stage through which Nordic stories have passed, and future retellings will reflect it long after it has been forgotten. The cycle begins anew.
June 14, 2025
There's even less to like here than in the first volume. The tone is way too dry, quite uncharacteristic of the creator of the Sandman.
May 4, 2023
Dieses Review bezieht sich auf die deutsche Edition, erschienen im Splitter Verlag unter der ISBN 9783967920833
Neil Gaiman war schon im letzten Jahr ein Autor, dessen Geschichten mir durch alle Genres immer wieder begegnet sind. Und so verwundert es weniger, dass ich das Jahr mit einem Review von der Comic-Adaption seines Buchs »Nordische Mythen und Sagen« beginne, in dem Gaiman die nordischen Götter rund um Odin und Thor wieder aufleben lässt.
Diese Comic-Adaption hält sich dabei sehr dicht an der Buchvorlage, weshalb es wenig verwundert, dass die nächsten Kapitel der Vorlage den Weg in diesen zweiten Band gefunden haben. Insgesamt fünf Geschichten sind enthalten, die alle nicht aufeinander aufbauen, so wie es der Leser aus der nordischen Mythologie kennt. Somit ist davon auszugehen, dass auch der dritte Band sich an der Buchvorlage orientieren wird. Verwunderlich ist es nicht, denn Neil Gaiman hat aktiv an der Mitgestaltung der Adaption mitgewirkt.
Ich weiß gar nicht, weshalb ich beim Review zum ersten Band gar nicht darauf eingegangen bin, dass sich Craig Russel nur für einige zeichnerische Umsetzungen verantwortlich zeigt. Insgesamt sind nämlich mehrere Zeichner an der Adaption beteiligt, so dass das Gesamtbild noch bunter wird. Im Großen und Ganzen ähneln sich allerdings die Zeichnungen mit der Ausnahme von der Geschichte »Die Äpfel der Unsterblichkeit« von Gabriel Hernández Walta, deren Stil deutlich weniger comichaft ist und in meinen Augen etwas besser zu den Gottheiten des Nordens passt. Ansonsten ist es schon so, dass mir die Umsetzung ein wenig zu bunt ausgefallen ist, auch wenn mir die ausgewählten Geschichten gefallen, denn sie sind mit einer ordentlichen Portion Humor erzählt worden. Typisch nordische Mythologie eben.
Fazit
Da mir der erste Band recht gut gefallen hat (mal mit der Ausnahme, dass es ein bisschen zu bunt ist), verwundert es wenig, dass mir auch der zweite zusagt. Und so dürfte es mit allen Lesern sein, die schon den ersten Band kennen. Neil Gaiman hat den Geist der schrägen Truppe rund um den Göttervater Odin sehr sympathisch getroffen und ich freue mich schon, wenn der dritte Band erscheint.
Neil Gaiman war schon im letzten Jahr ein Autor, dessen Geschichten mir durch alle Genres immer wieder begegnet sind. Und so verwundert es weniger, dass ich das Jahr mit einem Review von der Comic-Adaption seines Buchs »Nordische Mythen und Sagen« beginne, in dem Gaiman die nordischen Götter rund um Odin und Thor wieder aufleben lässt.
Diese Comic-Adaption hält sich dabei sehr dicht an der Buchvorlage, weshalb es wenig verwundert, dass die nächsten Kapitel der Vorlage den Weg in diesen zweiten Band gefunden haben. Insgesamt fünf Geschichten sind enthalten, die alle nicht aufeinander aufbauen, so wie es der Leser aus der nordischen Mythologie kennt. Somit ist davon auszugehen, dass auch der dritte Band sich an der Buchvorlage orientieren wird. Verwunderlich ist es nicht, denn Neil Gaiman hat aktiv an der Mitgestaltung der Adaption mitgewirkt.
Ich weiß gar nicht, weshalb ich beim Review zum ersten Band gar nicht darauf eingegangen bin, dass sich Craig Russel nur für einige zeichnerische Umsetzungen verantwortlich zeigt. Insgesamt sind nämlich mehrere Zeichner an der Adaption beteiligt, so dass das Gesamtbild noch bunter wird. Im Großen und Ganzen ähneln sich allerdings die Zeichnungen mit der Ausnahme von der Geschichte »Die Äpfel der Unsterblichkeit« von Gabriel Hernández Walta, deren Stil deutlich weniger comichaft ist und in meinen Augen etwas besser zu den Gottheiten des Nordens passt. Ansonsten ist es schon so, dass mir die Umsetzung ein wenig zu bunt ausgefallen ist, auch wenn mir die ausgewählten Geschichten gefallen, denn sie sind mit einer ordentlichen Portion Humor erzählt worden. Typisch nordische Mythologie eben.
Fazit
Da mir der erste Band recht gut gefallen hat (mal mit der Ausnahme, dass es ein bisschen zu bunt ist), verwundert es wenig, dass mir auch der zweite zusagt. Und so dürfte es mit allen Lesern sein, die schon den ersten Band kennen. Neil Gaiman hat den Geist der schrägen Truppe rund um den Göttervater Odin sehr sympathisch getroffen und ich freue mich schon, wenn der dritte Band erscheint.
February 22, 2023
This volume collects Norse Mythology II, issues #1–#6, Dark Horse, c2017.
In the second collection of this series, Gaiman (story) and P. Craig Russell (script) again team with a group of artists (one for each story told) to bring more Norse myths to life. They include the story of Kvasir and how his blood was used to make a mead that gives those who drink it the gift of poetry; Thor, Loki, and Thialfi’s journey to Skrymir's stronghold of Utgardaloki where he tricks each with a challenge; Loki's bargain with Thiazi that might lose the gods' eternal life; and Frey’s journey to Valhalla and his quest for the one thing he is missing: true love.
Artwork by Matt Horak, Mark Buckingham, Gabriel Hernández Walta, and Sandy Jarrell is stunning overall. There is just enough difference in style between the four artists that readers will realize the end of one story and the beginning of the next. They are colorful and consistent throughout. They carry well the violence of the stories.
Recommended for ages 17+ for violence.
In the second collection of this series, Gaiman (story) and P. Craig Russell (script) again team with a group of artists (one for each story told) to bring more Norse myths to life. They include the story of Kvasir and how his blood was used to make a mead that gives those who drink it the gift of poetry; Thor, Loki, and Thialfi’s journey to Skrymir's stronghold of Utgardaloki where he tricks each with a challenge; Loki's bargain with Thiazi that might lose the gods' eternal life; and Frey’s journey to Valhalla and his quest for the one thing he is missing: true love.
Artwork by Matt Horak, Mark Buckingham, Gabriel Hernández Walta, and Sandy Jarrell is stunning overall. There is just enough difference in style between the four artists that readers will realize the end of one story and the beginning of the next. They are colorful and consistent throughout. They carry well the violence of the stories.
Recommended for ages 17+ for violence.
May 10, 2022
‘Do you ever wonder where poetry comes from? Do you ever ask yourself how it is that some people can dream great, wise, beautiful dreams and pass those dreams on as poetry to the world?’
The longest story in this second volume of Norse mythology retellings by Neil Gaiman is ‘The Mead of Poets’ - about the grisly and scatalogical origins of creativity. The Gaiman versions of these stories oscillate between extreme violence and cruelty, humorous high jinks, and romantic sentimentality. These pre-christian gods are essentially humans with massive powers which often enhance their personal flaws. Nevertheless you can see the origins of the ‘superhero’ not just in a characters such as Thor (who is of course a Marvel superhero as well) but also in Frey the brother of Freya who goes on a search for love. There’s a level of foreboding in these stories with inevitability of Ragnarök - the Norse armageddon, being foreshadowed at the end.
The longest story in this second volume of Norse mythology retellings by Neil Gaiman is ‘The Mead of Poets’ - about the grisly and scatalogical origins of creativity. The Gaiman versions of these stories oscillate between extreme violence and cruelty, humorous high jinks, and romantic sentimentality. These pre-christian gods are essentially humans with massive powers which often enhance their personal flaws. Nevertheless you can see the origins of the ‘superhero’ not just in a characters such as Thor (who is of course a Marvel superhero as well) but also in Frey the brother of Freya who goes on a search for love. There’s a level of foreboding in these stories with inevitability of Ragnarök - the Norse armageddon, being foreshadowed at the end.
January 21, 2024
Volume 2 of Norse Mythology, which adapts Neil Gaiman's book into comic form.
I preferred this volume to volume 1 because it picked some of the fun stories. It's still not as good as the book because that has the ability to go into more detail and conjure better visuals in my imagination. The art felt better in this volume than the first.
While volume 2 is better than volume 1 (imo) it is still a watered down look at some norse mythological stories - a good introduction to newbies rather than something amazing for people with an existing knowledge. If you want better art in comics there's a vast array of better comics in the world already. If you want something more detailed about norse myths, there's also a load of other literature available that's better. This isn't bad, it's just, well, just like an introduction for people with little time, preexisting knowledge on the topic, or younger audiences. 3/5
I preferred this volume to volume 1 because it picked some of the fun stories. It's still not as good as the book because that has the ability to go into more detail and conjure better visuals in my imagination. The art felt better in this volume than the first.
While volume 2 is better than volume 1 (imo) it is still a watered down look at some norse mythological stories - a good introduction to newbies rather than something amazing for people with an existing knowledge. If you want better art in comics there's a vast array of better comics in the world already. If you want something more detailed about norse myths, there's also a load of other literature available that's better. This isn't bad, it's just, well, just like an introduction for people with little time, preexisting knowledge on the topic, or younger audiences. 3/5
February 19, 2022
A second round of great adaptations of Norse myths. The story of the mead of poetry and the gods' visit to Utgard are obviously the best ones, depicting the inherent mix of grimness and humor of these tales.
Gabriel Hernández Walta does an excellent job with the more retro look he uses for the Abduction of Idunn and the Weregild of Skadi. It feels more like a folklore book than a comic, but in practice it works perfectly inside the medium.
Now, I have to admit that, overall, I am not a fan of Sandy Jarrell's art. It feels somewhat dissonant to the rest, BUT, I can forgive everything for the panel depicting Frey sitting on the giantess Gerd's rump. Though the (not-s0-)subtext is obviously sexual, their expressions and the colors have a true sweetness to them. It feels like the appropriate picture for the dictionary definition of enjoyment.
Gabriel Hernández Walta does an excellent job with the more retro look he uses for the Abduction of Idunn and the Weregild of Skadi. It feels more like a folklore book than a comic, but in practice it works perfectly inside the medium.
Now, I have to admit that, overall, I am not a fan of Sandy Jarrell's art. It feels somewhat dissonant to the rest, BUT, I can forgive everything for the panel depicting Frey sitting on the giantess Gerd's rump. Though the (not-s0-)subtext is obviously sexual, their expressions and the colors have a true sweetness to them. It feels like the appropriate picture for the dictionary definition of enjoyment.
April 29, 2022
Frey, the brother of Freya, was the mightiest of the Vanir. He was handsome and he was noble. He made the fields fertile and brought life from the dead ground. The people loved Frey. But he was missing something in his life, and he did not know what it was.
Once again P. Craig Russell has taken Neil Gaiman's words and worked his magic to produce a mighty fine graphic novel adaptation of Norse Mythology.
Bringing in a variety of artists, they have taken Neil's adaptations of the Norse myths and weaved the tales into a easy to read new medium.
In this anthology we find out how poetry came into the world, which features a cute little cameo from Neil Gaiman himself, we get more mischief from Loki which threatens the eternal life of the Gods, we discover what was missing from Frey's seemingly perfect life, and we see Thor being less than his unstoppable self.
A really enjoyable adaptation which gets a 4 stars.
Once again P. Craig Russell has taken Neil Gaiman's words and worked his magic to produce a mighty fine graphic novel adaptation of Norse Mythology.
Bringing in a variety of artists, they have taken Neil's adaptations of the Norse myths and weaved the tales into a easy to read new medium.
In this anthology we find out how poetry came into the world, which features a cute little cameo from Neil Gaiman himself, we get more mischief from Loki which threatens the eternal life of the Gods, we discover what was missing from Frey's seemingly perfect life, and we see Thor being less than his unstoppable self.
A really enjoyable adaptation which gets a 4 stars.
April 26, 2022
I was pretty excited to read this after getting my hands on the first volume about a year ago (maybe more?). I've read the book these graphic novels were based on, so I was at least fairly familiar, if rusty, on the stories they contain. This particular volume has some of the less interesting stories and some of the ones, like the final story about Frey's infatuation with the giant, Gerd, whose ending prophesies the inevitability of Ragnarok and thus feels weirdly incomplete and less narratively satisfying. I'm glad they exist though, and the various art throughout these all feels like throwbacks to the 70s and 80s era of things like Dungeons and Dragons in a way that elevates these from mythology to near-fantasy. Fun stuff!
September 9, 2024
Norse mythology has such a rich collection of stories and they're all elegantly retold here, making this comic series a wonderful experience. There's something about the Norse gods that taps into my psyche - I'm excited when they triumph, upset when they experience tragedy, and laugh at their arrogance and stupidity. The retelling of their stories in this series is simple and straightforward, wasting no time or space, which really gives these tales a dramatic kick. The art is mixed, but some of it is extremely well done, giving the stories a fairytale quality to them that feels just about perfect.
August 31, 2025
Similar to Dark Horse's volume one, volume two collects several previously issued comics written by Gaiman, with script and layout by Russell, and art by four other artists. Once again the mythical stories are followed by pages of cover illustrations and sketches.
The four tales depict journeys of the gods and the resultant conflicts with giants. In the first Odin outwits giants; in the second Thor is outwitted by them. In the third Loki tricks and is tricked and punished in turn in a conflict with the giantlike Thiazi and his daughter. The final tale tells the brief lovely story of the romance of Frey and the beautiful giant Gerd.
The four tales depict journeys of the gods and the resultant conflicts with giants. In the first Odin outwits giants; in the second Thor is outwitted by them. In the third Loki tricks and is tricked and punished in turn in a conflict with the giantlike Thiazi and his daughter. The final tale tells the brief lovely story of the romance of Frey and the beautiful giant Gerd.
May 26, 2023
More fun and shenanigans with Norse gods told by people at the top of their game: Gaiman on the storytelling level and Russell (and a company of guest artists) on the visual end of things.
All kinds of fun whether you’re a fan of mythology or just good stories. Gaiman really gets at the whimsical silly side of these tales with his larger-than-life characters and their often silly foibles and adventures. Come see the lighter side of epic. Recommended.
This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/
All kinds of fun whether you’re a fan of mythology or just good stories. Gaiman really gets at the whimsical silly side of these tales with his larger-than-life characters and their often silly foibles and adventures. Come see the lighter side of epic. Recommended.
This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/
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