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Gunhild #1
Gunhild, Vol. 1: The New God?
Could you follow your dreams if the whole world was against you? Gunhild dreams of becoming a real-life god, and everyone everywhere thinks it’s a terrible idea made up by a petulant twelve-year-old.
In the world of Norse mythology , humans revere the mighty gods and fear the mystical, nature-wielding Jotuns, and Gunhild is a fire Jotun . Abandoned by her own kind and raised in a human girls’ orphanage , Gunhild wishes to prove to her peers that she’s more than a little troublemaker. Every step of the way, it becomes clear that Gunhild must fight for what’s right and follow her own sense of justice, seeing as no one else will fight for her. Gunhild’s quest leads her to meet all the famous gods she’s heard about in schools, like Odin and Thor, though the one she’s most interested in is the mischievous Jotun god Loki, who’s chained up in a cave hidden in a location known only by the gods. Her travels lead mainly to many foes, but a few enemies become friends, persuaded by Gunhild’s unwavering determination and burning passion for her own cause. Being a tiny Jotun against a big, powerful world, Gunhild must fight smart and learn a trick or two from Loki to earn the title of godhood. Certainly, Gunhild will stop at nothing to forge her own fantastic path and make her dream come true.
Gunhild is rated Y for Youth, recommended for ages 10 and up.
Saturday AM, the world’s most diverse manga-inspired comics, are now presented in a new format! Introducing Saturday AM TANKS , the new graphic novel format similar to Japanese Tankobons where we collect the global heroes and artists of Saturday AM. These handsome volumes have select color pages, revised artwork, and innovative post-credit scenes that help bring new life to our popular BIPOC, LGBTQ, and/or culturally diverse characters. Join in even more adventures with the other action-packed Saturday AM TANKS Apple Black , Clock Striker , Hammer , Henshin! , The Massively Multiplayer World of Ghosts , Oblivion Rouge , Saigami , Soul Beat , Titan King , Underground , and Yellow Stringer .
In the world of Norse mythology , humans revere the mighty gods and fear the mystical, nature-wielding Jotuns, and Gunhild is a fire Jotun . Abandoned by her own kind and raised in a human girls’ orphanage , Gunhild wishes to prove to her peers that she’s more than a little troublemaker. Every step of the way, it becomes clear that Gunhild must fight for what’s right and follow her own sense of justice, seeing as no one else will fight for her. Gunhild’s quest leads her to meet all the famous gods she’s heard about in schools, like Odin and Thor, though the one she’s most interested in is the mischievous Jotun god Loki, who’s chained up in a cave hidden in a location known only by the gods. Her travels lead mainly to many foes, but a few enemies become friends, persuaded by Gunhild’s unwavering determination and burning passion for her own cause. Being a tiny Jotun against a big, powerful world, Gunhild must fight smart and learn a trick or two from Loki to earn the title of godhood. Certainly, Gunhild will stop at nothing to forge her own fantastic path and make her dream come true.
Gunhild is rated Y for Youth, recommended for ages 10 and up.
Saturday AM, the world’s most diverse manga-inspired comics, are now presented in a new format! Introducing Saturday AM TANKS , the new graphic novel format similar to Japanese Tankobons where we collect the global heroes and artists of Saturday AM. These handsome volumes have select color pages, revised artwork, and innovative post-credit scenes that help bring new life to our popular BIPOC, LGBTQ, and/or culturally diverse characters. Join in even more adventures with the other action-packed Saturday AM TANKS Apple Black , Clock Striker , Hammer , Henshin! , The Massively Multiplayer World of Ghosts , Oblivion Rouge , Saigami , Soul Beat , Titan King , Underground , and Yellow Stringer .
224 pages, Paperback
Published April 4, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
June 17, 2023
Orphaned in Midgard, the land of the humans, fire Jotun Gunhild goes on a quest to become a God in her own right. But when she finds out that the Gods are readying themselves for Ragnarök, she finds herself trying to stop the end of the world.
Gunhild is a very enjoyable comic book for younger readers - I would've eaten it up in my early teens. The character designs, especially those of the Gods, are very cool and you have an easy time identifying each God's domain from the visuals alone. Heimdall and Odin stood out in particular and I loved how the creators managed to give them a more modern look (swapping Odin's eyepatch for sunglasses, for example).
The story is pretty formulaic, but I don't think that's bad. Gunhild is your typical outcast protagonist for teenagers to identify with and she works well for this role. The first volume didn't try to be something that it's not and would have given 13-year-old me just what I'd have wanted.
The only thing I'm not crazy about is the art itself. It's not bad in any way, but it's not an art style I prefer and I felt like some pages were busy to the point where I had trouble following the action.
I'm not the target audience and I don't think it's fair to judge the comic as if it had been made for mature readers, so I'm not going to. For the intended pre-teen/teen audience, it's a fun ride with a colorful cast of characters and high stakes. I personally like that it's about Norse mythology and would definitely recommend Gunhild to younger readers!
- ARC provided by NetGalley -
Gunhild is a very enjoyable comic book for younger readers - I would've eaten it up in my early teens. The character designs, especially those of the Gods, are very cool and you have an easy time identifying each God's domain from the visuals alone. Heimdall and Odin stood out in particular and I loved how the creators managed to give them a more modern look (swapping Odin's eyepatch for sunglasses, for example).
The story is pretty formulaic, but I don't think that's bad. Gunhild is your typical outcast protagonist for teenagers to identify with and she works well for this role. The first volume didn't try to be something that it's not and would have given 13-year-old me just what I'd have wanted.
The only thing I'm not crazy about is the art itself. It's not bad in any way, but it's not an art style I prefer and I felt like some pages were busy to the point where I had trouble following the action.
I'm not the target audience and I don't think it's fair to judge the comic as if it had been made for mature readers, so I'm not going to. For the intended pre-teen/teen audience, it's a fun ride with a colorful cast of characters and high stakes. I personally like that it's about Norse mythology and would definitely recommend Gunhild to younger readers!
- ARC provided by NetGalley -
January 2, 2024
The art style is incredible! I had the pleasure of meeting the creators at a comic convention. I love the way the gods are portrayed. The book is very fast paced and is a quick read!
June 25, 2023
Really nice art style, I liked the depiction of all the gods and the story was really well paced
March 12, 2024
absolutely love this art style. this was a really fun comic, and very accessible for someone like myself whose only knowledge of norse mythology is what was in the thor movies. :)) def going to read the next volume (i'm hoping there will be a next volume??)
March 3, 2023
The titular Gunhild is a fearless, twelve-year-old fire jotun in the world of Norse mythology who strives to become a god and prevent Ragnarok, aka the end of the world.
Gunhild has a feral spirit that makes her a joy to follow around. She's not afraid to punch a god in the face or eat a venomous snake raw and doesn't allow things like Fate or lack of skill stop her from pursuing her goals. The novel is fast-paced with a quirky, energetic tone that perfectly aligns with the goofiness of the characters. The colors and overall art style also match the liveliness of the cast. I'm not a huge expert on the Norse pantheon, so I can't speak to how their character designs reflect their original stories. But I can say their designs fit in well with the atmosphere of the story. Making Thor and Loki short kings was a bold choice that made me smile, especially since it's such a different vision compared to the gallant Marvel versions of the brothers.
This is a great book for anyone 10 and older who love fun, lighthearted adventure stories or Norse mythology. I can't wait for volume 2!
Thank you to Rockport Publishers for a digital copy in exchange for a free an honest review.
February 12, 2024
Read for my independent study over Norse Mythology in young adult literature.
The world that Fred Tornager has created is so vibrant, not only with the illustrations but with the characters, themes, and actions of the story. It was an absolute joy to see all the character designs, and while the plot was pretty basic it allowed for more room for character moments to shine. This book felt much like an adventure through the world and its inhabitants than a plot-focused drama, and it’s all the better for it. And as the first book in a series, it does an amazing job of setting up the coming story and its characters.
Speaking of characters, I loved all the gods’ designs. They all have a beautiful stylistic mix of traditional and modern, which works perfectly for this story. Thor, for example, has all the bells and whistles of his Eddic counterpart but with the aesthetic of a modern-day biker. Odin and Heimdal are also standouts, but with Heimdal Tornager had much more creative freedom and it was so great to see him in presented so uniquely.
Unlike many modern interpretations of Loki, he’s not wholly evil. He’s very frank about his intentions, and he has good reason to be mad at the other gods. He’s tricky and seems to have something to hide, but that makes sense. Tornager’a treatment of Loki wasn’t anything outrageously new, but it was refreshing when compared to other modern interpretations.
I also loved the choice to make Heimdal and Loki foils by making them opposing elemental Jotun tribes; Loki has been associated by many with the element of fire, and while Heimdal isn’t specifically associated with water the two gods did have a rivalry in mythology. We know that they fought as otters once (perhaps it was Heimdall’s idea, thus the association with water?), but other than that we don’t know much about their relationship beyond the fact that there was one. Making them foils like this does a lot to fleshing out that relationship.
I love that Odin is portrayed with awe and power, but not with unnecessary respect. Odin treats Loki terribly, and Gunhild calls him out for it.
There are also very distinct queer themes in this book. Liv already knows about the prophecy of Ragnarok, and recounts it beautifully in chapter 7. But in chapter 8, Odin insists that it’s true, and both Liv and Gunhild refuse to accept it. Gunhild calls Odin stupid, and Liv says that it’s not fair to just let people die. Having just recounted the prophecy at the end of the previous chapter, this tells the audience that Liv knows how things are supposed to be — or, more accurately, how everyone accepts and expects things to be — but refuses to accept it because she knows it’s wrong. She doesn’t accept the norm that’s put in place by those in power, the gods. This is even more apparent when the note at the end of chapter 8 tells us that the gods set the standard for civilization. They create the binaries and the power structures. But Liv knows that just because someone in power says that a thing is true, it doesn’t mean that it is true or right.
Liv may feel so strongly about this because she is trans, which is revealed in the last chapter, but I think it’s particularly notable that that wasn’t brought up. The queer themes in this story don’t come as a result of the characters being queer, but from a source within the broader picture of the book.
Overall, a truly fantastic book full of vibrant characters and wonderful queer themes. I cannot recommend enough!
The world that Fred Tornager has created is so vibrant, not only with the illustrations but with the characters, themes, and actions of the story. It was an absolute joy to see all the character designs, and while the plot was pretty basic it allowed for more room for character moments to shine. This book felt much like an adventure through the world and its inhabitants than a plot-focused drama, and it’s all the better for it. And as the first book in a series, it does an amazing job of setting up the coming story and its characters.
Speaking of characters, I loved all the gods’ designs. They all have a beautiful stylistic mix of traditional and modern, which works perfectly for this story. Thor, for example, has all the bells and whistles of his Eddic counterpart but with the aesthetic of a modern-day biker. Odin and Heimdal are also standouts, but with Heimdal Tornager had much more creative freedom and it was so great to see him in presented so uniquely.
Unlike many modern interpretations of Loki, he’s not wholly evil. He’s very frank about his intentions, and he has good reason to be mad at the other gods. He’s tricky and seems to have something to hide, but that makes sense. Tornager’a treatment of Loki wasn’t anything outrageously new, but it was refreshing when compared to other modern interpretations.
I also loved the choice to make Heimdal and Loki foils by making them opposing elemental Jotun tribes; Loki has been associated by many with the element of fire, and while Heimdal isn’t specifically associated with water the two gods did have a rivalry in mythology. We know that they fought as otters once (perhaps it was Heimdall’s idea, thus the association with water?), but other than that we don’t know much about their relationship beyond the fact that there was one. Making them foils like this does a lot to fleshing out that relationship.
I love that Odin is portrayed with awe and power, but not with unnecessary respect. Odin treats Loki terribly, and Gunhild calls him out for it.
There are also very distinct queer themes in this book. Liv already knows about the prophecy of Ragnarok, and recounts it beautifully in chapter 7. But in chapter 8, Odin insists that it’s true, and both Liv and Gunhild refuse to accept it. Gunhild calls Odin stupid, and Liv says that it’s not fair to just let people die. Having just recounted the prophecy at the end of the previous chapter, this tells the audience that Liv knows how things are supposed to be — or, more accurately, how everyone accepts and expects things to be — but refuses to accept it because she knows it’s wrong. She doesn’t accept the norm that’s put in place by those in power, the gods. This is even more apparent when the note at the end of chapter 8 tells us that the gods set the standard for civilization. They create the binaries and the power structures. But Liv knows that just because someone in power says that a thing is true, it doesn’t mean that it is true or right.
Liv may feel so strongly about this because she is trans, which is revealed in the last chapter, but I think it’s particularly notable that that wasn’t brought up. The queer themes in this story don’t come as a result of the characters being queer, but from a source within the broader picture of the book.
Overall, a truly fantastic book full of vibrant characters and wonderful queer themes. I cannot recommend enough!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 15, 2023
I admittedly don't know much Norse mythology aside from what I learned along the way watching Marvel movies and playing God of War, so I found Gunhild to be a fun and informative romp into the world of the Norse gods. The story centers around the titular character, a fire Jotun who dreams of becoming a god and of saving the world from the impending doom of Ragnarok. A fiesty little thing with a fiery temper (no literally) Gunhild is not your average protagonist. Not only is she not willing to take it easy or diplomatic, she is all too happy to seek out a fight with Thor himself, tears apart the giant snake surrounding the imprisoned Loki, and talks to Odin like he's not literally the leader of the gods. She's a brazen one, for sure!
While I did think the artwork could have been more vivid throughout and some panels were difficult to interpret, I enjoyed this and flew through it in one sitting. I'm excited to see what Gunhild gets herself into next.
While I did think the artwork could have been more vivid throughout and some panels were difficult to interpret, I enjoyed this and flew through it in one sitting. I'm excited to see what Gunhild gets herself into next.
May 30, 2023
Thankyou to NetGalley, I received this arc in exchange for an honest review!
Orphaned in Mildgard, the land of the humans, Gunhild goes on a quest to become a god but when she finds out that the gods are readying themselves for Ragnarok, she finds herself trying to stop the end of world.
I enjoyed the art design in this graphic novel but there was a couple of of the pages I couldn’t make out but still overall enjoyed it.
I was nice to see to see the gods portrayed in different ways! It was, for me, fast paced with good characters which fit in well with the story and atmosphere on Norse mythology.
I would say it’s more for a teen audience who love action packed, fun lighthearted adventures!
I did feel like it dragged out a little but I overall enjoyed it and I’d probably pick the next volume up!
Orphaned in Mildgard, the land of the humans, Gunhild goes on a quest to become a god but when she finds out that the gods are readying themselves for Ragnarok, she finds herself trying to stop the end of world.
I enjoyed the art design in this graphic novel but there was a couple of of the pages I couldn’t make out but still overall enjoyed it.
I was nice to see to see the gods portrayed in different ways! It was, for me, fast paced with good characters which fit in well with the story and atmosphere on Norse mythology.
I would say it’s more for a teen audience who love action packed, fun lighthearted adventures!
I did feel like it dragged out a little but I overall enjoyed it and I’d probably pick the next volume up!
August 20, 2023
Middle grade, manga inspired graphic novel heavily focused on Norse mythology. For me, the mythology connections were the best part. The interpretations here are fresh, but still feel mythically based. This sits much closer to Assassin's Creed Valhalla than Marvel's Thor, to give an idea. The main character and art are all extremely shonen. Gunhild is the sort of protagonist that runs headlong and fist first into every encounter, loudly. It's not my favorite kind of protagonist, but there's definitely a market for that. The art is also not exactly to my taste, very Yugioh and Naruto inspired, but again, there's a definite market for that. Plotwise, everything picks up once Loki makes an appearance, and he's probably going to be the star for most readers. Promising start, and will be much more popular to shonen fans.
September 8, 2025
It took me a while to get into this. I wasn't sure about the details of the setting, but Gunhild is pretty much a girl version of your standard shonen protagonist. She's a big eating hothead that tries to solve everything by fighting.
I liked her friendship with Liv, who may be trans, they had a fun personality balance.
Plotwise, Gunhild sets out to become a god to prove herself to others and later because she wants to fight Ragnarok. She doesn't like that the gods are treating it as inevitable, but it's implied to be more akin to a natural disaster with a high bodycount rather than the end.
The art was kind of busy, action scenes often felt unclear. It was annoyingly set up so the pages go right to left, but the panels are left to right.
I liked her friendship with Liv, who may be trans, they had a fun personality balance.
Plotwise, Gunhild sets out to become a god to prove herself to others and later because she wants to fight Ragnarok. She doesn't like that the gods are treating it as inevitable, but it's implied to be more akin to a natural disaster with a high bodycount rather than the end.
The art was kind of busy, action scenes often felt unclear. It was annoyingly set up so the pages go right to left, but the panels are left to right.
January 17, 2023
Twelve year old Gudrun goes out on an adventure. Her goal: Become a god!
This is heavily inspired by Norse mythology. Gudrun herself is a fire Jotun who happens to live in Midgard, and she knows next to nothing about her heritage or her abilities. Since she feels alone in a world full of humans, and the only other mode of being she knows of is being a god, she decides to become just that.
While Gudrun and her friends are depicted in a great way, I felt that the artist struggled a bit with the depiction of adults.
It reads like a shônen manga - Gudrun even likes to eat a lot and announces her attacks!
This was fun, and I'd like to read on.
The arc was provided by the publisher.
This is heavily inspired by Norse mythology. Gudrun herself is a fire Jotun who happens to live in Midgard, and she knows next to nothing about her heritage or her abilities. Since she feels alone in a world full of humans, and the only other mode of being she knows of is being a god, she decides to become just that.
While Gudrun and her friends are depicted in a great way, I felt that the artist struggled a bit with the depiction of adults.
It reads like a shônen manga - Gudrun even likes to eat a lot and announces her attacks!
This was fun, and I'd like to read on.
The arc was provided by the publisher.
March 4, 2023
I like Norse gods stories so I thought I’d give it a try but I don’t think it was for me.
My biggest problem was the art style. I didn’t think it fit the style promised on the cover. It looks unfinished by moments and confusing at other. It made it hard for me to get invested in the story
Also, formatting issue: it has to be read horizontally on an IPad which is awful IMO. I read a lot of graphic novel/ manga on my Kindle app and the formatting is very important. When it’s done horizontally you can’t see everything properly, and it really impacts the reading experience.
The story was original and fun though and it might interest young readers who love Norse mythology.
My biggest problem was the art style. I didn’t think it fit the style promised on the cover. It looks unfinished by moments and confusing at other. It made it hard for me to get invested in the story
Also, formatting issue: it has to be read horizontally on an IPad which is awful IMO. I read a lot of graphic novel/ manga on my Kindle app and the formatting is very important. When it’s done horizontally you can’t see everything properly, and it really impacts the reading experience.
The story was original and fun though and it might interest young readers who love Norse mythology.
April 11, 2023
The idea of a 13-year old wanting to be a god to save the world on the surface if fun. It will remind you of many YA stories however just sub out god for witch or something else. Now add a reimagined Norse mythology and some wacky illustrations and you have a fun idea. It took awhile for me to care about Gunhild and to enjoy the story; she's not the world most empathic character and the reason for her to care about the world she is an orphan in was undeveloped. I'm not a big fan of this style of drawing but I know it is quite popular with others. This may be a great idea for a tween in your life however.
February 19, 2023
I received an e-copy of this on netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I don't know much about Greek mythology but this was a lot of fun and I loved seeing the Gods portrayed in different ways. I feel like the story was dragged out a little in order to create a series when we could have got a lot more action and progress in one volume but overall I had fun.
I don't think I'd go out of my way to buy future volumes but if they come up on NetGalley or at local libraries I think I'd pick them up to see where the story goes.
I don't know much about Greek mythology but this was a lot of fun and I loved seeing the Gods portrayed in different ways. I feel like the story was dragged out a little in order to create a series when we could have got a lot more action and progress in one volume but overall I had fun.
I don't think I'd go out of my way to buy future volumes but if they come up on NetGalley or at local libraries I think I'd pick them up to see where the story goes.
April 30, 2023
It's refreshing to see a female character have the drive to be the most powerful not just for the status, but also to save the world. However, to some the story could be too fast paced and world exposition dumpy. The graphic novel is filled with informaiton on the lore of this world and great art all around for the characters. It's fun to see what the gods and goddesses look like in this universe. And I did learn a thing or two about mythology I didn't know. I hope the second volume is more well paced.
March 2, 2023
This was not for me at all.
I love mythology, so that is why I wanted to read this one, but it just fell flat.
I could enjoy the story somewhat, but I did not like the characters.
Also the art style was way too confusing for me. There were some close up shots where I just could not figure out what the hell was in the drawing or what we were focusing on.
I also felt like the story did not flow well enough.
I love mythology, so that is why I wanted to read this one, but it just fell flat.
I could enjoy the story somewhat, but I did not like the characters.
Also the art style was way too confusing for me. There were some close up shots where I just could not figure out what the hell was in the drawing or what we were focusing on.
I also felt like the story did not flow well enough.
December 20, 2023
Though already available read via an online reader copy. Typical "girl power" and trying to find her place in the world. The best way to describe our heroine is "tough and dumb" (as her BFF says. With love). The art is typical cartoon, rough around the edges, sometimes hard to make out details (can be very busy) but the use of color is good. A fun read and hopefully the series keeps up the pace (though there was a bit of introduction to volume one).
January 17, 2024
This book is a delightful romp into the world of Norse Mythology, and its two main characters (Gunhild and Liv) are the type that you can't help falling in love with and cheering for. The story is engaging and the art is great. I also really loved the character profiles between chapters (including details like their favorite song, for example, Thor LOVES AC/DC's Thunderstruck). I can't wait to find out what happens in the next volume!
October 12, 2023
This was pretty fun. I loved the illustrations and the story reminds me a lot of the beginning of One Piece.
Some of scenes were a bit muddy so I wasn’t sure what was meant to be happening, but it had a good vibe and story.
Also LOVE Heimdal’s design in this 😍
Some of scenes were a bit muddy so I wasn’t sure what was meant to be happening, but it had a good vibe and story.
Also LOVE Heimdal’s design in this 😍
January 24, 2024
This was unique. I haven't read anything like it before. And seems to follow mythology more than most things (even MCU), which is nice. I hope Gunhild can become a God! And that Liv isn't made to leave!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 25, 2025
Vibrant, fun, and relentlessly charming. Tornager has something really special here with their reinterpretation of the Norse Pantheon. I thoroughly enjoyed the colorful and diverse cast of characters on exciting adventures through the nine realms. Looking forward to volume 2!
April 29, 2023
This was fun! I absolutely loved it! It's a little crazy but I enjoyed it.
May 19, 2023
5/5 easiest rating ive given to a new YA GN series! This was such a fun romp with loveable characters. Such a great take on Norse Mythology
July 1, 2023
Wonderfully original blending of influences in a completely fun and gorgeous book. Eager to see what comes next!
May 18, 2024
I am in love with this series! the story stay's true to Norse mythology while making it fresh for a modern audience. I am looking forward to more volumes and plan on buy the whole series.
January 12, 2025
Sjovt friskt take på den nordiske mytologi
February 10, 2025
Hurtig, sjov og flot.
For mig gik det dog lige lidt for hurtigt.
For mig gik det dog lige lidt for hurtigt.
February 17, 2025
I loved the art style and the story! I think my middle schoolers are going to enjoy this one a lot! Gunhild is very relatable for a lot of them. 😂
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews