Curses, Action And Fantasy Adventure: ‘Beware The Eye Of Odin’ #2 Advance Review

Trolls are dumb and ugly. But, its the former quality that allows Helgi, Stigr and Kadlin escape their savage clutches in the pulse-pounding opening pages to Beware the Eye of Odin #2 from writer Doug Wagner and artist Tim Odland. Although, to the surprise of the questing heroes, they’re not all dumb. And one mean looking son-of-a-bitch he is too.Much like the other trolls which Odland has so superbly designed with an honorary nod to Arthur Rackham infused into his work in this fun but violent fantasy series. And it’s not the only time he gets to flex his artistic muscles either as we are introduced to an all-new species of fantasy folk too; the Earthen Smiths. `

And so, from the fast-paced action of the book’s opening we get something of a breather as we are introduced to these Earthen Smiths and their natural habitat, as Wagner and Odland continue to build a fantasy world heavily influenced by Viking mythology, but also instilling their own take on the kind of supernatural creatures that inhabit this world.

But, its in these moments that we get the spectre of a deeper danger rear its ugly head. A danger that will, no doubt, lead to a great strain on the quest at hand and the relationship being forged. Indeed, one sees the consequences of this already in this over-sized second issue. In getting practically two issues worth of story in just one book Wagner and Odland are able to offer the requisite action needed to install this saga with adventure and peril, while also adding detail and depth to this Viking-like fantasy world too. 

Michelle Madsen’s colours once more establish and sustain a fairy-tale like tone this series; something akin to a children’s picture book quality is achieved through her colours, while Ed Dukeshire’s lettering give each different species of creature a distinct voice. A well executed fantasy comic book.

Beware the Eye of Odin #2 is out Wednesday 27th July from Image Comics