If I had to pitch this comic to a Hollywood studio, I would call it, “CSI: 13th Century Iceland”, except whereas anything CSI leaves a terrible taste in my mouth, this comic is good. Really good.

Brian Wood weaves the captivating story of a Northlander, too old and frail to fight in the ongoing clan wars that rage across Iceland’s frigid landscape. When his daily routine is interrupted by the discovery of a corpse in the form of a young Jane Doe, the old man suspects foul play and takes it upon himself to solve the mystery of the girl’s untimely demise. In this sparse setting, Wood is able to capture a surprising wealth of emotion between the old man and this victim of dubious circumstance. External forces are also at play as the conflict between the clans spills into his quiet retirement, and promises to complicate matters in the second half of this 2 issue arc.

While Wood’s writing is strong in and of itself, it has the good fortune of being delivered by the work of Becky Cloonan. Cloonan’s art is sublte yet powerful, and propels the story along with stark beauty and grace. It is easy to get lost in the wordless panels and feel drawn into this harsh, northern landscape. Once or twice, I may have even caught a chill. I’ve been meaning to check out Wood and Cloonan’s previous collaboration, Demo, and upon reading this issue, it has jumped hastily to the top of the queue.

If you ever had an inclination to check out Northlanders, look no further than The Girl In The Ice. You will not be disappointed.