Despite being an over night sensation, Viking has had a lot going against it. It’s first issue failed to deliver on the hype built in the pre-release of the book. Even though it has some beautiful visuals, the story has been a bit confusing and muddled. The most obvious problem has to be the schedule of the book, which ships every two months (and is a little bit late this month…). Knowing this, I was able to avert a reading disaster. I knew going in to the book that I would probably hate this issue if I didn’t do some background reading first. It had been too long since I last read the book, and I recalled that it was a bit confusing to begin with. So, with that in mind, I sat down and read the first three issues before diving into the fourth, and man, am I glad I did.

This issue continues the story of Egil and Finn as they set out to make a name for themselves. Like all crime stories, these characters are driven by the promise of money and glory, yet these characters are distinct and follow a specific code. It’s nothing new in crime fiction, but applied to the Viking era, it creates an interesting backdrop for these character’s lives. I won’t give too much away in terms of the plot, but after reading the story in one big chunk, it provides a satisfying story that I can’t wait to continue. While Viking’s premise is mainly reliant on its setting, it still seems fresh in some ways, and I’m enjoying seeing the tropes of a standard crime comic shown through a different lens.

The real shining star of this series is the art by Nic Klein. This art is simply beautiful. The way that he uses the painted style with the sketchiness of pencil makes the panels leap off of the pages. The formatting of the book really lends itself to the visuals as it allows the visuals to breathe. Klein is making good use of the space, providing some dynamic takes on standard sword play. I found myself really taking my time with the visuals on this title, and each of his panels are works of art. Of course, he also provides some spectacular covers and pin-ups in the issue as well.

Viking is a series that has really grown on me. For this issue, I would really recommend giving a repeat read to the previous issues as it will make this issue all the more satisfying.