Northlanders - The Plague Widow review

Lots of people watches "Vikings" on the History Channel these days. It's pretty bad in terms of historical accuracy, but who cares? I mean, if people wanted accurate history they would read books by proper historians and archaeologists right? Right.
With this little trend going on, i think it's a good time to introduce people to the Northlanders comics.

Northlanders was created and written by Brian Wood, the guy behind the great series called DMZ. Published by Vertigo, and now collected in a series of books.
Wood teamed up with some really capable artists, just like he did with DMZ. Some people might recognise names like Ryan Kelly, Davide Gianfelice, Dean Ormston and Leandro Fernandez. 

So far, each book has it's own story arc, not tied up to each other, so you could start with book three if you feel like it. At least this counts for the books I've read, four so far. (#5 should arrive in the mail any day now)

I'll start with reviewing the fourth book, called "The Plague Widow". Remember, this one is not tied up to the previous books in any way, so this review won't spoil any story elements for people who feel like starting with the first book.

Northlanders - The Plague Widow
Writer: Brian Wood
Artist: Leandro Fernandez
Publisher: Vertigo
Format: Paperback 190 pages.

The story takes us back to A.D 1020, to a settlement somewhere in Russia. The writer doesn't tell exactly where in Russia, except that the village is settled in close proximity to the Volga river.
Our main protagonist and narrator of the story is the widow Gerda. Her husband dead of a plague that threatens the entire settlement, Gerda becomes witness to a community in decline.

The theme of the story is the will of men to survive. What manner of gruesome choices are we willing to take?
In the face of a hard winter, cut off from the supplies, the Volga only offers death. Ships, filled with corpses and plague ridden raiders silently float by. The forest are home to crazed starving wolves. But the biggest problem is yet to be revealed.
What about the sick people in the village? To stop the sickness from spreading, should they be cast out to face certain death in the woods? These are people you know, the kid your son plays with in the square, a mother with a newborn child. What steps are one willing to take to ensure the well being of the many?
These are questions the leadership of the village debates in their great hall. The priest, with knowledge of sickness. The Captain, bloodthirsty and without mercy. The Chieftain, unsure in his decision, drawn between his Priest and his Captain.
But choices must be made. More and more people are getting sick, and supplies are running out too fast.What is the most dangerous threat, the Plague or Man?

Brian Wood describes these dilemmas and horrors in a terrific way. The seemingly cursed village, the feeling of claustrophobia and hopelessness really struck you in the heart. In a society so similar to ours but yet so alien you can't but wonder how we ourselves would react in face of similar hardships.

Adding to this feeling of despair, Leandro Fernandez draws with a mean pen. You can almost feel the cold of the freezing and lost villager walking barefoot through the snowy woods. The desperation in the face of the villagers who can but watch their fellow citizens turning on each other.

This is the best addition to the Northlanders series so far.
The themes of compassion towards your own people, individualism versus collectivism and will to power are all issues we are faced with even today. It draws you in and makes you think, what would you do?
And i truly felt the pain of Gerda and her community.

Rating:
10 out of 10