Spider King #1 Review

Spider King #1
Writer: Josh Vann
Artist: Simone D’Armini
Colourist: Adrian Bloch
Letterer: Nick J. Shaw
Publisher: IDW Publishing

A review by Josh Rose

I like stories about humanity versus superior foes; whether its zombies, gods, or even aliens. These kinds of stories are even better the more primitive humanity is. Spider King #1 is that kind of story, and features some of history’s most fearsome warriors. Get ready for Vikings versus aliens!

Spider King #1 follows a viking named Hrolf. We see him pronounced as the new king of the Laxdale Clan after his father’s death before being taken many years into the future. The Laxdale Clan is now a shadow of what they used to be, and King Hrolf is still seeking justice for his father’s death. The Laxdales attack their much stronger rivals, the Rhund, which doesn’t turn out so well for them. Meanwhile Princess Sigrid of the Lombards is questioning the way men wage war and leaves her father to save her people rather than let them be slaughtered by the Rhund. During all the fighting and escaping, chaos in the form of UFO’s fall from the sky, causing everyone to retreat.

Josh Vann has given us two things that you would never think to put together. And while he’s doing that, he’s building on the relationships and creating a deep backstory for the vikings. I’ve only read a few pages and I’m already invested in Hrolf getting justice for his father, and I already hate Aarek of the Rhund.

I’m not the biggest fan of this style of artwork. I think the faces look weird with characters’ noses directly between their eyes and a different skin colour. But somehow Simone D’Armini and Adrian Bloch pull it off, and don’t drive me away. Bloch’s colours are probably my favourite part of the art. Bloch’s greens when the aliens crash land are easily the most vibrant bit in the entire book.

Verdict:
Buy it! Spider King #1 is such a riot! Vikings and aliens! But in all seriousness, I am interested how the animosity between clans is going to evolve with aliens in their midst. And how a couple Vikings who struggle against their own kind are going to defeat an enemy from beyond the star.