The ninth issue of Northlanders, in my opinion, had a lot to live up to. The previous eight were some of the best I’ve read from the alternative genre. Sven had quickly become a memorable character for me. Now he’s done for. Wood has chosen to write this series in separate arcs -- so separate that they cannot be joined together to form a cohesive story. With every new arc comes a new artist and a new set of characters.

Some say that Brian Wood may be going about this all wrong. They’re crazy, of course, as Northlanders is his baby and his vision; there’s no way for him to do it wrong. But I can see their disappointment. Every time I’ve tried to get a person hooked on this story, and I’ve succeeded just as many times as I’ve failed, they always say the same thing once I mention how the arc changes work. “Oh,” they say, “that’s kind of stupid. Why not just keep going with one set of characters or people?” I’m not sure yet, truly.

The newest, two-issue arc details the life of an unhappy boy living in a place called Lindisfarne. His father is a recently converted Christian fanatic. He, of course, hates his son and treats him like absolutely dirt. At one point he winds up with a dulled sword and hits the poor boy directly in the stomach. Readers find out that this child worships not the Christian god, but those from the Northlands. It is then that raiders from the Northlands themselves come to the island to pillage and, as they say, plunder. The boy wishes to aid them.

And that’s it, really. Nothing too epic happens within the issue. The story is decent enough and one would be hard pressed to say it was downright bad. It isn’t bad at all. I found myself enjoying it most of the way through, but my desire to keep going really isn’t here. I was so excited during the last arc to find out more about Sven and his purpose in life, here I just want the next issue to come out already so that we can finish this arc up and get ready for a new one. Is that so wrong?

Dean Ormston is a small step backwards from the work of Davide Gianfelice. That is, of course, what this series is all about. Perhaps Wood will arrange quite the showcase of artists when all is said and done, but for now I could probably leave this look alone. It does come off as rather gritty, but there are now blindingly visceral moments that show off the bloody abilities like there were in the previous eight issues. The characters themselves are drawn with rough lines and the colors are murky and plain. It doesn’t look bad at any single point, but it isn’t anything that will force you to stop and look harder. Hopefully Ormston will be able to put his violent moments on display next time when the raiders come to arms with the inhabitants of Lindisfarne.

This first part in a two part arc has turned out a little mediocre. I’m ready to read more, but I find myself a lot less pumped for next month. This is something to which I am not accustom.

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