NorsePlay.

  A girl's body's discovered floating in the open sea by a Viking prince's ship. Barely alive, they spare some of their dwindling water for her, and when she comes to, her eyes open ... to reveal goat-like horizontal pupils! This is the hook for Vei , a two-volume graphic novel , originally a Swedish 12-issue limited series from 2012 CE, and it is a stunningly executed NorsePlay. Writer Sara Bergmark Elfgren & artist Karl Johnsson gift us a re-scripting of Norse Mythology that answers the very real question of why don't the Jotnar or the Aesir just make a pre-emptive attack now to get an early victory and not have to suffer the pyrrhic resolution of end-time Ragnarök? The answer is a détente struck by a longstanding "peace" agreement mediated by a periodic gladiatorial combat. The winning side then for that time gets the domain of contested Midgard, which makes our world & its mortal reverence the key to divine power! This gives us a sweeping story rev...

The band Heilung is a Nordic occult fantasy come to life with shamanic costumery, droning trance-inducing vocals, onstage runecasting, and ritual . Maria Franz in wondrous antler crowned eye-fringed headress & trollwise paint , Christopher Juul on drum at left, and Kai Uwe Faust in an equally intimidating masked costume using alot of animal teeth out of frame. (Aesthetic comparison: If you love Wardruna , you'll enjoy Heilung.) [photo credit to Kees Stravers from the 2017 Castlefest.] #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  inve...

NorsePlay has long admired Sam Flegal's work so much we've featured it as our collection's banner from the beginning until now. The work is Freyr's Last Stand (2014). We love his take on the dwarven wrought golden boar Gullinbursti as a mechanical war steed . [Check out Flegal's other work & gets awesome prints at www.fatefulsigns.com .] #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .