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Showing posts with the label Comic Book Art

a consequence of Ymir's cosmic deluge.

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While reading volume one of P. Craig Russell's graphic novel adaptation of Neil Gaiman's Norse Mythology , the immediate result from the death of primordial Ymir is shown in a panel as a giant wave of blood being released. This is so enormous that the flood kills all but two of the jötnar, which implies that Ymir's sanguine deluge also drowns the giantess wives of Buri & Bor, and collaterally their grandfather & father as well if such a flood is on so large of a cosmically uncontrollable scale. Such a consequence would then explain why after the waves settle it is the third generation of Odin, Vili, & Ve that are left to craft & rule the Níu Heimar, while Buri & Bor are unmentioned after that, and maybe settle why such a cosmic creature as Auðumbla is absent as well. This isn't necessarily the answer: There could just be missing stories, or the death of Ymir & universal creation passes forward ruler-worthy powers or status or both to the three ...

a Torslunda-styled Marvel Thor map of Yggdrasil.

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During Marvel Thor 's The War of the Realms (2019 CE) comic book run, this neat cosmological map of Yggdrasil tapped into the figural stylings of the Torslunda helmet plates (6th~8th c. CE). Seeing that Vendel Period context with the modern skyscrapers of current-day Midgard and the added figure of Spider-Man hanging from one of the branches thrown in is a superclever archaeological borrowing that we wouldn't mind seeing NorsePlay'd more in any medium. #    #    # 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 ...

the Iron All-Father.

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  In a strange turn of mash-up elements, Marvel Odin becomes the literal deus ex machina in The Mighty Thor 's The War Of The Realms when Iron Man Tony Stark, Shuri, and dwarf Screwbeard craft together this badarse battle Iron All-Father suit so he can go rescue his wife from her possible last stand at the enemy's Black Bifrost! The Norse Lore has a more than fair amount of technological solutions in terms of enchanted weapons ( Gungnir ,  Mjölnir ), objects imparting invisibility (two Tarnhelms, Gnipa's Ring), shirts of invulnerability (Katla's tunic, Bui The Dog's shirt), and many more, so this construction of tech-armor for an Asgardian only continues this storytelling motif. [quarter-splash panel from  War of the Realms #4  (2019 CE)] #    #    # 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 fa...

the art of Norse Mythology.

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We have followed the work of artist P Craig Russell from First Comics' Elric , that anti-hero a runesword slinging Alfar-type sorcerer, through his stirring adaptation of The Ring of Nibelung , an excellent deluxe one-shot of Doctor Strange , and now for his take on Neil Gaiman's Norse Mythology . There's an iconic art nouveau core mixed with expressionism in Russell's unmistakable style that makes it a suggestive ly hedonistic Klimt -esque visual thrill to look at. Single issues are set to release July 1st, though we'll probably wait for Dark Horse to collect them for us in a graphic novel. #    #    # 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, ...

Conan sees his Valkyrie.

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It's Conan's Heathen Worldview that frames his internal vision of Bêlit. As the captain of the Argus warns him of her merciless piratical scourge, the Northman instead envisions a sea queen raider, valkyrie-esque, ideally pale , half-dressed in a scalemail made from her wealth of coins, the woman that all warriors of his stripe long to be claimed by in their final moments. The artist delivers Conan's desire's-eye view  of  Bêlit  insouciantly enthroned, with burning  eyes, and thirsting embloodied lips. [page from Conan Volume 13: Queen of the Black Coast , 2013] #    #    # 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 spearhea...

the mighty Sif.

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This Marvel Sif reminds us of those Bill Sienkiewicz covers we grew up with. Serious cosmic Kirbyesque background poster-worthy oil paint styling going on here. #    #    # 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 .