Comic-Book Review: ‘Vikings vs. Unicorns’ #1 (Egghead Comics)
Written by Gaz Tidey
Sunday, 22 May 2016 03:30
Vikings? Unicorns? Just what the Hell is this doing on the hallowed pages of Uber Rock, I hear you ask. Well, if I told you that this was a Heavy Metal comic splattered with rainbow blood, so Metal, in fact, that it has its own hard-hitting theme song, then, surely, you’d understand.
Jim Tramontana plays bass for Dayton, Ohio outfit Red Hot Rebellion, but when he’s not four-stringing for “The Second Best Band In The Galaxy” he writes comic books, and gets independent comic artist KC Anderson to transfer his words to the page. The latest endeavour from the DIY duo is ‘Vikings vs. Unicorns’ and, if the title hasn’t already given things away, is a full-on blast of blood-drenched, heavily-bearded, inked lunacy.
Described as alternate mythology, ‘Vikings vs. Unicorns’ has the former as humanity’s grizzled would-be saviours, the latter as otherworldly nightmarish creatures hellbent on wiping out the human race. Yes, cute unicorns on your daughter’s pyjama set these are not.
Everything you think you know about unicorns is wrong. The first one encountered in these colour- and violence-drenched pages may well be called Sprinkle, but his handle is “The Impaler” and, like his horned-brethren, he has slaughter on his mind and viking guts on his weapon-like appendage.
Up against Sprinkle The Impaler and his shape-shifting ilk – did I neglect to mention that these spiky mofos can transform into crows and shit?! – is a badass bunch of Vikings determined to spill as much rainbow blood – yes, unicorns have rainbow blood – as possible, and in as gnarly a fashion as possible.
This first issue promises much for the future: it’s a colourful, well-drawn and hilariously penned tale that smacks of the best indie comic-books of old; works that did whatever the Hell they wanted, whenever the Hell they wanted to.
There’s decapitation, vomiting, bad jokes, busty wenches, even a Ditch Witch to contend with here and, if you’re anything like me, you’ll love dirtying your eyes with the debauchery on offer.
Now, about that theme song…..
Buy the digital comic at: https://www.comixology.com/Vikings-vs-Unicorns-1/digital-comic/346636
Buy the print comic at: http://www.redhotrebellion.com/products/570650