Broken Frontier

"Peace will not come until the Twin Blades strike."

So are the words that ring strongest though this alternate history tale of conflict in the Viking world.

The Twin Blades are sisters Bera and Bren, daughters of the Warlord Thorfinn. They live in a world on the edge of conflict, a world of which they may well be the saviours spoken of in prophecy. The key conflict at this stage is that between the Warlords Thorfinn, the Twin Blades’ father and Braxon, leader of another people.

I am not that familiar at all with Norse culture or mythology, however a central tenet of the story is the search for an Utlanning or foreign weapon of great power that has fallen into the hands of Warlord Braxon. The truth of this weapon is the single greatest enigma underpinning Adrian Todd’s story, and one that I can’t wait to discover in future issues. Todd has created a world that is a fusion of history and fantasy, and it is a world well realized, even from the script alone.

Of course, it is when you add Ryan Odagawa’s lush pencils into the mix, that Twin Blades comes alive with a tangibility that surpasses any other world yet presented to us by the fine folks at Alias Enterprises.

Where Twin Blades works so well is in the fusion of fantasy and fact. Upon my first reading of the book, I assumed that this was a traditional fantasy tale set on some unknown world. However, upon reading the book again, and learning that it was indeed set ages ago in the real Nordic world, my desire to devour the story and learn more about its setting and characters increased.

The vivid tale reads so smoothly thanks to the brilliant meshing of Todd’s inspired story with Odagawa’s expressive art. The art pours with detail, with richly created environments and uniquely designed characters. One small detail that I really appreciated when it came to distinguishing characters was the exciting costume design.

Todd and Odagawa have enlisted a fantastic team to bring the book to life. Beaulieu’s work on Twin Blades is the strongest that I have seen from him yet (he has colored other books for Alias). The earthy tones that define the book give Twin Blades a great warmth, and when the time is right, the perfect blend of menacing shadow.

Twin Blades is one of Alias’ strongest efforts yet. The story will appeal to people who love fantasy, or historic/mythological tales. Yet, in so many ways, Twin Blades transcends the label of a "genre book." This is a true comic book lover’s comic – it brims with character, mystery, action and intrigue. Twin Blades is one of the best small press examples of when the story and the art mesh seamlessly to produce an enticing comic. I was so intrigued by this issue that I can’t wait to read #2, to return to this vivid world and to continue to uncover its secrets.

You can find out more about Twin Blades here: http://www.ascendantstudios.com

You can talk to the book’s creators here: http://www.aliasenterprises.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=49&sid=801490849f6774be88046364901b0e47