Norsemen converted. Like a good first issue ought to do, Im genuinely eager to pick up #2 next month! Read Full Review

"Long is the way and hard, that out of hell leads up to light." Magnus is leaving his own personal hell as he heads north. Maybe this is a revenge story, or a story of redemption, or just one guy trying to find either of those. It'll make a good read. Read Full Review

Black Road #1 is a beast of a comic, one that dives headfirst into the darker parts of Christianity while also treating the whole subject with a ton of respect. Complexity is everywhere, from the characters to the world to the artwork itself, and I'm damn excited to see where this goes. Read Full Review

Brian Wood is returning to familiar territory with this new series. Luckily, Black Road recalls the appeal of Northlanders while offering just enough of a new approach to exploring Viking life that it doesn't read like a simple rehash. Read Full Review

Brown and Wood's Norway is brutal, aggressive, angry, and vastly interesting. Their depiction of this country is the biggest reason forthe interestthat I have for BLACK ROAD, and I look forward to seeing more.Intriguingcharacters, plot, and lovely artwork make this worth reading a few times, though there are a few small things that dampen the experience. Read Full Review

It's worth noting that in the beginning "Black Road" is titled as a mystery and this element is something that we have yet to encounter. While this duo finds their way further north, hopefully this component will be introduced. I'm sure that with it will come welcomed sense eeriness to the title. With visions of violence and burning churches throughout the issue, there is surely something heinous waiting around the corner. Ultimately, "Black Road" has promise and I'm curious to see where it goes next as Magnus and his Guardian Angel venture further north to along the Hammaruskk Coast. Read Full Review

Black Road is a great norse title for those who read and enjoyed Northlanders and were aching for more. Read Full Review

This is a solid introductory issue that establishes the Viking and Christian elements well while setting our hero on his journey. Enter its conflicted and dangerous world expecting an interesting blend of cultures. Read Full Review

This is a very thought-provoking issue. I’m sure the rest of the series will lead to even more theories and analyses than what I have right now. The creative team’s execution is phenomenal, and I cannot wait for more. Any book that makes me think beyond just the storyline is worth the read to me! Check it out, and tell us what your theories are on ComicWow.com! Read Full Review

One of the most interesting things about the first chapter of Black Road is that it feels like a complete piece, so this leaves us with the dilemma of not having a mystery hook to latch onto for the next chapter. Nevertheless, the character and world that Wood and Brown have constructed here are well studied and feel as whole as this issue, and the chance to peel back a few more layer of Magnus - not to mention explore the fascinating tensions between the Norsemen and the Christians - is hard to resist. Read Full Review

All in all, this is an historical treat for fans of action-adventure. The first issue introduces the story arc perfectly, while providing just enough historical context to make this a fascinating and captivating read. Read Full Review

There's a lot of pieces from familiar stories here, but I think The Black Road is doing enough to set itself apart from the rest. It's not my favorite read today, but it's pretty good, and there's enough I'm curious abuot and want more of for me to return for issue #2. I hope some things improve by then, but unless things get considerably worse, I'm probably onboard for a few more issues at least. There's a lot I want to know about in these pages, and nothing bad enough to lose me. Read Full Review

Though the story is solid, it's Wood and Brown's depiction of Norway that will ultimately drag me back for more. It's a good first issue, and I want to see how the duo builds on it going forward. For now, we're off to a good start. It's nice to head back into the northern reaches again. Read Full Review

The Black Road #1 has the promise of an interesting character journey, but it doesn't fully deliver. The story has quite a number of harsh transitions that require adjustment to the confusion. Magnus' narrative voice is uninspiring and ultimately detracts from the dialogue which is much more interesting. Finally, the lettering is absolutely terrible. Read Full Review

Ultimately it’s a beautiful and bleak introduction whose story doesn’t totally grab you. A half good and half misstep of a first issue, it may take an issue or two but Wood fans will probably find something to like and Brown's art is certainly worth checking out. Read Full Review