Aydis is a viking woman warrior but, she is also a heathen and an outcast. She was born into a time of constant wars and suffering along with the being treated as a second class citizen because she was born a female. Aydis was banished from her village after breaking one of their rules. She decides to destroy the god-king Odin to end his tyrannical reign over humans and immortals. As she makes her journey, Aydis crosses paths with many people who take an interest in her journey.
This has been probably one of my favorite graphic novels I have read this month. The story was interesting and captivating and keep me rooting for Aydis. Unlike other graphic novels, I felt like I could easily follow along and that I wasn't missing some backstory or that they made references to something that I didn't quite get. I thought the drawing style was different and thought it was cool for the most part. I liked the appendix with the collection of covers at the end of the book. If you like reading about badass women who rock, you will like this graphic novel.
**Disclosure - I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest opinion**
Author: Natasha Alterici, Ashley A. Woods (Illustrations),
Rachel Deering, Morgan Martinez
Pub. Date: May 17, 2022
Publisher: Vault Comics
Formats: Paperback, eBook
Pages: 336
Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org
WOMAN. WARRIOR. VIKING. HEATHEN. OUTCAST.
THE GODS MUST PAY…
Born into a time of warfare, suffering, and subjugation of women, and exiled
from her village for kissing another woman, the lesbian Viking warrior, Aydis,
sets out to destroy the god-king Odin and end his oppressive reign. She is a
friend to many as she is joined by mermaids, immortals, Valkyries, and the
talking horse, Saga. But she is also a fearsome enemy to the demons and
fantastic monsters that populate the land.
Heathen – The Complete Series Omnibus Edition trade paperback collects the
entire twelve-issue series.
Soon to be movie directed by Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight, Red Riding Hood, & Lords of Dogtown)
Perfect for fans of Monstress, Helheim,
and Northlanders.
Reviews:
“These
declarations of self from women and queer characters fit so elegantly into the
mythology Alterici uses to weave her tale, it reminds us that these narratives
belonged there all along.”- The Mary Sue
“I want epics with female leads, and fortunately HEATHEN fulfills that desire in a big way, while also adding its own unique touch with themes that are as contemporary as they are timeless.”- Women Write About Comics
“One look at the cover and I knew this book was right up my alley. If you are into Norse mythology and aching for a lesbian angle, then this book is for you. If you want a love story that is more than a romance, a heroine that is truly honourable and fierce, then I urge you to pick this … up.”- The Lesbian Review
“Natasha Alterici's Heathen, has single-handedly redeemed the disaster that pop culture has been making of Norse mythology. It’s a smart, funny, feminist, queer and sex-positive take on the Viking world; one with a wide cast of diverse and endearing characters. Heathen is a must-read for comics (and mythology) lovers of all sorts and those in quest of superb queer and feminist comics in particular. RATING: 10/10”- Pop Matter
About Natasha Alterici:
Natasha
Alterici is a writer
and artist living in Tulsa, OK who has been working as a freelance artist for
over ten years. Works include Heathen (Vault Comics), Dinosaur
Project, Gotham Academy: Yearbook, Grayson Annual, The Lez Film Review, Mixed
Signals, Lovers and Other Strangers, Transcience, and a number of others. When
not drawing, she enjoys watching cooking shows with her wife and their two
cats, Cheshire and Louise.
Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon
Ashley A.
Woods is a
comic book artist, writer, & creator from Chicago known for her work on the
"Niobe", "Ladycastle" and "Tomb Raider" series.
She got her start through self-publishing her action-fantasy comic series
“Millennia War” which led to her career in comics and TV. After earning her
degree in Film and Animation from IADT, she traveled to Kyoto, Japan where she
presented her work in a gallery showcase called, “Out Of
Sequence”. Recognized for her female illustrations and designs, her most
prominent work is "Niobe: She is Life" with Stranger Comics.
Her latest work can be seen on HBO's "Lovecraft Country", DC’s
“Wonder Woman Black & Gold 2” and "Jupiter Invincible" with
Pulitzer Prize winning author Yusef Komunyakaa which premiered at the Tribeca
Film Festival June 2021.
Giveaway Details:
2 winners will receive a finished copy of HEATHEN, US Only.
a Rafflecopter giveawayTour Schedule:
Week One:
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5/1/2022 |
Guest Post |
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5/2/2022 |
Guest Post |
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5/3/2022 |
Excerpt |
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5/4/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
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5/5/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
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5/6/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
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5/7/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
Week Two:
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5/8/2022 |
Guest Post /IG Post |
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5/9/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
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5/10/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
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5/11/2022 |
IG Review |
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5/12/2022 |
IG Review |
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5/13/2022 |
Review/IG Post/TikTok Post |
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5/14/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
Week Three:
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5/15/2022 |
Review |
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5/16/2022 |
Review |
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5/17/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
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5/18/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
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5/19/2022 |
Review |
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5/20/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
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5/21/2022 |
Review |
Week Four:
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5/22/2022 |
Excerpt |
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5/23/2022 |
Guest Post |
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5/24/2022 |
IG Post |
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5/25/2022 |
IG Review |
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5/26/2022 |
IG Review |
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5/27/2022 |
Review |
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5/28/2022 |
Excerpt/IG Post |
Week Five:
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5/29/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
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5/30/2022 |
IG Review |
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5/31/2022 |
IG Review/TikTok Post |
