A new graphic novel from Vault Comics is out now - Wifwulf.
WIFWULF is an original folklore myth telling the story of Charity Bjornsdotter, a young woman in 1860s Montana who spends her days in the woods with her closest friend, a local wolf she calls Silver Slash. Charity is soon to marry the most handsome man in her small village, the mercurial-yet-beloved Paul Skeld. As her husband isolates her from Silver Slash, she begins to feel a call to the wilds...for it is there that her true destiny awaits. WIFWULF is the harrowing tale of a woman forcibly separated from that which makes her feel alive, a reinterpretation of the classic werewolf myth...and the origin story of a new goddess.
Writers: Jackson Lanzing & Collin Kelly, Artist: Dailen Ogden, Letterer: Andworld Design, Designer: Tim Daniel & Cover: Dailen Ogden
Folklore has always interested me, and this one is something special.
The second half of the book contains not only some other short stories in comic and prose form but also a fantastic ‘making of’ about the story, the art, and the use of colour in the book. Something like this can be hit or miss, but I really enjoyed it, and it is presented specially.
In the main story, this is cleverly put together with equal parts fear and humanity - both from the animals of the woods and from the people involved. The framing of the story is well played out and has some excellent and sad moments. There is a sad sort of innocence at the beginning of this, and the childlike introduction to the characters is well played out. A particular note is the appearance of the wolf, it was slightly chilling in colour, and rapidly changes in tone as the introduction continues.
The childlike qualities also move the human part of the story, with some dark aspects of abuse and PTSD detailed here - by no means is this an excuse, though. I don’t think it should be, but it is an interesting aside in the story.
As the story progresses, we encounter some fantastic and mythical aspects, and the art and pacing of the story make great use of the comic medium.
This was something special and mystical.