VIKINGS, PAGANS, THE CHURCH, AND A SECRET THAT COULD CHANGE THE WORLD IN BLACK ROAD

Brian Wood and Garry Brown reunite for a new series steeped in historical intrigue, mystery, and suspense

BLACK ROAD marks writer Brian Wood's (Star Wars, DMZ, Northlanders) first return to the Viking genre since the acclaimed Northlanders series and his and Garry Brown's (The Massive, Iron Patriot) first project together since The Massive. Lauren Affe provides colors.

Set in Viking Age Norway, BLACK ROAD follows Magnus The Black, a fixer for the Christian Church who loses a Roman official to bandits on the infamous Black Road. Heading north to fix the problem and complete his contract, he uncovers a secret, something so big it threatens to change the balance of power in all of Europe. But with one foot in the world of the pagans and the other in that of the Church, who can trust where his loyalties lie?

"Black Road is a fast-paced thriller about identity, loyalty, betrayal, and tradecraft set in the early Viking age,” said Wood. “Magnus The Black is a great character, a creaky fellow who suffers the boot of daily life but shows his steel where and when it counts. With Northlanders I went strictly historical, but with Black Road I can really let the action and humor rip, and I hope Garry and Lauren and I do a whole series of Magnus The Black thrillers set on that grim road north."

Brown added: "I've been wanting to draw a Viking book since I first read Northlanders. I love that era, and I think the Black Road characters and mythos are a great addition to the genre. I'm excited to get the book out there for people to see."

“Whether you were a fan of Northlanders or The Massive, this book series is a must-read,” said Eric Stephenson, Publisher at Image Comics. “Saying that Brian and Garry are an amazing team is like saying water’s wet, but this is just wonderfully inspired work.”

The series is set to launch from Image Comics in September 2015.