Austin Trunick here, resident WildStorm blogger over at Graphic Content's sister blog, The Bleed. I'm stepping in for a very special guest post, because we're talking about two things I hold so near and dear to my heart: Fiona Staples art and NORTHLANDERS. Knowing my fondness for these, Pamela's very kindly offered me the opportunity to unveil the first look at the artwork here on the blog. (I won't lie - I would have readily fought her for it had she not offered. Pamela's a better person than me.)

One of the best parts of working in comics is being among the first people to see artwork by new, young artists getting some of their first big gigs in the mainstream comics world. I've borne witness to the DC debuts to artists I'd bet my own money on being some of comics' biggest stars within a few years. (See: Isaacs, Rebekah; Love, Jeremy; Hadley, Amy; Clarke, Andy and more.)

In my years at this company, only a handful have impressed me as much as Fiona Staples. (Impressed, perhaps, isn't the best verb to describe my reaction - to say that her artwork *floored* me would more appropriate.)

Fiona was recently nominated for an Eisner for her phenomenal work on North 40 - a fun, grotesque (not to mention completely insane) horror comedy written by Aaron Williams that was released in miniseries from WildStorm last year and comes out in trade this Fall. This may seem strange to someone who hasn't read North 40, but I can say indisputably that nobody (and I mean NOBODY) draws as beautiful a maggot-infested severed head as Fiona Staples.

When I caught wind that she was handling the art for NORTHLANDERS #29, I couldn't wait. Fiona Staples + Vikings? Yes, please. Fiona Staples + potentially some grisly Viking violence? Oh, even better. In either case, the equation we're working with is kickass artist + kickass book - which is always a perfect mix.

As for Brian Wood, I've been a fan of his work since the first Demo series. I followed him pretty religiously through all of his Vertigo books, with DMZ and the Viking epic NORTHLANDERS being my favorites. I was excited to finally get the chance to work with Brian when he launched a new DV8 miniseries with WildStorm earlier this year.

Fans of Brian Wood's NORTHLANDERS, DMZ and DEMO owe it to themselves to check out his new WildStorm book, DV8: GODS AND MONSTERS - which, coincidentally, features some pretty amazing cover art by Fiona Staples. The book is completely accessible to comic fans without a background history in the WildStorm Universe can jump on board. (Can't name a single WildCAT? Don't sweat it.) Brian brings all of the stuff his fans expect from his work to DV8: a great story, witty dialogue and a complex, fully-realized cast of characters. No doubt, DV8 is a Brian Wood joint.

The first three issues of DV8: GODS AND MONSTERS are on stands now. Why don't you take a look when you're picking up NORTHLANDERS #29 next Wednesday?

colored by Dave McCaig: