Comic Book Review - Sentinel Issue #12: Valhallasaur

Rob reviews Sentinel Issue #12: Valhallasaur...

After a short hiatus, the creative talents of Sentinel founders Alan Holloway and Ed Doyle collide once again to bring a tale of Vikings and dinosaurs.

At writing it's been eight long months since we last delved into the creative mind of Alan Holloway. Previous Sentinel issue; Dark Matter saw the writer take an experienced mercenary squad across a planet-hopping, action-packed adventure. Dark Matter was well received, Holloway is drawing in plans for its sequel! 

Anyway, back in the present and we're thrown to 950AD. Opening to a Viking longboat wading its way through the frozen North, the crew soon discovers a distant island. Mistaking this island for Iceland, the crew suddenly realizes they are miles off course and as such make landfall. Little do the raiders know that they're not alone on this island. It's here that dinosaurs still roam supreme, and they can't wait to take a bite out of those who've wandered into their territory. Meanwhile, another "party" is also interested in the island and its inhabitants...

It's great to see Holloway capture the look and feel of the civilization, as well as their unwavering devotion to Odin (and the other Æsir), without going down the Marvel route. Instead, some moments in Valhallasaur feel like a history lesson, as we get insights into the traditions of the civilization. It's also done in a way that doesn't slow the stips flow, and neither does it condescend to the reader by over-explaining everything. So, as a fan of Norse mythology, I was pretty pleased. 

When it comes to the actual narrative, what we get is another simple tale. What I like about every Sentinel issue is that Alan Holloway doesn't necessarily take risks with his scripts. There's no edgy-ness, or Mark Millar-style "let's murder the lead character a few pages in". Instead, we get a comic book written by a comic book fan, for comic book fans. The medium is Holloway's bread and butter, and as such he weaves a tale that he as a reader would no doubt enjoy.

That said, it does mean that Valhallasaur is full of those Sentinel staples. There are plenty of moments when the main cast gets into dicey situations, and there's also plenty of action too! In a somewhat surprising way (although it was teased in the crowdfunding campaign), this isn't a straight fight between Vikings and dinosaurs. As such midway through the second act, there's quite a big twist. I won't spoil it, but upon a second read, there are a couple of hints that foreshadow what's coming. 

Much like the mini-digest that inspired it - each issue of Sentinel features a different artist. While we've had the likes of Paul Spence, Morgan Gleave, Neil Sims, and Ian Beadle sitting in the artist's chair - none compare to the joy of seeing Sentinal co-creator Ed Doyle attached as an artist. Much like everyone else that contributes to the publication, Doyle places plenty of passion into his work - and it's no different across this issue too. Every cell is truly a work of art. Doyle easily captures the excitement and danger of the island and its prehistoric inhabitants, with a great degree of detail that also shows exactly why his work is held in high regard. 

All in all, it's great to see the duo of Alan Holloway and Ed Doyle back doing what they do best. While Valhallasaur has been cooking for quite some time, it's definitely not benefited. The extra time has not only allowed Holloway to give us a cracking story, but it gave us time for Doyle to create some wonderful artwork!

If you're looking to get into the mini-digest, this is certainly one of the issues I'd highly recommend you start with. A Viking adventure, with dinosaurs, and a very clever twist! What's not to like? 

Rating: 9/10 

Sentinal Issue #12: Valhallasaur is available now and can be purchased via Alan Holloway on Twitter; @Sentinel_Comic

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