Thorgal: The Land of Qa

Created by a Belgian writer and a Polish artist, Thorgal is one of the most popular comic book stories published in Europe, with some thirty albums published.

A few collections were previously been translated and published in English a few years back, but it's only recently with Cinebook that a concentrated effort is being made to make them more accessible to the general book purchaser.

Thorgal is the title character of the series, one that initially appears to be set squarely in Viking territory, then our Scandinavian cousins' legends come to life, science fiction rears its head in a curious new age way alien visitation way, but always seems to keep its feet squarely on the ground.

To give him his full name, and hint at some of the aspects behind the story, Thorgal Aegirsson has been raised as a Viking but is out of sorts with many of their ideals. He wants only peace and quiet for himself and his family, but fate works against him, as if the gods themselves have cursed him. Not good for Thorgal, but reason enough to keep his adventures entertaining literally thousands for the last couple of decades.

As one can imagine, with a series that's gone as long as the term saga is more than appropriate to describe it, it has its soap opera characteristics too with long gone characters returning, but whereas with UFOs taking Colbeys up into space or a supposedly dead Bobby Ewing stepping lively out of a shower, in Thorgal the antics tend to strike true. That stated, I admit to being a relative novice to the series, and even armed with my research, I'm wondering where we're heading, but, hey, that's part of the adventure!

Cinebook recently published their fifth Thorgal collection, titled The Land of Qa it collects both that original publication and The Eyes of Tanatloc.

The Land of Qa opens with Thorgal, his wife Aaricia and their friend, the archer Tjall merrily attending to roof repairs in their winter cabin, unaware of the danger but a short walk away. While this is going on, Tjall's uncle, the aged warrior Tree Foot, is teaching Thorgal and Aaricia's son Jolan how to fire an arrow from a bow only for them to be kidnapped by pirates.

It transpires that Kriss of Valnor is responsible for this, and she is a female mercenary who's had run-ins with Thogal previously.

Kriss promises to release her captives on the condition that Thorgal and his party join her on a mission whose concerns she will not as yet reveal but lets it be known that gold is involved. For the sake of Jolan, they reluctantly follow where she leads.

Then their journey begins, via a longboat affixed with hot air balloons to carry them through the sky. Once on board they receive telepathic messages new aged style from the high regent of the Xinjin people who they are told they are going to save.

It's discovered that long ago in the land of Qa a white-skinned sun-helmeted naked man came to their shores from out of the sea and the Chaam were the first people to worship him as a god due to powers he displayed. His worship required sacrifice and the city of Mayaxtl many were the throats slit to pacify him, and only the Xinjin stood against the might of the living god that was Ogotai.

The Xinjin found a god for themselves though, albeit an elderly one, by the name of Tanatloc, who told them that if they could find a way to relieve Ogotai of his headwear peace might again be known among their peoples. This is what lead them to having somehow contacted and hired Kriss, and it was the Xinjin that Tree Foot, Jolan, and his dog Miff are held in hostage.

The location of this particular saga takes us from the frozen north to the sun-baked lands of the South American continent, although one where ship battles take place in mid-air as Ogotai's followers attack Kriss's flying craft! Our heroes manage to land safely, but when confronted by a great statue of a goddess Thorgal has the most curious of feelings that she is familiar to him, and there that book concludes.

Fortunately we're not left wondering what fate lies in store, for The Eyes of Tanatloc offers quite a few answers... That, plus a few more mysteries and perhaps a red herring or two.

This book in the collection begins by exploring the various emotions the cast is feeling, and mainly towards each other. Kriss knows Tjall is infatuated with her, he hates himself for doing so, but she uses him coyly or cruelly as the mood takes her, and we also begin to note that she may have secret feelings herself, but for Thorgal. The hero remains devoted to his wife.

Meanwhile, new readers learn the reason for Tree Foot's name - he has a false wooden one and the Xinjin have taken it so he won't escape, but fortunately he finds two willing lovers to placate him.

We also find that Tanatloc is nearing the end of his own supposed immortal life, but on learning Thorgal is involved he reveals to Jolan that he knows his father from long ago, and now teaches the youth how to use the power of the mind, the presumed magic that these gods display.

Thereafter it is revealed that these gods are in fact astronauts who crash landed down onto the planet Earth, and one by the name of Varth went mad when his wife and died, and then took the name of Ogotai. All but Tanatloc are unaware that the child survived, and grew up to Thorgal!

Between all that we get alligator attacks, ambushes by natives, swords drawn and arrows pulled and action aplenty, but our northern freedom fighters almost split up along the way when Kriss nearly convinces Tjall to leave Thorgal and Aaricia for dead, and well they might have if not for the fact that their son has learnt to use the power of his mind, and is able to come to their aid. But all's far from well, and this is still the set-up before the main event that will begin to take place in yet another book!

Some great drawing by Grzegorz Rosinki, and I do mean drawing, you can literally feel the pencil lines sketched out as he's composed these pages, there's lively action and considered emotion in his work, and Jean Van Hamme bends genres and mixes themes digging us deeper into mystery, making us begin to care seriously about the outcome of these characters.

For more about Thorgal visit: www.cinebook.com