Dwarf #2

The second chapter of Shovel's Dwarf series plunges readers into a frozen world of myth and menace, with Emmanuel Civiello delivering a cover that commands attention: a solitary dwarf, wrapped in a teal scarf and clutching hammer and shield, trudges through a howling blizzard while the colossal, snarling face of a bear — Razoark, perhaps — looms out of the storm behind him. The contrast between the small, determined figure and that overwhelming ursine presence gives the image a quiet dread that feels genuinely earned. Published by Daedalus in 2012, this is European fantasy comics at its atmospheric, beautifully painted best.