Arthur and the Golden Rope

In this tale, young Icelander Arthur goes on a quest to tame a monstrous wolf that has ravaged his village. It’s an introduction to (and a revision of) the Norse myth of the binding of Fenrir. In this version, ‘unlikely hero’ Arthur is a small, blond tousle-haired boy (think a young Boris Johnson with glasses), who loves exploring the local forest and bringing back the strange things he has found there. It’s a habit not much appreciated by his fellow villagers but which stands him in good stead when he sets off to meet Thor and is given the task of finding a golden rope. The darkness of the original myth and of life the Northlands is reflected in the books sombre hues but is offset by the cheerful caricature depiction of its main characters, including intrepid Arthur himself and Thor, who looks more like Father Christmas than a dread warrior god. It’s a well-executed graphic novel that’s suitable for junior school age children.