B e c om e o ur f an on Fa c e b o o k f a ce b o o k .co m / i d w p u b l i s h i n g F o ll o w u s on Tw i t t er @ i d w p u b l i s h i n g
Sub s c r ib e t o u s on Yo uTub e yo u t u b e.co m / i d w p u b l i s h i n g S e e w ha t ’s n e w on Tumb lr t u m b l r. i d w p u b l i s h i n g .co m
C h e c k u s o u t on In s t a gr am i n s t a g r a m .co m / i d w p u b l i s h i n g
ISBN: 978 -1- 6 8 4 0 5 -26 6 - 0 CO L L EC TI O N ED IT S BY J US TI N EISI N GER A N D A LO NZO SI M O N PRO DUC TI O N BY N EI L U Y E TA K E PU BL ISH ER GREG GO L DS TEI N
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T H E S PI D ER K I N G . AU GU S T 2 018 . FI R S T PR I N T I N G . C o py r i g h t © 2 018 J o s h Va n n & S i m o n e D’A r m i n i. A l l r i g h t s r e s e r ve d . © 2 018 I d e a a n d D e s i g n Wo r k s, L LC . T h e I DW l o g o i s r e g i s t e r e d i n t h e U. S . Pa t e n t a n d Tr a d e m a r k O f f i c e. I DW Pu b l i s h i n g, a d i v i s i o n o f I d e a a n d D e s i g n Wo r k s, L LC . Ed i t o r i a l o f f i c e s: 276 5 Tr u x t u n Ro a d, S a n D i e g o, C A 9 210 6 . A ny s i m i l a r i t i e s t o p e r s o n s l i v i n g o r d e a d a r e p u r e l y co i n c i d e n t a l. W i t h t h e exc e p t i o n o f a r t w o r k u s e d f o r r ev i ew p u r p o s e s, n o n e o f t h e c o n t e n t s of t h i s p u b l i c a t i o n m ay b e r e p r i n t e d w i t h o u t t h e p e r m i s s i o n o f I d e a a n d D e s i g n Wo r k s, L LC . Pr i n t e d i n Ko r e a . I DW Pu b l i s h i n g d o e s n o t r e a d o r a c c e p t u n s o l i c i t e d s u b m i s s i o n s o f i d e a s, s t o r i e s, o r a r t w o r k . O r i g i n a l l y p u b l i s h e d a s T H E S PI D ER K I N G i s s u e s #1– 4 .
Gr e g G old s t ein, Pr e sident & P ubli sher J ohn B ar b er, Edi t or- in - C hie f Robbie Robbin s , E V P/ Sr. A r t Dir e c t or J ohn B ar b er, Edi t or- in - C hie f C ar a M or r i s on, C hie f F inanc ial O f f ic er Ma t t he w Ru zic k a, C hie f A c c ount in g O f f ic er Dav id H e dge c o c k , A s s o s sia t e P ubli sher J er r y B ennin g t on, V P o f N e w Pr o duc t D e velopmen t L or elei B unje s , V P o f Digi t al S er v ic e s Ju s t in Ei sin ger, Edi t or ial Dir e c t or, Gr aphic N ovel s an d C olle c t ion s Er ic M o s s , Sr. Dir e c t or, L ic en sin g & B u sine s s D e velopment Te d A dam s , F oun der & C EO o f IDW M e dia H oldin g s
Written by
Josh Vann Illustrated by Simone D’Armini Colored by
Adrian bloch Lettered by
Nic J Shaw Edited by
Chas! Pangburn
“hallvard is dead.”
Tonight he drinks and fights in the great halls of Valhalla...
...while we’re left to mourn the greatest King the Laxdale clan has ever known.
How did it happen?
He took an arrow in the neck as the Rhund warriors made their retreat into the forest.
Was it
Aarek that
pulled the string?
No. He’ll take the credit for it, but it was a lucky shot by one of his savages. Unlucky for us.
And now they’ll look to you, Hrolf. Hallvard was a fearsome warrior and a great leader. We might have won today’s battle... ...but we’ve suffered a terrible loss this night.
The people of this land looked to him for protection and strength.
But your father always intended for you to take his place at the head of the table...when it’s true the time came. that you’re still young, And now lad. it has. Much too soon.
Uncle? Me?
As Hallvard’s only son, you are his heir. His title, and his war, are now yours.
I don’t want this.
There is no want. it is your birthright and your duty to avenge your father and kill the traitor, Aarek.
Come with me, Hrolf.
Look up. into the sky. Do you see those two bright red stars? Yes.
They are Jupiter and Mars. And their alignment is a powerful omen. When they rose together last night, I predicted a great victory in today’s battle.
But I was wrong.
“...Your destiny is written in the stars.”
I now know they are a sign that we are gaining a new king.
One that will lead the Laxdale clan into an era of greatness and prosperity. Look up, Hrolf...