The Exile

After seven years of exile, battle-hardened Hallstein Thordsson returns home to Iceland, only to find that old wounds haven't healed. A remarkable decades-spanning epic, Erik Kriek's The Exile is equal parts action "Western" and family drama, with a surprising story of violence and consequences at its core. Kriek is a decorated illustrator known for his work on In the Pines (2015) and Gutsman. Lushly told with traditional brush work, and a limited palette illustration style, Kriek's art is alternately breezy and gritty, but always stunning, whether he's depicting a full-blown Viking battle or a wearying sea voyage.