We are inching ever closer to the premiere of HBO’s Game of Thrones season 2 on April 1.

For the initiated, Game of Thrones is based on the best-selling Song of Ice and Fire series by George R.R. Martin.  These books cover the power struggle in the kingdom of Westeros and beyond; a kingdom that resembles our world’s middle ages, but where magic is seeping in around the edges and dragons aren’t really a myth.  This is a fantasy series for people who don’t like fantasy.

Despite Martin’s assertion that he wrote this series in a way that it could never be translated to the screen (he was fairly bitter about some other stuff he’d written), HBO managed to create a very successful first season of the show.  Emmys and Golden Globes have helped make this show successful enough that even though the production costs are high, there is a second season.

Below is some newly released art for the second season.  Pretty fierce if you ask me. And remember winter is coming.

Beware the wrath of the North