D&D comics history part 22 - The Legend of Drizzt (DDP)

In 2005, DDP (Devil's Due Publishing), who just acquired the D&D license, started publishing comics based on Forgotten Realms settings : The legend of Drizzt.

Book I - VII (TPB) + Book VIII first issue covers

Based on the famous novels written by the even more famous R.A.Salvatore, the comics cover entirely the 2 first trilogies (Homeland, Exile, Sojourn / The Crystal Shard, Streams of Silver, The Halfling's Gem) and partially the third one (Legacy, Starless Night) depicting the adventures of the drow hero Drizzt Do'Urden.

Due to some extremely bad financial management, DDP has been known for not paying (in time or even at all...) the authors, accumulating a debt of thousands of bucks to the creators. The publisher being unable to fix the situation, WOTC (Hasbro) decided to cancel the agreement they had with DDP in 2008.

As a result, the story ended in the mainstream, after the first issue of book VIII (issue n°22) has been released.

This is a very sad money story (pleonasm ? :P) as DDP's D&D licensed comics are just amazing. Instead of creating new stories based on D&D universe, the authors decided to adapt the most famous D&D novels ever published. As well, they will start in 2006 the adaptation of the excellent Dragonlance Chronicles.
In addition, the artists chosen are more than great.

Andrew Dabb will be in charge of the whole serie's script.
Major artist is Tim Seeley who will work on books 1,2,3,6 and 7 (in collaboration with Rob Atkins on this last volume). Books 4 and 5 will be drawn by Val Semeiks and first issue of book 8 by Juanfran Moyano.

Book II Chapter III             Book IV Chapter I             Book VI Chapter II

The whole serie is really inspired by Tim Seeley's style, which is just excellent and perfectly fitting the settings. The drows and other creatures are beautiful imo - we re far from the 90's novels covers art - the inking too is just perfect.

Plus, a bunch of artists worked on the comics covers. And DDP were releasing 2 different covers for the same issue. (I didn t get all the single comics, unwilling to give away piles of bucks... prefering to buy the TPB versions - the A & B covers arts of each issue being included in the end pages)

Each book (or TPB tho) is a compilation of 3 issues (then called chapters).
Hardcover omnibus (assembling 3 books in 1 - so 9 issues) also exist.

Notice also that this D&D comics serie is the first one ever translated into french ! (that had to be said :P). The french publisher is Milady, which is also in charge of re-editing the Forgotten Realms and Dragonlance novels (with new translations and integral text, which was not the case with the previous releases)

This serie is a must-to-have for any Drizzt or Forgotten Realms addict...
And even for those who would have no idea about who is Drizzt or even what is D&D... if you like fantasy & comics, you ll like it.

D&D comics history part 20 - Crisis in Raimiton

WOTC released a free comic entitled Crisis in Raimition - An adventurers Guide to D&D for the Free Comic Book Day event, on july 3, 2004.

Pencils / cover art : Scott Roller        Story / inks : Matt Clarke

Inks : Matt Phillips       Digital color / lettering : Zach Odil

You could find official WOTC review a few years ago on their website but the page is down for a while... (they really should invest in servers... tsss)

The story is about a bunch of RPGers preparing a D&D game (creation of characters, etc) and then playing it. The story then depicts the characters' adventure.

To be fully honest, I would qualify this issue as a pure piece of shit. 

No more no less... no offense heh XD

Part showing the gamers in "real life" is just a mix of caricatures and idealistic propaganda. Like, the guys are eating chips but they all look like fitness addicts. More, the players are 2 dudes and 2 gals... which is pretty much anti-sexism but really far from reality. (I dunno the stats but i do think at least 80% of RPGers are dudes...). On other hand, the DM is still a dude heh... o_O

Be an adventurer...eat chips !

But anyway, if the story is all but interesting, it s not where the novel falls short.

The ultimate fail is the graphics... man... they so suck. And the computer coloring and the cheap lettering are just adding to the mediocrity imo.

SPLUTCH!

At least it was a free issue heh... I always try to find the good in the bad... but here... heh... more than a challenge to me. Even the adventure scenario, being so simplistic, is distressing...

The only good thing i could say of this issue is about the purpose the authors had. It s obvious they really wanted to create a understandable introduction to D&D (3.5) to the uninitiated public. But even with the best of intentions...

But well, this is marked D&D...this is a comic... this had to be in my collection...

(>_<)

D&D comics history part 19 - The Unity of Rings

On 11/13/2003, WOTC put online, in their D&D archives, the scans of the comic :

The Unity of Rings

This issue is the missing piece in the 1996 Limited Edition serie. For some reason, this had not been released that time despite what could have been expected based on what TSR's advert was saying.

Believing what WOTC was saying on it on their website (page down since), the original pages were lost and suddenly reappeared during some office move... and they decided to put it online as the story is complete. (Without cover tho)

The Unity of Rings - First page

The WOTC archive is still online while I am writing these lines :

http://www.wizards.com/dnd/DnD_PS_Comic.asp

One thing, they inversed the second and the third page there... (-_-;)
Here's a link to a pdf of my own for a smoother reading :
The Unity of Rings.pdf

This comic is totally in the line of the limited editions. Funny (even cynical) with attractive graphics and a nice and well-constructed story.

"The story was conceived by the Planescape group -- Monte Cook (writer of "Hand of the Revenant" module), Michelle Carter, Colin McComb, Ray Vallese, and Andria Hayday -- and scripted by veteran planewalker (and experienced comic author) Jeff Grubb. It includes the art and lettering skills of Mark Heike, Brad Gorby, Chris Allen, and Bill Black (founder of AC comics), and colors by Barbara Brecker."
(dixit WOTC)

As it is online, I won t say more about the plot, you can discover it yourself.

Just it is based on Planescape. (campaign setting created in 1994 based on the concept of multiple planes of existence, in which are included the existing worlds of D&D such as Forgotten Realms, Dragonlance, etc)

And well, a (loop-)story about a ring... doesn t that ring a bell ? :P

Double scanned page spread

It is just sad, for us collectors, that WOTC never released printed versions of it, even in very limited editions for some convention or else... :/

It could have been my preciouuuus... :P

D&D comics history part 18 - Vecna - Hand of the Revenant

While WOTC gave D&D licensed to Kenzer & Co from 2000 to 2004, Iron Hammer Graphics too was allowed to publish in 2002 :  

Vecna - Hand of the Revenant.

This comic is a real masterpiece. As for the topic chosen, the writing or the graphic style used.

Plus, as any collection masterpiece, it s rarity adds to the myth.

It took me 2 years to acquire it, having dedicated automatic search in ebay, Mile High Comics and other sites for this, and regulary checking google... (also, living on the old continent was not helping of course...)

I will not say how much it cost me when I finally found a copy on amazon for a reasonable - ergh - price... but just to say, when I started collecting D&D comics almost 3 years ago, the only one copy up for sale on the web was around 100 bucks. (shipping costs not included heh...)

Now, if i get some comment of some guy bragging about the fact he just got it for 1$ on ebay, i ll track his IP down, get his address and his family's, and hunt him and all his clan for a significant punishment !

This being said, let s go back to the comic... :P

It s a 64 pages trade paperback issue without any ISBN or other barcode on it.

This issue is entitled Book one - Blood & Fire. And indeed, the story is to be continued, sadly, as none will follow. Apparenlty it was planned to be a 6 books graphic novel.

Iron Hammer Graphics have released only a very few graphic novels. I tried to get more infos on this publisher but found almost nothing. (Tho, I did not spend a lot of time on this :P)

Anyway, Vecna - Hand of the Revenant is rare and good.

The story has been written by Modi Thorsson and art done by Kevin McCann.

It depicts the moment when Vecna, the High Magus Lich (one the most famous D&D villains ever) lost his (much more famous) left eye and hand (that will become poweful evil artifacts) being hit by the power of Pholtus (god of light) during the siege of the city of Fleeth.

Along the story, we have flashbacks of Vecna's human youth when he was being taught arcane arts by his mother, Mazzel.

I find the plot construction very smart as it immerse the reader in the two moments that will forge Vecna's fate.

If the author took some freedom with Vecna's story, they re not making big mistakes regarding what you can find about the guy in D&D modules and adventures.

There was, on the WOTC community forum a few years ago, some specialists' (and fanatics' imo :P) discussion about the correctness of the elements depicted in Hand of the Revenant. Sadly page is down since... [If any of you know/find a link to some record of this, I'll gladly add it here as it was really something ! :D]

Now about the art, the style is somehow uncommon but not unpleasant. Very dark as the story is in the end...

The only remark i could make is about the fonts used... some are really hell to read... ok, it s stylish but imo, the readability comes first... (especially when you re not born english-speaker :P)

...SAVE THE HEADS !

Notice that, as well as in Kenzer & Co's publications, the authors made a graphic novel based on Greyhawk world. Coincidence ?    o_O

D&D comics history part 13 - The Forbidden Sands of Anauroch

These two volumes of Forgotten Realms - The Forbidden Sands of Anauroch are like some UFOs in the D&D comics' sky... and for more than one reason...

They have been released in 2000, under the agreement of WOTC, by 21st Century Comics. (Trademark of 21st century games, an italian company that published the famous miniature versions of AD&D rules and accessories books)

It should have been a 6 issues serie but only the first two volumes were ever published.

These are hard-covers and mesure 24,5 x 16,5 cm. (and dun ask for inch ! :P)

Script by Alessandro Zeminian and Andrea Verardi.

Art (part 1) by Isabella Dalla Vecchia and Michele Rizzardi

Art (part 2) by Sonia Bernabei and Tatiana Mavaracchio

AND translation by Lucy Lenzi (p.1) and Margherita Monti (p.2)

I share the translators infos because I don t get how WOTC allowed the publishing of these books with such a pathetic level of english. I mean I have no idea on how good was the original script in italian but the render in english let you think it has been translated by some italian high-school student. It s almost correct grammatically tho but... heh... well... read it and make your own opinion. XD

The main surprising thing is the graphic style used... it s completely inspired by japanese manga. But italian-made manga.

We have had lots of european artists that imitated the manga-style and tried to put their own graphic culture in it this last decade... most often with poor success. Imo, it s the case here. It s not that awful, but you can see it s just a pale copy of japanese comics.

And if the artists are different in the 2 volumes, I can hardly decide which one has the best graphics...

Anyway, it was a deliberate and risky choice of the authors and well... all know what to expect when ya start gambling heh... :P

Concerning the story, first point is that it has never been finished... which means it could have turned excellent...or also gone nowhere...

Plot takes place in Anauroch, the huge desert of the Forgotten Realms and we are following a bunch of good (!) thieves and some nomads running after (or the inverse) the sexy chaotic neutral lvl.10 mage bitch Ce'Nedra... whose existence seems to be dedicated in creating shitstorms...

If there weren t some allusions to the Realms' deities and also the characters and monsters' succint descriptive sheets at the end of each volume (only stats on some blur chara sketch, no background heh...), we would have no idea that it s based on Forgotten Realms license.

Ah ! On other hand, it is obviously RPG based... Very like there were players behind the characters explaining to the DM (and rest of the party) all the actions they re doing...and that, step by step...

"Let me roll for traps..."

And well, concerning the environment, imo, it s more Al Qadim inspired than F.R.

It also really reminds me of the first issue of the "New-Sorcerian Series", (13th issue of Sorcerian), 1991 manga published by Dragon Comics. (It was a bit more Ancient Egypt-inspired tho...)

In conclusion, I feel a bit dazed. It s original (almost conceptual XD), it could have been great, lots of ideas, and you can feel the passion and dedication put into its creation but so many mistakes done, unfinished... In the end it s a fail.

Still, I dun regret to have that strange "experiment" on my shelves; worse D&D comics exist...

D&D comics history part 12 - Baldur's Gate (TSR / Bioware)

In 1998, Bioware & TSR issued a promotional comic : Baldur's Gate, with a story that acts like an introduction to the video game. Art and scenario done by Bioware staff when production and marketing were handled by Interplay.

Writers : James Ohlen / Lucas Kristjanson

Cover illustration : Michael Sass

Pencils/Inks/Letters : John Gallagher

Colorist : Dean White

I still have to dig on how the comic was released. I believe it came out in some convention or maybe was gifted in some video game box... (If you have any info...)

Now on the contents... Well, the graphics are not that bad... it s mostly bloody slaughters after ambushes and betrayals (heads flying, flow of blood splashing everywhere...) but on the other hand, the artist put lots of hidden D&D references... if you observe well, you ll find Elminster lightning his pipe in front of Drizzt and Guenhwyvar...

...as well as some funny beholder (plush ? o_O) on the tavern shelves... or even the famous Marco Volo on the same frame... and could it be Flint Fireforge from the Dragonlance chronicles smoking his pipe next to him ? o_O

In addition, ya can find lots of known coats of arms on shields or banners... No doubt the artist has a solid knowledge of the Forgotten Realms. (Baldur' Gate being one of the most important city in the Realms after Waterdeep)

Despite my first impression that wasn t very enthousiastic about this comic, I have to admit it s far more interesting than it seemed at first sight.
I am sure I am still missing lots of winks hidden in the frames...

D&D comics history part 10 - Limited Editions (TSR)

 I believe that TSR, after the fail of Dragonstrike was no really willing to come back in comic industry for good.

But in 1996, to promote the sales of its AD&D and affiliated products, TSR was offering a free comic for any 15$ or more purchase.

 Believing the ad, 5 comics were meant to be distributed as limited edition :

Forgotten Realms : The Grand Tour

Birthright : The Serpent's Eye

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons : Labyrinth of Madness

Dragonlance : The Fifth Age

Planescape : The Unity of Rings

In the end, only 4 will be released. The Unity of Rings, which was entirely done, will never be published but WOTC will decide to put it freely online in 2003 on their website.

Understanding the advert, the first one released is The Grand Tour

 Story by Jeff Grubb and art by Todd Fox.

If the graphics are not really great (even mediocre on some pages...) the story is pretty funny and quirky as main characters are Elminster, the most famous mage of the Realms and....... Presto(n) from the D&D cartoon (well years after the cartoon's story tho :P)

 

These guys took a shot of old heh...

   It s a nice original and nostalgic way of getting the reader involved in the story using a character he surely saw on TV years ago. 

Plot is very simple : Preston is getting his chance to become Elminster's apprentice and this last one decides to take the guy to a tour of the Realms.

Tour during which they ll meet legendary figures of the Forgotten Realms as Marco Volo, Qilué Veladron (who s telling about Drizzt and Lirel...), or even Alias and Dragonbait in famous place as Cormyr, Skullport (hidden city under Waterdeep), or Shadowdale.

Each meeting being an excuse to have a nice synopsis of some aspect of the Realms, its people and history.

   Also, special wink from Jeff Grubb to authors Ed Greenwood and Julia Martin.

(Who wrote some of the F.R. novels together)

 

Ed (Greenwood), Marco Volo & Julia (Martin)

 Strange thing is that Khelben Blackstaff, high magus and one of the known lords of Waterdeep (left guy on the cover) is not appearing in the story...

...as well as the cover style differ totally from the comic...

All that in order to puzzle the reader imo... no one would expect to see the guys from D&DC here, heh.

 Second Limited Edition issue seems to be The Serpent's Eye. I base this thinking on the shape of the "logo" in the upper left corner, which is (but the character) similar to The Grand Tour one.

 Story by Ed Stark and art by Dave Gross. Both are average imo.

We re put into some mini-quest involving Jahan, emir of Khourane, his uncle Khalil El-Faran and Marlae baroness of Roesone trying to retrieve the Serpent's eye (A powerful artifact belonging to the mentionned Serpent, an awnsheghlien, monstrous semi-deity)

 Birthright is a rpg-system based on the principle of divine bloodline.

Long ago, on the planet Aebrynis, more especially on the Cerilia continent, a war occured between elves and humans. During the battle on Mount Deismaar, the gods themselves took part of the melee and a bunch of good gods sacrified themselves in order to kick the bad bad god Azrai's ass. This ended in a cataclysmic fight in which all the gods (good and evil) were destroyed.

But the divine core having not been totally wiped out, it infiltrated the blood of the present fighters, the nearest and strongest of them receiving more power.

The most powerful of them became almost gods themselves and developped special divine attributes, making them natural leaders.

Some of them turned aberrations, like the Serpent or the Spider.

 I never had the chance to play Birthright and the few I learnt about this world was what I read in novels. (5 of them have been translated into french years ago)

 This comic story is in the line of the novels, not very funny, not very interesting, with not very charismatic characters... we re far from the richness of worlds as Forgotten Realms or Dragonlance.

 Now, I am sure it s a perfect game system to build some über toon... or for those who like the system of bloodline... but well we cut the head of our aristocracy 2 centuries ago here... froggy talking :P

Anyway, the job has been done with this comic. 

You want a glimpse of B.R. ? Read it.

 In comparaison, Labyrinth of Madness is a really nice issue that fits more in the tone of these Limited Editions.

Writer : Mike Barron         Penciller : Arnie Swekel

 The story, based on an adventure module originally written by Monte Cook, is about adventurers on a quest to rescue their buddy, captive in some hellish trapped dungeon.

The adventure module

 It s somehow very alike the first cartoon ads story. Typical D&D party in some dungeon crawl on which you add a serious amount of comedy.

As characters, we have the captive one... Sorril the Paladin trapped in the deepest level of the labyrinth by the very evil Aerthun, a titan who s some mix between a giant and a cobra...

...and the rescue team composed of its leader and wizard Kirtig, Shardeus a female paladin, the 2 dwarves brothers : Dharveth the fighter and Dwelhach the Cleric and the indispensable and so murphy-ish Jedin, the halfling rogue.

 All the elements of a playable adventure are here... the random encounters, the puzzles, the temptating pathes full of traps, the treasures and the mega-boss at the end. Plus, the story is livened up with a very plesant style of drawing that matches the tone of the narrative.

Labyrinth of Madness - Double page

 In the end it s a really nice way to get an overview of what you can expect on a night spent D&D gaming around a table with your weirdo friends. (you ll never play RPG with only "normal guys"... that can t be :P)

 Take adventures, fights againts incredible monsters, achievements (unbelievable fails too heh)... and some ladles of fun and humour with a grain of salt. Put all that together, add the unlimited possibilities of your imagination and that s it.

You get what AD&D was intended to be imo.

   An online version of this comic can be found on WotC website. 

The fourth and last one ever released is Fifth Age.

 

Writers : Tom & Mary Bierbaum        Penciller : Arnie Swekel

 Inspired by the novel Dragons of a Summer Flame by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman, the story depicts the moment when Palin, son of Caramon and Tika Majere discovers the "new magic" while elves of Qualinesti are under the domination of Beryllinthranox, the great green dragon.

After the War of the Lance followed by the Chaos War, ancient gods are gone as well as the three moons. There is no more magic of good, neutral and evil. The reign of great wirms has come and the people of Krynn are in desperate needs of power to fight them.

 Palin, sorcerer apprentice and nephew of the legendary doomed Archmage Raistlin Majere, was told by ancient god of good, Paladine, that he was the one who will find the new source of magic.

 The story is pretty serious in comparaison of other limited edition issues. I do believe Dragonlance is more a world of legends than one of adventures. The War of the Lance is somehow very similar to Tolkien's Lord of the Ring. If the 2 stories have different plots, their tones is pretty serious in the end.

 That explains, imo, that this limited issue was not written to be lighthearted.

It is a nice introduction to the new campaign setting of Dragonlance.

The quality of the graphics as well as the narration are pretty correct. (even if find that Beryl's design is a bit childish, reminding me of the 1982 animated movie "The Flight of Dragons"...ok, I admit I am maybe going too far here... :P)

 It also seems that artist Arnie Swekel has some speciality in the use of double page spreads... requiring the reader to turn the comic to continue his reading...

Fifth Age - Double page

 If I ve read the Dragonlance Chronicles novels with delight years ago, I am not an expert concerning the Fifth Age. So I can t say if this little story and the novels are well matched or not and at which degree of accuracy. But at first sight, it seems pretty correct to me.

 As well as all the other limited editions issues, besides the story itself, the comic is full of chosen ads about Dragonlance materials as upcoming novels or modules. Which is pretty coherent considering they were AD&D's campaign settings dedicated promotional goodies... (QED... or not XD)

   An online version of this comic can be found on WotC website. 

  This Limited Edition line is a must-to-have for any D&D comics collector in the meaning it gives,  in  only 4 issues (5 if you count the lost planescape comic...), a very large panel of what was AD&D in late 90's.

O_oV

D&D comics history part 9 - DragonStrike (Marvel)

In D&D comics history, Dragon Strike "Before the Strike !" is an interesting piece.

First, it s been released in february 1994 by Marvel, when the previous D&D licensed comics series ended in 1991 and when the next ones will only be published in 1996.
So, this was the only D&D related comic during a 5 years period.

Now, Dragon Strike (the board game) being a simplified version of Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, it is still not officially licensed under D&D...
(I long hesitated to include this title within the collection for this reason...)

Second interesting point is the return (very short in the end...) of Marvel in D&D comics.
(reminder : D&D cartoon ads were published in Marvel comics and magazines...)

Now, concerning the comic itself, this is far from being a masterpiece.

It contains 32 pages (including 8 ad pages).

Story by Jeff Grubb, art by Mike Harris and Frank Percy (inker).

This is just an introduction to something, characters meeting along the story to form some party to fight against some bad guy.

We have the blond barbarian-typed warrior with his long sword (bastard one ?) and his friend the ranger (?) elf with his Green Lantern-like costum and his bow... who will meet later the female thief with her whip and her short (on front cover) or long...(p.29) sword and finally the blue-dressed wizard who wears some weird wolf-headed helmet..

Most amazing thing, imo, is that only the villains and the good king have names in this story... the good guys being called, even when shouting at eachothers, by their class and not their names (which are still unknown at the end of this issue...)...well except the elf...who is designated by his race...

If the scenario is just about the grouping of a party to start some quest (really like if some D&D's DM wanted to make it really really short...), the lack of depth in story and the proficience of mistakes concerning D&D rules are just huge...

Try to beat up some skeleton warriors with a bow... o_O

Oooh ! He-Man & Green Lantern !   :P

Art itself is just acceptable for the time it was issued.

Some nice things here and there...

We can believe the plot would have lead somewhere as Jeff Grubb is well known within the D&D novels readers.
(reminder : he was also in charge of scenari on the Forgotten Realms serie)

But this first issue will also be the last : Fail ! o_O

D&D comics history part 8 - Annuals 1990 (DC)

         

DDO Memories - The Night Masks in action !

Dungeons & Dragons Online's adventure illustrated with D&D Miniatures

Prey on the Hunter

Featuring, from left to right :

Klin Stegen (Kuro's reserved Hireling)

Kuronons (Hopeless Slayer Addict)

Heystack Ironhorse (Thor's weak Hireling)

Thorspawn (The Zergmeister)

Hezrou (Klin's far-too-huge-Summon)

Frost Giant Hunter (Unnamed Monster)

Wyoh aka "The Blonde" (Dhed's useless Hireling)

Kaljarne (Bad Bad Boss)

Aussircaex (Dragon in Distress)

Dhedly (The Lost Paladin)