D&D comics history part 38 - Rick and Morty vs. Dungeons & Dragons (IDW - Oni Press)

   Within its history, D&D had some official crossovers (most often as RPG modules) with existing licensed settings such as Conan, Fafhrd and The Gray Mouser, Ptolus, Diablo, Magic : The Gathering or even World of Warcraft. When these worlds had all the fantasy environment potential to be adapted/linked to D&D, some were less obvious as Infestation 2 comics or the recently red box adaptation of the Stranger Things' Netflix series. In the same vein, in 2018, will be published the unexpected crossover comic :

Rick and Morty vs. Dungeons & Dragons

TPB cover

   Rick and Morty is an animated sitcom created by Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon that premiered on [adult swim] in december 2013. It's an adult cynical science-fiction show depicting the adventures of the Smith family which is composed of the parents, Jerry & Beth, their children Morty & Summer and Beth's father Rick Sanchez. The anime is mainly focusing on the duo Rick and his grand-child Morty as one could expect.

From left ro right : Morty, Summer, Jerry, Rick and Beth

   Rick is without a doubt a selfish, alcoholic and misanthropic sociopath as much as he's a genius scientist suffering of abyssal boredom who is able to travel to space and other dimensions. To bear his world(s)-weariness, he'll bring his grand-child (and later other family members) with him on his trips that often turn to some cataclysmic disasters.

   Morty, on his side, is a beta 14 yo boy, fearing his own shadow and totally submit to his grand-father's will.

   The duo is clearly inspired by Marty McFly and 'Doc' from the Back to the Future movie franchise and most of the episodes will have winks to pop & geek culture's elements (when they are not fully inspired by such) and built on elaborated SF concepts.

Marty & Doc from Back to the Future

   The success of Rick and Morty will be such -around 25 awards-nominations and winner of a third of these- that it will be adapted on different supports as comics, issued by Oni Press from april 2005 (60 regular issues plus a 20ish independant ones as of june 2020), video and family games as well as various other goodies.

   And so in 2018, the idea to do a comic crossover between Rick & Morty and Dungeons & Dragons germinates within the Oni Press staff. Against all odds, WotC validates the idea and an agreement is taken for a collaboration between the respective publishers : IDW and Oni Press. To do so, the chosen team will be composed of writer Jim Zub (who greatly brought his stone to the D&D universe by his works on the recent Baldur's Gate comics by IDW and his contribution to some RPG modules). He will be joined in the writing by epic fantasy author Patrick Rothfuss while the artwork will be taken in charge by cartoonist Troy Little. The coloring will be done by Leonardo Ito and the lettering by Robbie Robbins.

   This mini-series, as first planned as a one-shot, will be released in 4 issues from august 2018 to january 2019 before being compiled into TPB and HC and even later in a box set with exclusive variant covers. And here we come to the alternative covers thing... It is kinda the norm that comics are issued with variant covers, often A & B, sometimes some Retailer Incentive (RI) or Retailer Exclusive (RE) and more rarely Convention ones. We saw in the past that IDW was on the trend when they released their first D&D comic in 2010. At that time the issue #0 introducing both Fell's Five and Dark Sun was findable under the impressive number of 7 different covers. But here... heh here... we're far past this point as issue #1 of R&M vs D&D will have no less that 24 alternative covers... yeah, no typo... 24 damn alt covers !! (o_O;)

2nd and 3rd issue will be in the average, having respectively 4 and 5 ones when 4th and last one will still have 8 alts ! To these, add 3 TPB versions, 2 hardcovers and the box set release... Ouch for the collectors' wallets !! Yeah... OUCH !!

   Below is a visual checklist for those who would be on the insane compulsive Mortymon mood to catch them all... (I can proudly say I bravely resisted the mermaid's song that very one time ! XD)

Nah, don't thank me for that... get an appointment with your banker instead... I mean, just in case... you know... XD

   For sure the release of this particular crossover was a thing then ! To have a better understanding of the phenomenom here is a pict Jim Zub published on his twitter well showing how amazing its success was. If he didn't put numbers, the graph is still speaking for itself. o_o

 

A picture's worth a thousand words they used to say heh...

   So... so many covers and versions released. When most of these have the same content we will here do our best to list the ones that bring something more (cover art apart obviously) than the regular issue.

1. Sneak Preview Edition, aug. 2018 (cheklist line 3, last position)

It only contains the first 11 pages of first issue. Bonus : 2 pages of behind-the-scenes with a word from Sarah Gaydos, Oni Press Editorial Director of Licensed Publishing (and former Editor for IDW !) and pictures of page 5 in its different steps (first sketch, final sketch, inked page before coloring). Mix of rubber and glossy paper textures on cover.

Thoughts : Not a must-have but for the cover and the last 2 pages. For collectors only.

2. Director's Cut Edition, 2019 (cheklist line 3, 7th position)

Here, if we have the full first issue story, final colored pages alternate with final sketch or before coloring inked pages (sadly, no raw sketch page as we could had a glimpse in the Sneak Preview ed.). As bonus we will find a few alt covers arts, characters sketches, pages 15, 18 and 20 in different steps of processing and the interview with Jim Zub, Patrick Rothfuss and Troy Little that came with issue #1.

Thoughts : Honestly, I was waiting more from this edition, maybe core/building research sketches etc than only sketch pages before lining/coloring... but well, still brings a little something.

3. The 3D cover (cheklist line 3, 1st position)

Well, red & blue lenses glasses to enjoy the cover in 3-D. That had to be mentioned, no ?

Thoughts : If you've lost your 3D glasses from the 80's...

4. Normal TPB (checkist line 8, 3rd position)

Contains the whole story with almost all the single issues alternative covers (full colored versions only) except for the Sneak Preview Ed. and the exclusive box-set ones. Has also the interview and a page showing 4 before-colors pages as well as Jerry's character sheet.

Thoughts : Nice TPB with covers gallery. The cheapest for sure.

5. Barnes & Nobles Exclusive Edition TPB (checklist line 8, last position)

Said to contain the covers gallery (I guess as in normal TPB) with an introduction from Patrick Rothfuss, commentary from Troy Little and a bonus poster.

Thoughts : The TPB in a deluxe edition with a poster and a nice golden cover. A very nice pick for sure.

6. GameStop Exclusive Hardcover Edition (checklist line 8, 2nd position)

Has all the contents found in TPB (plus a page grouping the 5 characters found on chara-sheet covers), the interview is here too. The main addition to this version is a 12 pages adventure module for 4-6 level 1 characters entitled The Temple of Glorb written by Adam Lee (not mentioned) and of course the exclusive cover featuring Tiamat by Mike Vasquez.
Thoughts : The ultimate edition with RPG materials as bonus. I mean, run. Run for it ! Clearly the must-to-have if you can get it.

 

The Temple of Glorb map

7. The boxed set (checklist line 7)
Well, singles issues come in a box... with exclusive charasheets covers you can't find elsewhere.
Thoughts : For collectors only or as a nice present.

   Other variants may have some particular or unique addons that I'd be glad to mention here if I get the info. Let a comment or email me if you're aware of such !

   Now, it's time to have a look at the comic itself.

   The plot is taking place when Morty overhears a conversation about a D&D tabletop gaming session. He realises he knows nothing about D&D while it seems to be common knowledge within his schoolmates. After some digging on the web and other spying, he somehow comes to believe that "Gamers get laid"... Well decided to not miss the chance, he ends up in a retailing store, meets a girl-gamer who invites him to play on the next saturday as he's bragging to be an active roleplayer. Having brought back home all the basic manuals, he falls in desperation in front of the amount of rules and complexity while there are only few days left before the meeting. He will seek his grand-father's help and Rick will reveals his own D&D player's past... Pandora box opened.

Gamers get laid...

   After some unsuccessful tries on classic tabletop play with some old friends, Rick will bring Morty into a D&D simulator in a certain Greyhawk world... and later on, followed by the rest of the family, in a dimension known as The Forgotten Realms... Nothing will go as originally planned as you can expect...

WE DON'T. TALK. ABOUT. FOURTH.

   Jim Zub is a smart guy, no doubt considering how he managed to build entertaining stories using available materials. He's also a social-media guy, and seems at ease while it comes to socialize in his professional circle. As a result he quickly adopted the codes of the D&D world and industry and made himself a part of it, working on side projects for WotC, being an enjoyable guest in Conventions, participating in livestreamed gaming sessions, etc. And icing on the cake, he clearly understands what the audience is waiting for.

J.Zub & M.Mercer as Minsc & Boo on D&D LIVE (May 18, 2019)

   And here he succeeded to mix all the elements needed to avoid the main risks inherent to any crossover : disappointing both sides' fans (and incidentally be part of a financial/company image failure). Except the few that is said in their interview, I honestly have no clue on the working process between Zub and Rothfuss. But I would still bet that Zub is at the origin of a good part of the winks that will finally do the job by creating a known -and subconsciously intimate- environment easily recognizable by the audience. If it feels like home, if it smells like home, if it looks like home, that must be home...

   So we have here and there elements linked to the D&D history (1st and 2nd edition books, cartoon characters from the 80's show, etc) that will evoque memories to a generation born in the 70's, very alike the nostalgia you can feel watching a Stranger Things episode.

These beggars look somehow familiar...

   We have also elements from the actual D&D "star-system" and their dedicated medias (ie. Critical Role and Acquisitions Inc websites) appearance of famous D&D staff (as Chris Perkins or late Gary Gygax) or third-parties performers (as Matt Mercer, Satine Phoenix or Mazz) and other winks that will speak to the youngest fans.

A bunch of Dungeons Masters

   And last but not least, the profusion of lore contents, rule evocations, quests and RP situations will surely delight any roleplayer.

Roll for your life !

   On the Rick and Morty's side, we are in a typical scenario construction, respecting the clichés of the show as in the plot outcome as in the interaction between the characters. The art mastering of Troy Little on this comic is such as you totally forget it's not the original artist's work you're looking at.

   Tho, I tend to think that the D&D audience will slightly recognize itself more than R&M's one in this crossover but no doubt that fans of both will greatly enjoy the work done here. I guess that the tone has deliberately been put on an almost "family-friendly" level to enlarge the possible audience (some episodes of R&M being pushed far beyond any morality / ethics...). On this point, even if some R&M's fans could be a bit disappointed, I find it particulary and smartly well-balanced considering the context.

   To celebrate this amazing crossover, Oni Press will release an enamel pin from the first issue A cover that you could order on their site for 15$. It is actually sold out.

The enamel pin on its chara-sheet cardboard

   The success of the comic will be such that a second series entitled Painscape will be published from september 2019 and that, on fans request and in the vein of the GameStop edition, the adventure module box "Dungeons & Dragons vs. Rick and Morty" will be released 2 months later.

Now it's D&D vs. R&M ! Many thanks Santa btw ! :P

   Kinda an archetype of a success story we've been granted here. Wondering how far it will all go...  Wubba Lubba D&D !! o_O

D&D comics history part 17 - Where Shadows Fall (K&C)

   It's in July 2003, 6 months after their last issue of Black & White, that Kenzer & Company will publish their 4th and -sadly- last mini-series, once again set in Greyhawk and sequel to In the Shadow of Dragons, under the name :

Where Shadows Fall

 

   As indicated on the covers, this will be a 5 issues story, but contrary to the other mini-series, the parts have no title :

#1 (July '03)

#2 (Sep. '03)

#3 (Dec. '03)

#4 (Feb. '04)

#5 (June '04)

   The story is written by the author of the prequel, Jay Donovan and as usual a bunch of artists will work on this :

Carlos Alberto S. Paul : Penciller of parts 1, 2, 4 & 5

Anderson Ricardo : Penciller of part 3

Ricardo Riamonde : Colorist of parts 1 & 2

Salvatore Aiala : Colorist of parts 3* to 5

Matt Haley : Cover pencils of parts 1 to 3, Cover colors of parts 1 & 2

David Hahn : Cover inks of parts 1 & 2

Scott Kester : Cover colors of part 3

Joe & Rob Sharp : Covers of parts 4 & 5

Marcos Schmidt : Lettering of all parts

*credited in part 5 erratum

 

 

 Part 1 - Art by Carlos Alberto, colors by Ricardo Riamonde

   

 Part 3 (left) - Art by A.Ricardo &  Part 5 (right) - Art by C.Alberto (both : colors by S.Aiala)

   We have a really more-than-decent art here. On both pencil & colors we find a series at its maturity. And when we have another penciller in charge of the middle issue, the coloring of S.Aiala do the trick in the transition. The light & shadow effects are very powerful in the first issues while the lines are getting sharper and the colors brighter in the last ones. Marcos Schmidt did a really nice lettering work here (but one nice fumble in last issue... cf pict below) and, doing all parts, gives us a textual coherence all along (which wasn't always the case in the precedent series).

When the great villain suffers of Palilalia... obvious hint of a developed dementia... :P

As well, it seems Jay Donovan took some confidence as he provides a far less boring (yeah, yeah, am a bit harsh here...) and kinda less classic story than he did before. The tone itself is lighter and he managed to get rid of the superfluous chitchat.

   This story takes place in the Phostwood Forest (more details on the 1998 Oerth Journal #8 - p.11 to 17), in the Duchy of Tenh and aside the Bandit Kingdoms, where our 3 heroes (Lucien Cathal, Roarn Stonehearth & Verena Mornbringer) from In the Shadow of Dragons are summoned by Aurric Whitewind to locate and return his daughter, Lumari. This one, in love with a drow named Cerin, and caught in their rendez-vous by her father some months ago ended under a temporal stasis spell to avoid her fleeing with her beloved again. But in order to avoid her to be moved, Cerin ordered his spellcaster (a certain Terannkis) to place a curse upon her. As a result, if she were taken away, all the dead throughout the Phoswoods would rise again within 2 weeks... Cerin having freed his beloved 3 days ago, our heroes (accompanied by the damsel-in-distress' bro, Caddal) have now 12 days left to save the elven people from an undead invasion... while on Cerin's side, his leader, the powerful Abehhan-Vrre is preparing his war against the Phostwood he's lusting for... 

   From the Phostwood to some hideout in the Rift Canyon, passing by the Fellreev Forest (to meet Krysanya the Scryer) and the "hole in the Oerth" town of Luendorn (to meet some old friend), we have here some rescue-the-princess story on a Romeo & Juliet / Troy War background...far more entertaining and funnier than its prequel, Kenzer & Co reached some level here and the quality of the story as well of its art would bear comparison with the upcoming DDP's publications.

 

World of Oerth - Duchy of Tenh, Fellreev Forest & Bandit Kingdoms area

Note that we are granted of an unique piece of RPG material at the beginning of the 4th issue :

   It's kinda sad to think this will be the last mini-series Kenzer & Co will produce under the D&D license as they were getting very good at it, raising the quality from one to the next... I tend to think that these short publications convinced WOTC to persevere in the comics industry. These may be not the most famous D&D comics but K&C really offered their readers a nice insight of the Greyhawk setting and pretty fun tales to read.

O_oV

D&D comics history part 16 - Black & White (K&C)

   Keeping their publication rhythm, and In the Shadow of Dragons ending in May 2002, Kenzer & Company will release, in July 2002, a new series, once again set in Greyhawk, entitled :

Black & White

   The series will be a six parts one as annouced on the covers :

Part 1/6 : Once a Thief... (July '02)

Part 2/6 : New Friends, Old Enemies (Aug. '02)

Part 3/6 : Woodwych (Sep. '02)

Part 4/6 : Lambs to the Slaughter (Oct. '02)

Part 5/6 : The Return (Nov. '02)

Part 6/6 : Coming Home (Jan. '03)

   Story is from Jeff Limke (See the 2002 Interview by CBR's Arune Singh) and here again, even if we're in a white & black comic, a bunch of artists will work on this :

Gregg Paulsen : Penciller of part 1 p.1-14, Cover artist of part 1

Nicholas Nix : Penciller of part 1 p.15-22, Inker of part 1, Cover artist of part 2

(As explained in first issue intro, N. Nix will draw the end of the part 1/6 as G. Paulsen is, for some reason, unable to finish his work on it. And as a preview, there are also some sketches by the artists of the following issues at its end - cf below)

Wilson Roberto de Oliveira Jr. : Penciller of part 2

Rodrigo Pereira : Penciller of parts 3 to 6, Cover artist of part 3

Jorge Correa Jr. : Inker of parts 4 to 6, Cover artist of parts 4 & 5

Renato Guedes : Cover artist of part 4*

Adriano Batista : Cover artist of part 5

Thiago "Grafik" Carvalho : Cover artist of part 6

Tom Martin : Cover colorist of part 1

Scott Kester : Cover colorist of parts 2* to 6

Dreamer Design : Lettering & FX of parts 1 to 3

Martin Barnes : Lettering & FX of part 4

Alan Smythee** : Lettering & FX of parts 5 & 6

*credited in following part's erratum

**Alan Smithee is a pseudonym used to disown a product

 

Part 1/6 - art by G.Paulsen (left) & by N.Nix (right)

  

Upcoming issues #2 & #3 sketches previewed at the end of part 1/6

 

Part 2/6 - art by W.R.Oliveira Jr. (left) & Part 3/6 - art by R.Pereira (right)    

   To say the least, that's some unique piece Kenzer & Co offered us here. The black & white rendering is very interesting in many ways. If forces the reader to take time to decipher the drawing in details and gives a special atmosphere to the story. Tho, and especially on the first two parts, it is sometimes difficult to define who's who due to the absence of colors (meaning there that whatever the pose, distance or even angle of view of a character, colors -of hair, outfit, etc- can be a very good marker of recognition). Rodrigo Pereira did a really great job here as his white & black processing is, in my opinion, a level above the other artists'. But well, even if the roughest without a doubt, I still do appreciate Nicholas Six's part. On the writing, Jeff Limke offered us a very entertaining and intriguing narrative even if some plots find some quick and easy denouement... that's maybe the wrong side of mini-series telling a not-so-short story...

   ...about a an half-elven thief named Tinelith, living in Rel Mord (capital city of the Kingdom of Nyrond), who robbed King Lynwerd's messenger. Having cut the wrong purse and now in possession of unwanted magically sealed scrolls among some jewels and coins from the theocracy of the Pale (more info here), she finds herself tracked by the city guards led by a certain Captain Grakin. With the help of Snibb, the gnome wizard and Benni, the half-orc fighter, the group manage to flee the city. On the road they'll be joined by Bernleough, a traveling cleric. The party will have to face many dangers and wander in many places (not always by their own will...) as the city of Woodwych, the hidden elven city of Stalwart in the Celadon Forest, the city of Beetu or even the feared Gnatmarsh. (cf map below). With a background of politics and royal treasons sprinkled with love and friendship affairs, the whole story is not left out of twists and turns.

 

World of Oerth - Kingdom of Nyrond & City of Rel Mord

   For their 3rd mini-series, Kenzer & Co did great with this uncommon piece. I am just a bit disappointed on the fact we're granted with no RPG material at all... there is just some places description/history here and there within the frames... But well... it is what it is heh. 

   A must-to-read anyway !

O_O

D&D comics history part 15 - Tempest's Gate (K&C)

   As In the Shadow of Dragons was well ongoing, Kenzer & Company launched in december 2001 a second Greyhawk comics series entitled :

Tempest's Gate

   This time each issue is called a "book"... well...
Book One : Born of Fire (Dec. '01)
Book Two : Forged in Tears (Jan. '02)
Book Three : Tempered in Fellowship (Feb. '02)
Book Four : Sheathed in Justice (Mar. '02)

   Story has been written by Sean Smith, and as expected, a bunch of different artists worked on this series as well (Basically a team for the first 2 issues and another one for the last 2) :

Mike (Michael) Lilly : Penciller of books 1 & 2, Cover artist of all books
Travis Walton : Inker of books 1 & 2, Cover colorist/inker of all books
Rich Kelly : Inker of book 1
Bob Wiacek : Inker of book 1
Bill (Alfred O.) Williams : Inker of book 1
Mickey Clausen : Colorist of books 1 & 2, Letterer of book 1
Tony Duncan : Letterer of book 2
Rodrigo Pereira : Penciller/ Inker of books 3 & 4
Nelson (Pereira) Mendonça : Inker of books 3 & 4
Salvatore Aiala : Colorist of books 3 & 4
Ricardo Riamonte : Colorist of books 3 & 4
Marcos Schmidt : Letterer of books 3 & 4

 

 Book Two - Double page (art by M.Lilly)

 

 

Book Three - Double page (art by R.Pereira)

   When we have really fine art in every issue, Mike Lilly & Rodrigo Pereira doing great here, I was kinda shocked by the lack of visual coherence (not talking about the styles here) between the end of Book Two and the beginning of Book Three, especially considering we're in the very same scene (cf pict below... for the more obvious discrepancies). This being said, the comic in its whole is very entertaining. We have here far less chitchat and more action than in their previous mini-series. Tho, imo, they could have done a 5 issues story as some scene are kinda shorten and could have easily been more developed (especially at the end where it's a bit (to say the least...) sloppy in a rush to conclude).

 

And for the quick-change performance, Ladies & Gentlemen...we're welcoming... Aidus !!

   Note here that the assassin in charge of murdering our hero is the famous Zarak from the LJN toys line (who, as Warduke did, travelled from Mystara to Greyhawk a few ago...). FYI, he also appears in The Treasure of Time storybook I reviewed years ago.

  

Zarak - 1983 LJN basic figure (left - picture from my own collection) & stats from D&D modules (right)

   This time the plot takes place in the area of Bissel, near the frontier with Ket, in some outpost called Tempest's Gate (cf map below). The outpost being attacked by Oghs (some local variety of orcs... cf pict below) lead by Flame, a powerful Fire Sorceress taking orders from the evil necromancer Evard (cf info sheet below), the young lieutenant Aidus soon get the charge of the defense as his captain passes away. Helped by the arrival of the hill-man barbarian Urik and his tribe they manage to repel the attackers. Soon joined by the dwarf Hakignm Strongarm, whose people of Kharak Dhul's mining colony have been decimated by the same fiends a few ago, and helped by the imperial advisor and great Ice Wizard Zed-Kraken and some other allies, the gathered party is sent to track the evil menace. Some will have to look back in their past to overcome present's troubles. As said earlier, if some parts could have been expanded, we have here a story rich of elements as the many kinds of monsters/species as well as a great bunch of interesting characters.

 

World of Oerth, March of Bissel and probable location of Tempest's Gate (red dot)

 

Evard info, bio and stats (Dungeon Magazine #107)

   Also note that we are granted with some RPG materials in each issue (tho only a tiny list of Greyhawk references in Book Two) as stats of Aidus (B.3) and his beloved Vail (B.4) as well as the description of Oghs (B.1).

 

Characters and monster stats

   It's a nice piece Kenzer & Co offered us here even if it lacks some rigor here and there... we have some plots without any clue on the whys and wherefores and some villains mentioned without any appearance... wondering here if it wasn't meant to be a longer series at first that ended shorter for some reason... Still, a fun reading anyway.

o_O;

D&D comics history part 14 - In the Shadow of Dragons (K&C)

   After a decade of very rare production (10 D&D comics... not talking about this blog's posts here :P), WotC, which acquired TSR a few years ago and also became a subsidiary of Hasbro in 1999, well decided to promote their 3rd edition of D&D, gave the hand to Kenzer & Company to edit their new comics line from 2001. Kenzer & Co was specialized in publishing RPG materials as the Kingdoms of Kalamar (which will be later officially included in D&D 3rd) and the famous comic Knights of the Dinner Table. And so, in march 2001, is released the first issue of :

In the Shadow of Dragons

   The whole story will count 8 issues, called "parts" :

Part 1 : The Last of my Father (Mar. '01)
Part 2 : In the Belly of the Lone Heath (May '01)
Part 3 : Through the Darkness of Anasteo (July '01)
Part 4 : The Lies that Bind (Sep. '01)
Part 5 : Guardian of the Dragonhold (Nov. '01)
Part 6 : An Eclipse of Stolen Blood (Jan. '02)
Part 7 : Wrapped in Betrayal's Kiss (Mar. '02)
Part 8 : Where Strangers Once Stood... (May '02)

   And while it will be written all along by Jay Donovan, a bunch of artists will work on these : 
Hung Vinh Mac : Cover artist of parts 1 to 4
Tyler Walpole : Penciller/Letterer of parts 1,2,4 & 5
John Hahn : Penciller/Inker of part 6
Sam Wang : Ink Assists of part 6
Tommy Castillo : Penciller/Inker of parts 7 & 8, Cover artist of parts 5 to 8 
Andy Brase : Inker of parts 1,2,4 & 5
Jeff Mayer : Inker of part 3 p.1,3-6
Tony Moy : Penciller/Inker of part 3
Abby Moy : Letter of part 3
Chad Fidler : Colorist of part 1 & 2
Mike Estlick : Colorist of part 3
V. Shane Colclough : Colorist of part 4 p.1-21
Tom Martin : Colorist of part 4 p.22-24, Cover colorist of parts 5 to 8
Scott Kester : Colorist of parts 5 to 8

Part 3 (Art by T.Moy)                                        P.5 (Art by T.Walpole)

 P.6 (Art by J.Hahn)                                              P.8 (Art by T.Castillo)

   The art is pretty decent in its whole even if I have to say, knowing what the artist is capable of, I am a bit disappointed by Tyler Walpole's one, especially on the first issues. These ones are somehow laborious to read as for the long and kinda boring dialogues in the bubbles but also for the lack of humor. But little by little, the story is getting entertaining and the tone less serious. As well, on the visual aspect, the work of different artists made the whole getting into a more pleasant and dynamic reading as the story goes on. On another aspect, the lettering is sometimes not helping a runny reading... especially when using some "artistic" tiny fonts as at the beginning of part 6... °-°

   But in the end, for something starting a bit too classic and serious, we got a nice story here. It takes place in the Greyhawk campaign setting as well as the Kenzer & Co's productions that will follow and the Hammer Graphics' Vecna - Hand of the Revenant during the same period (2001-04). Obviously WotC was willing to maximize their promotion of the last version of its setting (Greyhawk will finally die in 2008 - tho some references to it -deities, races, classes- will be part of the 2014's 5th edition of the Player's Handbook...).

   The plot is about 3 great and somehow amazingly powerful blue dragons (Blackwing and his siblings Eclipse & Azzre) harassing the city of Rel Astra (cf map below) in order to reclaim a powerful artifact they call "The Last of My Father". The city, governed by Lord Drax - known as The Invulnerable (cf pict below) - will try to counter-attack but without any success. Willing to surrender and giving the dragons what they are seeking but having no clue of the whereabouts, a party is formed around a mage apprentice, Gifre, who will be sent on the roads to meet the powerful wizard master Ealadhach in Roland. According to Gifre and to what his former master, Landuwek, shared with him, the wizard master is said to have the knowledge and power to defeat dragons. To protect the young and unexperienced apprentice on his trek, Drax will command Evina, his best bodyguard, Lucien Cathal, a celebrated paladin and also Kiernan Ornarus, a convicted rogue to join the group of travellers. The team will be soon beefed up on its way to Roland by the coming of Roarn Stonehearth, a dwarven warrior, Verena Mornbringer, an elvish ranger and Sissel, a blind shapeshifter druid. They will all together cross the wild lands to do their best to avoid the destruction of Rel Astra by the angered wyrms. (More info on the Free Cities of Rel Astra, Roland & Ountsy here and there)

 

World of Oerth, western Flanaess - City of Rel Astra and its area (including City of Roland)

 

Lord Drax short description (Ivid the Undying adventure, TSR 1995)

   Note also that, as well as it occured on DC's series and in some IDW's later on, a few RPG material was added in this comic. At the end of part 3 we are granted with Lucien and Roarn's chara-sheets. When we would have waited for the rest of the team ones, sadly and strangely it will be only this. Well, better than nothing I suppose heh...

 

Lucien & Roarn characters sheets

   With this series and the upcoming ones, Kenzer and Company settled the new D&D comics era with a relative success at that time but surely laying the foundation of a solid renewal other publishers, as DDP and IDW, will lean on in the years to come.

   The series will have, in 2003, a sequel (with no direct link with the scenario here) featuring some of the heroes we met here, entitled Where Shadows Fall. (also written by Jay Donovan but with a different team of artists)

O_oV

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