Comic of the Week: “Dungeons & Dragons” #1

Welcome back to G33k-HQ’s Comic of the Week, where we look at a comic that we feel is worth highlighting. This week, we’re returning to the Forgotten Realms with another D&D comic, but this one is being more definitive with the title: “Dungeons & Dragons” #1.

The “Dungeons & Dragons” comic is written by Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly, with art by Ibrain Roberson and Arabson Oliveira, colors by Daniel Brown, and lettering by Haley Rose-Lyon. These are familiar names for comic readers, so it’s got an all-star cast. Let’s see how they did… (oh, and there will be some spoilers. This is your spoiler warning)

Many D&D comics focus on an original party, so readers have a fresh slate to start with and can watch the new heroes grow, maybe with a cameo of a recognizable character here and there. Lanzing and Kelly decided to go in the opposite direction and make the central character Mordenkainen, one of the most famous and powerful wizards in D&D.

But they didn’t stop there, as they built a party with equally famous characters, including Volothamp “Volo” Geddarm (who Baldur’s Gate 3 players will undoubtedly recognize from the many times they had to rescue him), Tasha the Witch Queen, and the famous renegade drow, Drizzt Do’Urden.

For those unfamiliar with D&D lore, believe me when I say this is a party of some of the biggest names in the game. This is the D&D equivalent of The Avengers… if one of them was Volo.

At the same time, if the cast were entirely level 20 adventurers, there would be no risk or sense of danger, so the writers also balanced it out by bringing the party down a peg. The very start of the comic features Mordenkainen getting stripped of his magic, which kicks off the story and gives him his goal. As such, there are stakes for the characters and real threats awaiting them.

The first issue serves as the setup, with the inciting incident and Mordenkainen gathering his party. It’s also where we get to know our cast, and Lanzing and Kelly do a great job bringing them to life. It’s a dialogue-heavy issue, but that’s in the comic’s favor, as it sets the tone and establishes the voices, personalities, and histories of the characters. The characters all speak with the “high fantasy” level of dramatic proclamations and poetic flourishes, but it all feels natural for them; Mordenkainen and Tasha are legendary wizards, Volo is a writer, and Drizzt, well, Drizzt has always had his own drama to him.

At the same time, the story moves along nicely, carrying the characters (and readers) from one scene to the next at a steady pace. There’s some good humor (mostly from Volo) to lighten things up, with the occasional action break.

What about the lore? Dungeons & Dragons has a long history, especially the Forgotten Realms, and this comic focuses on some big-name characters, so it has a lot to get right. But the creative team clearly did their research, as the comic weaves in both classic and modern lore.

For instance, when we meet Volo, he’s got a stack of books next to him, including “Volo’s Guide to the Sword Coast” (published in Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition) and “Volo’s Guide to Monsters” (from D&D 5e). Tasha’s role as the Archfey of Prismeer (as established in the adventure “The Wild Beyond the Witchlight”) remains and is an important part of her character. Even the Moonshae Isles are dealing with the Rusting, a more recent addition to the lore.

So yes, the lore checks out.

Now let’s talk about the art. “Dungeons & Dragons” is illustrated by Ibraim Roberson, inked by Arabson Oliveira, and colored by Dan Brown. The artists do an excellent job bringing the Forgotten Realms to life, right from the very first page, where we see a massive metallic dragon blast Mordenkainen.

Roberson’s artwork captures the medieval fantasy style of the Realms nicely, filled with detail on the characters and scenery that makes them feel worn from years of adventure. The magical elements are equally impressive, such as Tasha’s introduction as she towers over the others.

The character designs also work very well. Roberson keeps the characters true to their classic designs, give or take some artistic liberties that work nicely (Drizzt looks good without sleeves and his piwafwi cloak).

Mordenkainen carries himself with all the confidence and arrogance we’ve come to expect from him, complete with flowing robes and his iconic facial hair. Volo, similarly, is built more like his classic design rather than the skinnier version of him from Baldur’s Gate 3, but everything about his design, from his clothing to his beard to the way he holds his pipe, tells us all we need to know about the character.

When we see a younger version of Tasha, for instance, there are clear differences in how she dresses, holds herself, and looks compared to her older self. But both are still recognizably Iggwilv, AKA Tasha the Witch Queen, AKA Zybilna, Archfey of Prismeer.

The scenery is equally engaging, like when we see the Moonshae Isles overrun with rust, or Tasha’s study filled with potions and green flames. There’s so much detail put into every page, which is accentuated even more with Oliveira’s inking and Brown’s colors.

Speaking of which, the color work is more on the subdued side, which gives everything a more natural, lifelike tone. At the same time, there’s a wonderful variety of colors throughout, which helps make the world feel more alive and gives the characters more distinct identities. The colors also pop and glow nicely when magic is afoot, causing the spells to leap off the page and illuminate the world.

Going back to the lore, little touches in the art really help bring the Forgotten Realms to life on the page. For instance, the comic doesn’t need to tell us when the characters are at the Yawning Portal, but we can see the entrance to the underground dungeon in the background, clearly establishing the location for anyone familiar with the setting. (And making one of Volo’s books “Volo’s Guide to Getting Extremely Drunk in Dangerous Places” is a nice comedic detail.)

Dungeons & Dragons fans have had no shortage of excellent comics to enjoy recently. “The Fallbacks” is still in recent memory, “Total Party Killers” has an issue left, and we’re only halfway through the “Ravenloft” comics. (Heck, we’ve got some “Baldur’s Gate” comics coming soon as well, which will almost certainly get a review here once the first issue comes out.) But “Dungeons & Dragons” #1 is another treat for D&D fans, overflowing with lore, love for the game, and the promise of an epic tale.

If you’re a fan of D&D, you’ll love this comic. If you’re new to the world, it serves as a great introduction. And if you just want a good fantasy story to check out, it’s a story not to be missed.

The creative team clearly rolled a Natural 20, because “Dungeons & Dragons” is a critical hit.