The post Comic of the Week: “DIE: Loaded” #7 appeared first on G33K-HQ.
]]>
It’s been more than a few weeks since our last Comic of the Week, but there’s a very good reason for that. No, it’s not that there were no comics worthy of a review – there are so many fantastic comics coming out these days, it’s hard to keep up with them all. Rather, it’s just that I came down with tendinitis, so I haven’t been able to write reviews for quite some time.
So with that out of the way, let’s return to the world of “DIE: Loaded,” written by Kieron Gillen, illustrated by Stephanie Hans, and lettered by Clayton Cowles. (Please note that this will involve spoilers for both this issue and the previous one.)
“DIE: Loaded” #7 starts the second story arc of the comic, and picks up after the shocking end of #6, with half the party dead after a sudden but inevitable betrayal. However, in the world of DIE, dead players still get to participate. The surviving characters, consisting of the POV character Sophie and Tommy (the elderly father of Matt, a central character from the previous “DIE” comic) have to pick up the pieces and figure out what to do next while their deceased companions are reanimated as flesh-eating Fallen.
This transformation doesn’t take the other characters out of the story or turn them into mindless monsters. Instead, they’re still active, but driven by rage and hunger while slowly losing themselves. This adds a new sense of urgency and tension to the story, as the only way Fallen can be returned to life is by killing (and eating) someone else, while also keeping the characters in the narrative as both central characters and ticking time bombs.
However, the need to address that problem turns this issue into a more emotionally impactful look at Tommy, who’s grappling with an issue far more real and frightening than any fantasy world or mystical monster. “DIE: Loaded” #7 is actually a character-driven story, where we get to know Tommy more.
Once we read those words, the entire issue is transformed. We’re taken through an emotional journey as Tommy recounts his slow realization that dementia is creeping in and his memories are drifting away. Even in the fantasy world of DIE, this becomes more terrifying than any Fallen or otherworldy monster. It’s real, and while every threat and monster in DIE is based on the characters’ own real-world struggles and anxieties, knowing this is a thing that can happen to any of us makes it hit all the harder.
Of course, writer Kieron Gillen still takes time for the other characters. We get to see more of Sophie’s traumas and anxieties manifest through a heckling elf, see her interact with more of the gods of DIE’s world, and enjoy a fun play on modern geek culture with fantasy characters cosplaying as humans. Everything connects together so seamlessly as it builds on the story and world, keeping us as readers engaged as we’re drawn further in to the setting and characters.
The artwork by Stephanie Hans remains superb. Her artwork has an etherial quality to it, emphasized by the watercolors and intentionally limited color pallets. Even moments where characters are talking are made all the more engaging by the lighting, colors, and composition, where practically every panel is a work of art unto itself.
The character designs are distinct and capture the characters’ personalities and powers, from the deities that Sophie barters with to the way Tommy’s outfit blends fantasy and cyberpunk elements. Heck, even the elf cosplaying as an IT guy is overflowing with important details, like the noticeable divide where his wig and skin meet, or the name badge that says “Hoo-Man.”
The use of shadows also makes certain characters or scenes stand out strongly, adding dramatic effect and atmosphere, while the colors set the mood perfectly. For instance, one tense scene relies primarily on shades of red against a black background. Not only is this visually striking, but the colors emphasize the emotion of the scene, adding to the sense of danger, anger, and anxiety.
The original “DIE” comic is a tough act to follow, telling a gripping and compelling story in exactly 20 issues. But “DIE: Loaded” continues to be an equally engaging sequel, constantly throwing new ideas and twists at us that deepen our understanding of the characters and the world of DIE. Suffice to say, the second arc of the “DIE: Loaded” story is off to a strong start.
The post Comic of the Week: “DIE: Loaded” #7 appeared first on G33K-HQ.
]]>The post DIE RPG Launches “Metadungeon” Crowdfunding Campaign appeared first on G33K-HQ.
]]>
What is DIE RPG?
DIE: The Roleplaying Game is a tabletop roleplaying game based on the comic “DIE,” written by Kieron Gillen and illustrated by Stephanie Hans (as well as a G33k-HQ Comic of the Week pick). In the comic, players are trapped in the twenty-sided world of the tabletop game, where they confront manifestations of their traumas, struggles, and the very concepts of fantasy and gaming.
The RPG, published by Rowan, Rook and Decard, is a unique take on the genre, as players take the roles of regular people (Personas) and the RPG roles they get isekai’d into (Paragons). Like with the comic, the characters don’t just face monsters, but also metaphors for their personal issues, divergences from common fantasy tropes, and the horrors of being trapped in another world where everything is a game of survival.
The game won the 2024 Origins Awards’ Best Role-playing Game Core Product, as well as the 2024 PLAY Modena RPG Magnifico Award.
DIE: The Roleplaying Game primarily uses a d6 system, but each class also has its own special die for their special abilities. The classes include unique options and twists on classic archetypes, like the Godbinder (who bargains and haggles with the gods, rather than drawing on their powers through worship) or the Fool (a classic “idiot hero” archetype whose strength relies on reckless abandon and overconfidence, but for whom seriousness is a death sentence). You can check out the DIE RPG Quickstart here.
Into the Metadungeon
The Metadungeon is a massive dungeon, but instead of featuring multiple levels filled with traps and monsters, it takes players “through fifty years of TTRPG history, from its birth to its glorious present.” It will explore the tropes and trends of past editions of classic tabletop games, with the levels evolving with the changes over time.
The Backerkit describes the DIE Metadungeon as “part history field trip, part punishing gauntlet, part nightmare hellscape made of your own desires and part lovingly-created Saw trap intended to teach you once and for all what THAC0 means.” It promises literal edition wars and tributes to every era of gaming, packing 50 years of history into six dungeon levels and special rules for each era.
The Metadungeon is written by Gareth Ryder-Hanrahan, whose background includes writing for games like Adventures in Middle-Earth, Trail of Cthulhu, and Delta Green. “DIE” author Kieron Gillen will also play a key role in the book, ensuring it stays true to his world and contributing his own sub-level to the Metadungeon.
“DIE” artist Stephanie Hans has illustrated the cover, with artists Rick Hershey, Sar Cousins, and Saga Mackenzie handling the interior artwork and maps. The campaign promises that the artwork for each chapter will match the era of the game, channeling the style and aesthetic from each edition.
Pledge Levels begin at £20 (or around $26) for the digital edition, with higher pledge levels for physical books, special edition hardcovers, and boxed sets. At the highest price pledge level, backers can get the DIE RPG boxed set, Core Rulebook, GM Screen, three scenario books, and more. Add-ons include scenario books, player aids, and two different dice sets (one standard red and black resin, one glass and obsidian).
The campaign has already reached its initial goal and unlocked its first Stretch Goal to have Kieron write a dungeon level. Stretch goals beyond that have not yet been revealed, but will likely be reached soon.
The campaign runs until May 1, and the Metadungeon is estimated to be completed and ship by 2028. You can check it out for yourself on Backerkit here.
The post DIE RPG Launches “Metadungeon” Crowdfunding Campaign appeared first on G33K-HQ.
]]>The post Comic of the Week: “DIE: Loaded” #1 appeared first on G33K-HQ.
]]>
The original “DIE” comic, which ran from 2018 to 2021, told the story of a group of adults who, when they were teenagers, were trapped in a role-playing game world, and then found themselves pulled back in as adults. The world of DIE isn’t a magical high fantasy world like your typical isekai series or the Dungeons & Dragons cartoon, but a deadly realm made from a combination of classic stories and the characters’ own traumas, fears, desires, and unresolved issues.
It ran for 20 issues, telling a complete story filled with intense character drama, high stakes, literary references, and an exploration of the very nature of games, storytelling, identity, and escapism. In other words, it was awesome.
There’s also a proper RPG based on the world and mechanics of “DIE.” (Don’t worry, while players take the role of gamers pulled into the world of DIE, no real players have actually been isekai’d, at least not to the best of my knowledge.)
So fans were elated when writer Kieron Gillen announced that he’d be writing a new “DIE” comic, with artist Stephanie Hans returning to continue bringing her unique artistic style to the story.
Now all that remains is one question: Can “DIE: Loaded” capture that same magic? Let’s explore…
“DIE: Loaded” picks up a year after the first story ended. Ash resumes the role of narrator, catching us up with the cast of the first “DIE” comic and how things have changed in the year since they’ve returned. Suffice to say, there’s a lot to catch up on, including some good, some bad, and plenty of uncertainty.
After all, this isn’t the kind of comic where characters return home with all their issues sorted out and a happy ever after waiting for them; it’s the kind of comic where their challenges in the game world are a reflection of their issues outside of it, and facing one doesn’t mean the other is suddenly fixed.
As the narration catches us up to speed, we’re confronted with very real, very human issues – characters struggling with parenthood, gender, responsibilities, loss, familial conflicts, and adapting to a world in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Even though we’re reading a comic where characters are about to get pulled into a fantasy game world, the real-world problems they face are completely relatable and make them feel alive. Each character has a distinct personality, flaws, voice, and struggles, which come through in every moment we spend with them as readers.
The first part of the issue takes its time reintroducing us to its world and characters, introducing new characters, and showing us the impact of a major death from the previous series. The pacing is controlled, shifting between the narration taking us through scenes and the characters conversing (or clashing, as the case may be), before kicking it up as a new game begins.
In the first “DIE” comic, the characters we followed had gone through the game world once before, so they knew the world and their powers. We, as readers, were shown their past journeys through flashbacks and learned about the world through them. In “DIE: Loaded,” it’s a new cast of players (so far, at least), so the position is reversed – as readers, we’re at least somewhat familiar with the world and its mechanics, while the characters are new and must learn how everything works. This shift keeps things fresh, so we can see the story through a new set of eyes.
Of course, the new players are still connected to the original cast, which means we get some emotional gut-punches with a nice dash of foreshadowing and dramatic irony.
Now let’s talk about the art. Stephanie Hans, who illustrated the original “DIE” comics, returns for “DIE: Loaded,” which means that the new comic looks just as amazing as the first. Hans uses a soft, watercolor-like style for her artwork, focusing primarily on single color schemes per page in a way that makes each panel a work of art.
Hans’s character designs make each character’s voice, emotions, and personality come through in every panel, motion, and expression. The scenery and settings feel real and lived in while still maintaining that distinct artistic style she brings to each image, complete with lighting effects that both set the atmosphere and draw the reader’s eyes across the page.
Inside the game world, the artwork maintains its style while adding otherworldly settings, creatures, and effects. At one point, we’re given a two-page spread showing the different gods of the world, and each of them has a creative, evocative design that makes them truly feel divine. When we see powers in action, the way the gentle, smooth artwork blends each motion and moment turns comic panels into paintings, and goddamn does it look good.
When we want to talk about the colors, I can quote my review on Multiversity Comics from the previous “DIE” run, because her color work is just as good as before (if not better):
“And the colors. My god, the colors. Stephanie tends to use certain shades for each scene (usually red or blue) in a way that washes over everything in its select hue. Yet the way she works the shades in each scene makes the images all the more striking, with the colors contrasting or blending to brilliant effect. Her use of complementary colors strikes a great balance, like the orange light of magic illuminating the blue darkness of an empty dungeon.”
Kieron Gillen and Stephanie Hans haven’t missed a beat, picking up the story from “DIE” and moving it forward with the same gravitas, humanity, and expert craft that made the first comic a masterpiece. “DIE: Loaded” is off to a strong start, which means we can brace ourselves for an emotionally resonant story that changes the way we look at games and the very nature of storytelling. Again.
The post Comic of the Week: “DIE: Loaded” #1 appeared first on G33K-HQ.
]]>