A review by fieldofhats
Dungeons & Dragons, Volume 1: Shadowplague by John Rogers

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

This is the perfect Dungeons & Dragons story. It hits every single beat in just the right way — it’s funny, it’s action-packed, and it immerses you into the world of the Forgotten Realms. John Rogers unabashedly plays into the stereotypical race/class archetypes (human fighter leader, chaotic halfling thief, elven ranger, etc.), but builds upon them in a creative and humorous way. The plot doesn’t take itself too seriously, but it is interesting enough to keep the reader engaged and hooked from the very beginning.

This story really shines with the character interactions, though. The relationship between Adric and Bree is funny and lighthearted; Khal and Tisha’s talk of faith show mutual respect and development for both; Varis and Adric have a fun, strong brotherly connection; Khal and Varis have a fun, banter-full relationship akin to Legolas and Gimli; etc. etc. They all bounce off each other incredibly well and it was just loads of fun.

Everything about this graphic novel is worth it. The story, the beautiful art, the characters, the action, the realm — if you are a fan of D&D, you need to read this.

Also I loved how there were character sheets in the back for all five of the main cast. I wish every D&D graphic novel did that, it’s so much fun.