“Here There Be Gerblins,” by The McElroys and Carey Pietsch (illustrator)
This graphic novel is an illustrated version of the, “Adventure Zone,” podcast, a DnD romp featuring the McElroy brothers and their father, Clint.
Pros
- As someone who has not yet listened to the podcast, this work was able to stand on its own
- The story was fun and fast-paced, and the McElroys seem like they’d be a great group to play DnD with.
- The art style is approachable, and fits with the tone and tenor of the work
Cons
- It was a little weird that Griffin appeared as a DM / “real world,” character, but none of the other players behind the various characters made an appearance. This is a small complaint, but it is compounded in my mind by the fact that…
- …there are a number of references to modern popular culture in the story. Like the previous point, this is only a minor con given the light and irreverent tone of the work (and especially given that the characters themselves discuss things like spell slots), but it still took me out of the story a bit.
- Though the art was approachable, and sometimes even cute (I’m thinking of G’nash the bugbear*, for example), it isn’t always consistent. Magic Brian’s face comes to mind.
- Minor point, but I think G’nash’s face looks too canine to be a bugbear. Personally, I think he looks more like a gnoll.
Conclusion
I think The Adventure Zone: Here There Be Gerblins is a great little graphic novel. Some niggling issues keep it from a 5 star rating, but fans of DnD and the McElroys will surely enjoy it (even if I couldn’t help but feel I would’ve enjoyed it more if I had already listened to the podcast).
Check it out here.
“Murder on the Rockport Limited!” by the McElroys and Carey Pietsch (illustrator)
Pros
- As with other works in the McElroy universe, the humor is on point here.
- The art style is also enjoyable and consistent throughout.
- The murder-mystery at the center of the story is compelling.
- I liked all of the characters in the story, including the side characters.
- The story manages a few tugs on the heart-strings (notably, there is a scene with Magnus at the tail end of the work).
- Griffin-as-DM appears less in this work than he did in “Here There Be Gerblins.” I found this helped the flow of the story, and let me to become more immersed in the universe.
Cons
- There are a number of pop culture references throughout the story that detract from the fantasy setting. I can’t fault the story too much, though, because this type of humor is well in line with its irreverent tone.
Conclusion
If you liked the original “Adventure Zone,” graphic novel, you’ll like this one too. For my part, I enjoyed this work very much, even though I’ve never listened to the “Adventure Zone,” podcast. I’m sure there are some finer details and in-jokes that I might’ve missed as a result, but the work is so fully formed without listening I have no complaints.
Check it out here.
You may also enjoy…
- “Mashle: Magic and Muscles (Vol 1),” by Hajime Komoto
- “One Punch Man (Vol 1)“, by ONE
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