Dungeons & Dragons #0 Review

Dungeons & Dragons #0 Review:
Publisher: IDW

Basic Info:
Issue #0 exists, chiefly, to provide a small glimpse at two of IDW's upcoming products - Dungeons & Dragons (Ongoing) and Dark Sun (5-issue limited). Both teasers are used to introduce the major characters and to start the events, so at least no time is wasted with pointless meandering.

Dungeons & Dragons
D&D is the upcoming on-going series, starting in November (woo!) and it revolves around a rather lucky band of adventurers. The party is somewhat clichéd - Elf Ranger, Human Fighter, Tiefling Mage, Halfling Rogue, Dwarf Paladin - but from what we're shown, it works.

The writing is very light hearted, and as someone with more experience in Forgotten Realms, it's quite a pleasant change. The art style is also cartoony (without being disproportionate or ridiculous) and it helps carry that tone across. The characters also interact pretty well and they seem like they've worked together for some time - it seems natural and fluid.

Overall, it's a well written short piece. I was instantly captivated by Bree Three-Hands (Halfling Rogue) as her character was very interesting and humorous, although that's not to say the other characters weren't good.

8/10 for me. It was too short, and whilst the art was good, the scaling seemed to change from time to time. I don't think it's fair, or appropriate, to rate it higher as it's simply a teaser piece.

Dark Sun
Dark Sun is a setting I must admit I'm not familiar with. In this issue, it's a much shorter piece, and also of a different tone. In contrast to Dungeons & Dragons, Dark Sun has a much darker art style and no humour.

It's the story of a gladiator who escapes his predicament and is hunted down by, I assume, a slaver. His lover didn't try to stop him being taken by the guards at the start, so I can only guess that he's going to attempt find out why she didn't.

There's not much I can say about this teaser as there's only 6 pages to go on. All I know is that I'm really not sold on it. I don't really want to rate it, so I'll just suggest that you try to find D&D #0 and make up your mind. Dark Sun #1 is out in Jan '11, by the way.

Overall:
Combined with the interviews at the back, this teaser issue was well worth the $1 (think it was just shy of £1 here). I'm sold on Dungeons & Dragons, although I don't know if I'll get the issues or the trades.

If you don't play D&D but like fantasy comics, D&D and Dark Sun are up your street. If you play D&D and like comics, this is right up your street too. You don't have to know anything about D&D to understand and enjoy this (if the interviews are anything to go by), so seriously, if you have a few spare coins and you see this on a shelf (or eventually the trades), then pick them up.