Tag Archives: marco maccagni

Preview: Archon: Battle of the Dragon #5 (of 5)

Posted on by

ARCHON: BATTLE OF THE DRAGON #5 (of 5)

Writer(s): John J. Perez
Artist Name(s): Marco Maccagni, Bobby Hernandez, Angela Fato
Cover Artist(s): Marco Maccagni
32 pgs./ Teen/ FC
$3.99 (reg.)

Gareth must summon the courage to quell the fury of an untamed beast while Cayde and Knight defend the innocent from that same winged nightmare. The ominous Black Mountain Complex has their All-Seeing-Eye fixed on magical beings everywhere however the specter of an ancient evil threatens to engulf them all.

Archon_05-1

Preview: Archon: Battle of the Dragon #4

Posted on by

ARCHON: BATTLE OF THE DRAGON #4

Writer(s): John J. Perez
Artist Name(s): Marco Maccagni, Bobby Hernandez, Angela Fato
Cover Artist(s): Marco Maccagni
32 pgs./ Teen/ FC
$3.99 (reg.)

There’s something sinister going on beneath the Archon. Compelled by a binding dragon contract, Gareth assumes his guard duties while Alistair finds himself going toe-to-toe with a rival Las Vegas Lord. Meanwhile Cayde and Knight inch their way closer to finally uncovering the truth about Silvermire’s Entertainment Empire.

Archon_4-1

Preview: Archon: Battle of the Dragon #3

Posted on by

ARCHON: BATTLE OF THE DRAGON #3

Writer(s): John J. Perez
Artist Name(s): Marco Maccagni, Bobby Hernandez, Angela Fato
Cover Artist(s): Marco Maccagni

The Justice Department has sent its best Federal Knight to oversee Cayde’s investigation into possible misdeeds at the Archon. Back at the casino Gareth is beginning to wise up to the unsettling truth about his coworkers, all the while Tess spars with her fearsome dragon equal.

32 pgs./ All Ages / FC $3.99 (reg.)

Archon 3 cover

Preview: Archon: Battle of the Dragon #2

Posted on by

ARCHON: BATTLE OF THE DRAGON #2

Writer(s): John J. Perez
Artist Name(s): Marco Maccagni, Bobby Hernandez, Angela Fato
Cover Artist(s): Marco Maccagni, Morghan Gill
32 pgs./ Teen / FC
$3.99 (reg.) / $4.99 (var.)

Gareth’s new boss is a beast! Alistair Koontz is a ruthless businessman, tail chaser, cigar aficionado and century’s old shape-shifting Dragon. His world revolves one thing: profit. Meanwhile a thuggish troll pushing bad elixir on the street finds himself in hot water when a simple deal becomes complicated. Variant cover by Morghan Gill, limited to 2000 copies.

Archon_02-1

Early Preview: Archon: Battle of the Dragon #3

Posted on by

ARCHON: BATTLE OF THE DRAGON #3

Writer(s): John J. Perez
Artist Name(s):  Marco Maccagni, Bobby Hernandez, Salvatore R. Villirillo
Cover Artist(s): Marco Maccagni, Erin Fusco
32 pgs./ Teen / FC
$3.99 (reg.) / $4.99 (var.)

At the end of Alistair’s leash Tess holds the reigns. The Justice Department has sent its best Federal Knight to oversee Cayde’s investigation of the Archon. Meanwhile Gareth is now acclimating to his new job and his otherworldly co-workers. Las Vegas has never been more mysterious. Hope you’ll stick around!
Archon 3 cover

Review: Archon: Battle of the Dragon #1

Posted on by

Archon1_MAINCOVERLas Vegas, 1981. Gareth Thompson, a Vietnam veteran and single father, has just accepted a security job at the new fantasy-themed “Archon Hotel and Casino.” However, he’ll soon discover all the Orcs, Elves and Dragons at the Resort are not people in costumes, but actual creatures of myth and legend.

For those who’ve been to Las Vegas, you know the city is about as much fantasy as Lord of the Rings, Conan, or any of the other classics. The city immerses you into man created worlds, usually with themes, and some of them are indeed full of knights and maidens. That’s what Archon: Battle of the Dragon #1 introduces us to, a Las Vegas hotel that’s more than just people in costumes.

Written by John J. Perez, the first issue doesn’t just throw us into this entertaining world, instead he focuses on Gareth Thompson, fleshing him out as to why he’s taking this job, his daughter, and most importantly why we should care about him. It’d be easy to just focus on Gareth and let us be entertained by this new world he inhabits, that could work as a comic. Instead Perez wants to give us a reason to care about Gareth, any I’m guessing cheer for him as the series progresses. It’s some fun fantasy with a heart. He’s also integrated enough familiar things from fantasy that you immediately can pick up on why things matter, or an idea about the characters, without having to explain a lot. It’s all familiar, with a nice twist.

Perez is helped by Marco Maccagni, Bobby Hernandez, and Salvatore R. Villirillo on art who give the series a somewhat cartoon look that makes it more than some gritty fantasy series. Doing that sort of style wouldn’t work with the tone Perez has created. Instead they have given us a style that fits perfectly with comedy, action, and more down to earth tender moments.

With added material in the back perfect for any dungeon master and dice slinger, Archon: Battle of the Dragon #1 is a fun new read for those who like a little sword and sorcery.

Story: John J. Perez Art:  Marco Maccagni, Bobby Hernandez, Salvatore R. Villirillo
Story: 7.75 Art: 7.75 Overall: 7.75 Recommendation: Read

Action Lab Entertainment provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Preview: Archon: Battle of the Dragon #1

Posted on by

ARCHON: BATTLE OF THE DRAGON #1

Writer(s): John J. Perez
Artist Name(s):  Marco Maccagni, Bobby Hernandez, Salvatore R. Villirillo
Cover Artist(s): Marco Maccagni, Erin Fusco
32 pgs./ Teen / FC
$3.99 (reg.) / $4.99 (var.)

Las Vegas, 1981. Gareth Thompson, a Vietnam veteran and single father, has just accepted a security job at the new fantasy-themed “Archon Hotel and Casino.” However, he’ll soon discover all the Orcs, Elves and Dragons at the Resort are not people in costumes, but actual creatures of myth and legend. Variant cover by Erin Fusco, limited to 2000 copies.

Archon_01-1

Preview: Archon #2

Posted on by

This is the point in the story where things start taking a… mysterious turn. Our hero Gareth Thompson finds himself serving at the behest of fierce Dragon with a taste for gold and high interest rates. Meanwhile Cayde Stormrunner, a Rastafarian Wizard and Federal investigator, has his sights set on the Archon for possible criminal misdeeds. Part Lord of the Rings, part The French Connection. Things are about to heat up! Hope you’ll stick with us for the journey!

Archon #2, can be found in PREVIEWSworld Item code: JUL150864, and the fantastic “Alistair” Morghan Gill Variant Cover: Item code: JUL150865. Published by Action Lab Entertainment 2015.

Archon #2 is due to be released September 23, 2015.

00_Archon 2 cover

Action Lab Presents Archon. Dragons, Dungeons, Dice, Oh My!

Posted on by

Action Lab Entertainment is no stranger to fantasy titles. Princeless, Beyond the Western Deep, and Vamplets all have an element of sword and sorcery, but never has a title brought that into the real world. That is, until now. Archon: Battle of the Dragon is a, “1980s sword and sorcery fantasy/thriller set in a medieval themed Las Vegas Casino,” according to series creator, John Perez. Joining Perez on the title is artist Marco Maccagni.

When Gareth Thompson, a hard accented Southerner, Vietnam veteran and single father accepts a security job at the Archon he soon discovers all his orc, elf and dragon coworkers are not people in costumes but actual creatures of myth and legend. It’s a world where dwarves are bartenders, gnomes are valets, elves are accountants, dragons are Wall Street hustlers and everyone is looking for a slice of the American dream.

There is an added bonus in every issue of Archon… that of an actual tabletop gaming campaign. There’s supplemental material in the back of each issue that gives additional info on the world under the guise of a D&D dragons manual meant for kids. It creates a rather unique immersive reading experience.

Archon: Battle of the Dragon is currently available for pre-order in Diamond’s Previews catalog, under the Action Lab Entertainment section, and ships with two covers. The Marco Maccagni cover (JUN150854) and the Erin Fusco cover (JUN150855), which is limited to 2000 copies.

Archon1_VARIANTCOVER Archon1_MAINCOVER

Recent Entries »