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Early Review: Dungeons & Dragons #1 is an accessible, action, and humor packed series

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Cover art for Dungeons & Dragons comic issue #1 featuring three adventurers battling a dragon, with vibrant flames and dramatic poses.

In the first issue of the new Dungeons and Dragons ongoing series for Dark Horse, Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly, Ibraim Roberson, Arabson Oliveira, and Dan Brown strike a balance similar to the role of their wizard protagonist Mordenkainen, who is basically the ultimate centrist of magic. (But in a more badass than spineless way.) They pepper this comic with dark prophecies, characters on serious missions, and of course, there’s a giant dragon on the first page. However, Dungeons and Dragons #1 has humor and sexual tension as well with Lanzing and Kelly writing fun banter between Mordenkainen and the grifter/bard/author Volo, who he runs into our favorite of first act settings: the local tavern. Dungeons and Dragons is full of deep lore, complex magic, gods, monsters, and more, but it has a wit and self-awareness that appeals to the more casual fans of franchise like yours truly.

In crafting these characters, Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly, and Roberson create a sort of axis of seriousness on a scale of apocalypse to sexual innuendo. If there’s a lot of exposition, they season it with a well-timed quip or some kind of background gag to keep the yawns away and keep the story engaging. Mordenkainen and Volo have a classic comedy team dynamic, and this is amplified when other party members start to show up as the comic progresses. Also, kudos to Dungeons and Dragons’ creative team for taking time to flesh out the key players in the story instead of bombarding readers with names, abilities, places, and other various and sundry things that would have me scrambling around on Wikia instead of engaging in the story at hand. Because the comic takes place in one of the most richly developed fantasy worlds, there is a buzz of activity, but Lanzing and Kelly take an iceberg theory meets Chris Claremont subplots eventually become the main plot approach in Dungeons and Dragons #1. I’ve only read the first issue so I’m not 100% sure on the second part, but let’s just say I’m hoping for an old school 50-60 issue run or beyond on this series.

Visually, Dungeons and Dragons #1 goes for high fantasy shock and awe with a varied approach to page design depending on the tone of each story beat. Cover artist Esad Ribic sets the tone with a harried band of adventurers versus big ass dragon cover bringing the epic scope of his work on titles like Thor, Secret Wars, and Eternals to the world of D&D. Ibraim Roberson, Oliveira, and Brown match his approach in the interior art. Dan Brown’s palette show off the range of this book from the crackling warmth of a tavern to magic energy out the wazoo in the action bits. They succeed at splash or widescreen compositions that are a worthy game store poster or more screwball comedy scene that endear readers to the cast of characters and enhance Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly’s dialogue. Even Arabson Oliveira’s inks contribute to characterization with some folks having more of an aura than others.

Dungeons and Dragons #1 is an accessible, action, and humor packed series debut that reminded me a lot of the Forgotten Realms novels that I read when I was younger. However, Lanzing, Kelly, Roberson, and Oliveira don’t shy away from darker elements and moral ambiguity. And did I mention the dragons? In all seriousness, if you enjoy being immersed in a compelling fantasy world with peril and danger, order this one from your local comic shop even if you’re constantly Googling what a kobold is and should probably bookmark their Wiki page.

Story: Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly
Pencils: Ibraim Roberson Inks: Arabson Oliveira
Colors: Dan Brown Letters: Haley Rose Lyon
Story: 8.6 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.6 Recommendation: Buy

The FOC for Dungeons & Dragons #1 is September 21, and it will be released on November 4

Dark Horse provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Pre-Order: Third Eye Comics – Kindle

The Big Shakedown #1 lives up to the hype of its high concept premise of a detective story set in a post-major seismic event L.A. nightmare

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Comic book cover for 'The Big Shakedown #1' featuring a character on a yellow scooter, wearing sunglasses and a blue jacket, against a backdrop of a fragmented city landscape.

Noir meets post-apocalyptic sci-fi in The Big Shakedown, a high concept series from Jordan Blum, Tim Seeley, Scott Koblish, and Hi-Fi. The book opens with an earthquake destroying Los Angeles, who is then abandoned by the right wing religious fanatic president of the United States. Without federal aid, the City of Angels turns into a shitshow governed by big tech/drone companies and local gangs and protection rackets. Cop-turned-PI-turned TV show consultant-turned odd-job-working survivor Ester is our entry into this dark world as a simple missing persons case turns very complicated. Blum, Seeley, and Koblish use this first issue to establish the world of The Big Shakedown, but there are plenty of mysteries around the corner, especially towards the end of this installment.

Ester is really a near perfect POV character. She’s flawed, but likable with plenty of demons to exorcise. However, she also has a great sense of humor and has a working class charm. Jordan Blum and Tim Seeley’s captions for her add a lot of personality to The Big Shakedown and keep the story moving. I love that she watches old Lakers game on her VCR to find a semblance of normalcy in this crazy world because I totally watched CPU teams duke it out on NBA 2K when all the sports leagues shutdown due to COVID in 2020. (The 2018-2019 season though, oof ; at least, there was LeBron.) Also, Ester is a total badass improvising her way out of several violent scraps so she can have the money to get what she wants, which is probably out of L.A.

Scott Koblish uses his background in superhero comics to amp up the action sequences in The Big Shakedown with Hi-Fi adding splashes of intense colors like when Ester fights off bill collectors with steaming hot pot of pozole. There is something primal about the way Ester beats the crap out of folks trying to rip her off or take her hard-earned money that hints at a darker past beyond helping a TV star learn how to realistically hold a gun and then sleep with him. Although, she is five years sober, Ester is still prone to impulsive decisions that sometimes make this book feel like watching a car accident in slow motion. But that’s better than the alternative: a boring trope salad, which The Big Shakedown is far from being.

The element that draws me most to The Big Shakedown is that it’s a working class struggle story clothed in heightened genre trappings. Ester really just wants to pay the bills, but the system around her is beyond broken so she has to claw and fight for every last dollar, which is more relatable than an upper middle class white guy with a scotch and cigar sitting behind the desk. It also feels like Jordan Blum, Tim Seeley, and Scott Koblish are drawing on both experiences with the global pandemic and even the L.A. wildfires to show how traumatic events change folks, and that although we might have the same skillsets on both sides of the tragedy, we’re vastly different people. After the quake in The Big Shakedown, folks aren’t shelling out money to hire consultants for cop shows, they’re trying to eke out a living by selling batteries and avocadoes because Southern California still has great weather. Ester has changed as a person in the past five years, and it looks like this comic will go into those changes while also exploring the usual procedural elements of the crime genre.

The Big Shakedown #1 lives up to the hype of its high concept premise of a detective story set in a post-major seismic event L.A. nightmare. Blum and Seeley craft an anti-hero that Emmy-thirsty cable execs would die for, and Koblish and Hi-Fi bring a frenetic energy and a contemporary update on that West Coast noir palette that keeps the story moving and me looking forward to the next blood, guts, sunshine, and snark-filled issue.

Story: Jordan Blum and Tim Seeley Art: Scott Koblish
Colors: Hi-Fi Letters: Nate Piekos
Story: 8.0 Art: 8.2 Overall: 8.1 Recommendation: Buy

Dark Horse provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle

Preview: Masters of the Universe: Genesis #2

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Masters of the Universe: Genesis #2

Writer: Rich Douek
Artist: Gavin Smith
Colorist: Fabi Marques
Letterer: AndWorld Design
Cover artist: Mark Buckingham

Skeletor journeys across Eternia on a mission to raise an army of Evil Warriors. As his forces increase, Skeletor sets his sights on his first target: the city of Operon, ruled by King Thales and his daughter Princess Rhea.

Cover of 'Masters of the Universe: Genesis' comic book issue #2 featuring Skeletor in a prominent stance, surrounded by various hero characters in action poses.
Cover of 'Masters of the Universe: Genesis' comic book, featuring the character Skeletor surrounded by swirling pink energy and lightning.
A group of fantasy characters in a forest, including a cloaked figure, a skeletal character, and a beast-like warrior, with dialogue bubbles expressing intrigue and tension.
A muscular warrior with a single eye on his forehead, wielding a sword and wearing a green tunic, stands ready for battle in a forest setting. He appears confident and assertive, declaring, 'I see everything.'
A comic panel depicting a confrontation between various characters, including a sorcerer and fighters. The sorcerer appears to be casting a spell, while other characters are engaged in a tense dialogue. The setting is a dark forest.
A comic panel depicting a snowy landscape with mountains in the background. Four characters, including a skull-faced villain and a muscular warrior, are navigating through the blizzard. Dialogue bubbles show their conversation about finding a way out of the cold weather.
A comic panel showing a group of four characters traversing a snowy, mountainous landscape, discussing their concerns about stability and danger. One character is cloaked and commands attention, while others express hesitation. Snowflakes fall around them, indicating a cold environment.

Preview: The Big Shakedown #1

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The Big Shakedown #1

Writer: Jordan Blum · Tim Seeley
Artist: Scott Koblish
Colorist: Hi-Fi
Cover artist: Scott Koblish

The Big One, the earthquake to end all earthquakes, has finally struck Los Angeles. The government decides not to rebuild and the city becomes a no man’s land for those that refuse to leave it. But hey, you can’t beat the weather.

Five years later Ester Blanco, a down on her luck former P.I., is willing to do anything to escape the City of Angels. She believes she’s found her ticket out when a desperate father hires her to solve a missing person’s case in a city where a third of the population is already missing. Instead, the trail of this lost girl leads Ester to uncover a dark web of cults, conspiracy and corruption that threatens every Angeleno that stayed behind.

THE BIG SHAKEDOWN is a sunbaked LA noir in the vein of Chinatown and The Long Goodbye and set in the post-apocalyptic remains of the most beloved/hated city in the world. From writers Jordan Blum (Minor Threats) Tim Seeley (Local Man) and artist Scott Koblish (The Despicable Deadpool) comes a pulpy tale of murder, destruction and traffic.

A pulpy, high-stakes journey through the remains of the City of Angels, uncovering a dark web that threatens the few survivors left standing.

Comic book cover for 'The Big Shakedown' featuring a young woman on a yellow scooter, dressed in a denim jacket and sunglasses, set against a backdrop of a stylized map and urban ruins.
A comic panel shows two characters, a boy and a girl, embracing on the beach. A smartphone in the foreground displays an emergency alert for an earthquake detected in Los Angeles, CA. The alert notifications indicate magnitude and time for different earthquakes, with messages about the city's recent seismic activity.
Comic panel depicting a devastating urban disaster, with collapsed buildings and debris. A woman is trapped under rubble, reaching for a smartphone, while a fire burns in the background. Text elements highlight the tragedy and chaos.
A comic book panel depicting a devastated cityscape with burning debris, collapsed buildings, and a damaged car in the foreground. The title 'TAKEDOWN' is prominently displayed at the top, and speech bubbles indicate a conversation about the city's destruction.
A comic panel depicting a post-apocalyptic Los Angeles five years after an earthquake, with a mix of urban decay and lively street markets. Several characters engage in fitness and wellness activities, and a vendor is seen at a market table, emphasizing a barter economy with cash-only transactions. The scene blends themes of resilience and adaptation in a changed environment.
A comic book panel showing a scene of action with two characters in combat. One character is throwing an object while the other is being knocked down. There are onlookers in the background, and a scenic coastal view is visible in the bottom panel with buildings and a dock.

Preview: Dungeons & Dragons: Ravenloft #1

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Dungeons & Dragons: Ravenloft #1

Writer: Amy Chu
Artist: Ariela Kristantina
Colorist: Roman Stevens
Letterer: Haley Rose-Lyon
Cover artist: Guillem March

Ravenloft is falling apart, and nobody knows why.

Fortunately, monster hunter Ez D’Avenir is on the case! She’s searching the frozen wasteland of Lamordia for an undead creature that may hold the key to Ravenloft’s fate. But when Darklord Viktra Mordenheim catches wind of her quest, Ez is suddenly the one being hunted!

Join Bram Stoker Award-winning author Amy Chu and hit illustrator Ariela Kristantina for this genre-bending mystery that will unite Rudolph van Richten’s proteges from across the horrifying world of Ravenloft!

Return to Ravenloft–Dungeons & Dragons’ premier horror setting–for a genre-bending mystery that spans the Domains of Dread!

Cover of Dungeons & Dragons: Ravenloft comic book featuring a dramatic illustration of a woman in a red coat casting magic, with a dark, gothic backdrop and eerie architecture.
Cover art for Dungeons & Dragons: Ravenloft, featuring a menacing character in a dark cloak with a castle in the background and stylized figures in the foreground.
Cover of the Dungeons & Dragons comic titled Ravenloft, featuring a woman with a mask and sword, alongside a dark castle and mystical green smoke.
Cover artwork for Dungeons & Dragons: Ravenloft comic, featuring a heroic character wielding a sword in a gothic interior, confronting monstrous creatures.
Cover of Dungeons & Dragons comic titled 'Ravenloft', featuring a character with dark curly hair and a serious expression, holding a sword, surrounded by ornate designs and playing cards.
A comic page featuring a cloaked figure speaking to friends before an important expedition, surrounded by vibrant structures and mystical energy. The text conveys a heartfelt farewell and reflections on family.
A comic book page titled 'Lamordia: Domain of Dread', featuring a character with a serious expression in a snowy landscape, discussing impending doom and cryptic advice from a friend.
A snowy landscape featuring jagged ice formations and a dark sky. A character in a red bandana looks concerned, holding a sword, while a menacing creature lurks nearby, growling.
A comic book panel featuring a fierce female character named Ezmerelda D'Averin wielding a sword against monstrous creatures. The scene is dynamic, with elements of action and blood, emphasizing her declaration of hunting monsters.
A comic book page featuring a fierce female character with long, curly hair wielding a sword during a confrontation with a werewolf-like creature, amidst dynamic action and blood splatter.

Six of Us #1 is a solid start to the murder mystery story

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Chapter 1: “The Thing about me Dying”

Six actors built America’s favorite sitcom. Millions tuned in. Billboards lit the skyline. Then one of them died . . .

A beloved cast member of a hit ensemble sitcom dies under mysterious circumstances, sending shockwaves through Hollywood and revealing the secrets, betrayals, and desires lurking beneath the glittering facade. As the surviving cast members confront their past; old rivalries and hidden truths emerge and the line between life and performance begins to blur.

Story: Tom King
Art: Gabriel Hernandez Walta
Color: Jordie Bellaire
Letterer: Clayton Cowles

Get your copy now!

Zeus Comics
Kindle

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Mini Reviews: Tales of Wonder #1, Crowbound #1, Dungeon and Dragons: Total Party Killers #2, Archie #1, Batman/Superman/Weird Al: World’s Weirdest #1, Legion of Superheroes #1

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Batman/Superman/Weird Al World's Weirdest #1

Sometimes, the staff at Graphic Policy read more comics than we’re able to get reviewed. When that happens you’ll see a weekly feature compiling reviews of the comics, or graphic novels, we just didn’t get a chance to write a full one for.

These are Graphic Policy’s Mini Reviews and Recommendations.

Logan

Tales of Wonder #1 (Image) – Cartoonist Steve Skroce simultaneously takes the piss out of the superhero industrial complex and (literally) flexes his artistic muscles in drawing those kind of characters in Tales of Wonder #1. The story centers around Stu and Jake who are basically Stan Lee and Jack Kirby if they were still alive. Paraplegic Jake keeps it close to his chest with grumpy humor while Stu won’t shut up. (The scene where he praises his collaborators while Skroce covers up his art with giant word balloons is priceless.) However, Tales of Wonder is far from a grounded story, and it shines brightest when it indulges its genre elements. Ugly American is kind of an amazing name for a 90s edgy jarhead superhero, especially since he’s created by a Canadian. Overall: 8 Verdict: Buy

Crowbound #1 (Image) – Crowbound is another beautiful collaboration from Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen. It’s centered around the relationship between a mother and daughter in a stark post-apocalyptic hellscape. Boldly opening with the mother Rose’s death, Lemire and Nguyen take us back in time to show key moments in her and her daughter Ava’s lives. Dustin Nguyen’s use of negative space unpacks the sadness of the comic with pops of color acting as reminiscences of happy times. Crowbound is definitely a downer of a read, but fits our hard times and has some glimmers of hope too. Overall: 8.6 Verdict: Buy

Dungeon and Dragons: Total Party Killers #2 (Dark Horse) – To use a bad pun, I think this issue killed my interest in this series. Christopher Hastings and Denis Medri focus more on expanding DnD Total Party Killers’ cast of characters and locations instead of giving us an interesting story to follow or characters to root for. (I do love the slime and baby eye.) The art is colorful, and there are some cool moments, but no real coherence. Overall: 5.8 Verdict: Pass

Archie #1 (Oni Press) – Ben Winters, Fabio Moon, and Jason Wordie take the World’s Most Popular Teenager back to his slice of life roots in Archie #1. Moon definitely elevates the material with his energetic art, and his flair for the dramatic comes in handy in the second of the three short stories in this comic about a film festival. Winters also knows Archie is supposed to be a funny comic and litters his script with zingers and character-based comedy. Jughead was definitely my favorite in this first issue, and he gets a solo story to wrap up the book where he comes to grips with the ghost of character development. But, yeah, this is classic, supermarket checkout Archie with slicker visuals and a touch of self-awareness. For now, there’s no deconstruction going on. Overall: 8 Verdict: Buy

Batman/Superman/Weird Al: World’s Weirdest #1 (DC) – I think the superhero comics genre may have peaked when Weird Al fought Mr. Nobody with a fifth dimensional accordion. Co-writer Mark Waid’s Yankovic-esque parody of the John Williams Superman theme was brave and bold, but I’m curious what Grant Morrison could have done with the material. But, seriously, Weird Al and fifth dimensional imps are match made in Heaven, and Dan Schoening and Fico Ossio’s art capture the wackiest of vibes. This comic book is life changing, and it’s AI art’s personal kryptonite. Now it’s time to “Eat It”. Overall: 10 Verdict: Buy

Legion of Superheroes #1 (DC) – In Legion of Superheroes #1, Joshua Williamson, Hayden Sherman, and Tamra Bonvillain try to find hope in a dystopian future through its youth. A fragment narrative structure offers glimpses at familiar faces like Brainiac 5, Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl, and the always hilarious and quite badass Matter Eating Lad. However, they’re separated by laws, different planets, and their own demons. Sherman’s visual vision of future superheroics is intriguing: nostalgia meets something new. Their trademark spiral layouts works for this kind of hop along story. I think I’m invested in the fate of the Legion like I am with the college kids I work with. Overall: 8.5 Verdict: Buy

Preview: Six of Us #1

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Six of Us #1

Writer: Tom King
Artist: Gabriel Hernandez Walta
Colorist: Jordie Bellaire
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Cover artist: Gabriel Hernandez Walta

Six actors built America’s favorite sitcom. Millions tuned in. Billboards lit the skyline. Then one of them died . . .

A beloved cast member of a hit ensemble sitcom dies under mysterious circumstances, sending shockwaves through Hollywood and revealing the secrets, betrayals, and desires lurking beneath the glittering facade. As the surviving cast members confront their past; old rivalries and hidden truths emerge and the line between life and performance begins to blur.

Tom King, Gabriel Hernández Walta, and Jordie Bellaire—creators of the Eisner Award-winning The Vision—deliver a brutal Hollywood noir: a story about grief, ambition, and the lies we tell to keep the show alive.

From Eisner award-winning best-selling author of Helen of Wyndhorn, The Human Target, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, Love Everlasting, Mister Miracle, The Vision, The Sheriff of Babylon!

Six of Us #1

Preview: He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: The Wings of Fate #3

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He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: The Wings of Fate #3

Writer: Tim Sheridan
Artist: Will Sliney
Colorist: Israel Silva
Letterer: AndWorld Design
Cover artist: Will Sliney

Evil-Lyn, the villainous witch and right-hand woman to Skeletor, is hell-bent on finding the injured falcon and her companions and bringing them back to Castle Grayskull. This time, Lyn’s nefarious plan involves using her powers of darkness to strike her victim down while she’s at her most vulnerable.

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: The Wings of Fate #3
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