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Dungeons & Dragons by John Rogers #3
Dungeons & Dragons, Volume 3: Down
More high-stakes adventure from Dungeons & Dragons! The new story arc kicks off as Fell's Five has returned home, only to find shattering news for Khal. And now that he''s made up his mind, nothing will stand in his way!
132 pages, Hardcover
First published May 8, 2012
About the author
John Rogers
234 books39 followersJohn Rogers is a screenwriter, comedian, film producer, and comic book writer. Although born in Worcester, Massachusetts, he attended McGill University in Montreal and is better known publicly as a Canadian writer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
December 7, 2015
This is the Kraft Macaroni & Cheese of graphic novels: it’s comforting, familiar, quick and easy, and reliably enjoyable. It’s also something you’ve had many times before and will again, and it’s probably more brightly colored than it should reasonably be. Like, possibly radioactive.
(Note: I actually love Kraft Mac & Cheese more than all but approximately seven things in my life, most of which are things I’ve been born to, willingly consented to mate for life with, or co-created using genetic material. So, it really is a complimentary comparison.)
This book is a perfect encapsulation of this series as a whole: solid D&D-style fantasy adventures featuring a motley and mismatched quintet of bantering characters created more for their complementary skillsets in combat-related scenarios than for any logical storytelling purpose. It’s fast and fun and doesn’t require more than .25 modicums of thought (which is good because, even under ideal circumstances, I struggle to muster up more than .5 modicums). Rogers writes some entertaining dialogue, and DiVito’s art is tailor-made for this kind of tale.
Ideal for D&D fans looking for a quick hit of geek endorphins betwixt gaming sessions.
Let’s call it 3.4 stars.
(Note: I actually love Kraft Mac & Cheese more than all but approximately seven things in my life, most of which are things I’ve been born to, willingly consented to mate for life with, or co-created using genetic material. So, it really is a complimentary comparison.)
This book is a perfect encapsulation of this series as a whole: solid D&D-style fantasy adventures featuring a motley and mismatched quintet of bantering characters created more for their complementary skillsets in combat-related scenarios than for any logical storytelling purpose. It’s fast and fun and doesn’t require more than .25 modicums of thought (which is good because, even under ideal circumstances, I struggle to muster up more than .5 modicums). Rogers writes some entertaining dialogue, and DiVito’s art is tailor-made for this kind of tale.
Ideal for D&D fans looking for a quick hit of geek endorphins betwixt gaming sessions.
Let’s call it 3.4 stars.
May 11, 2022
The third and final (?) Dungeons and Dragons comic collection dealing with the oddball band of adventurers known as Fell's Five. This time, we're investigating their dwarven paladin's backstory and his deep devotion to a local mining boss' daughter. It reminded me a bit of Varric and Bianca despite Varric being as far from a paladin as you can get. As usual, there's vast hordes of monsters, demon summonings, and eldrtich secrets to be fought. Fell's Five can't walk ten paces without tripping over one of the Forgotten Realms' darkest dungeons.
As always, Tisha Swornheart is the best parts of the books' art. I have a thing for Tieflings, what can I say! The action is fluid, the monsters well-illustrated, and the endless dungeon environments shown to be visually distinct. The characters are also relentlessly likable. Sadly, this book doesn't wrap up any of their character arcs.
As always, Tisha Swornheart is the best parts of the books' art. I have a thing for Tieflings, what can I say! The action is fluid, the monsters well-illustrated, and the endless dungeon environments shown to be visually distinct. The characters are also relentlessly likable. Sadly, this book doesn't wrap up any of their character arcs.
June 6, 2020
My least favorite of the three collections in this series, but that might have more to do with the back pain I'm going through right now rather than the merits of this comic. The sheer number of enemies and fights seemed a bit frantic, and some of the dialog fell on the wrong side of cheesy, but then it also matched the kind of dialog that I've heard in any number of gaming sessions. The artwork is pretty and competent, although there were a few panels that were cluttered to point of confusion. I found Bree more annoying than usual, but at Tisha had a few hints of having her character filled out a bit more, and Varis continues to be the useful sidekick. Light and fun.
October 12, 2015
The last book of the series which is very sad. The heroes goes to the dwarfs in search of a girlfriend and has to face a great evil. Fun and smart story. The series could have been longer with many open endings yet to address but it was still a enjoyable ending.
June 16, 2017
Clean art and witty dialog make for a swift and enjoyable read.
August 8, 2013
Probably my favorite of the three trades, and while I'm sad to see it go, I'm glad it was able to go out on what appears to be a high note. Lots of Dwarvey fun, a ridiculous Beholder...couldn't really ask for much else.
February 5, 2017
Kinda bummed this series never continued past this. As archetypal and fluffy as it was, I got attached to a few of these characters and the brisk pace meant they were always a joy to read. Definitely recommend the series to d&d fans!
May 2, 2023
This was a fantastic end to the trilogy. It didn’t connect to the first two volumes that much, but the standalone story was fantastic. I loved seeing the dwarven hold and reading more of Khal’s poetry, and the monsters were very unique and dynamic. Even though this volume was shorter than the first two, it didn’t feel rushed. The story was told in as much time as it needed to be, and it felt good. A very satisfying read.
October 2, 2018
Fun one this one, I think a bit more clever humour in this than the last collections, and story was a good one with some good twists and turns. The characters forming a good team here now, they certainly gel well together.
November 29, 2019
...and the series suddenly ended.
A fun, interesting entertaining volume, if what could be a much longer run in my opinion. I guess the book didn't get a large enough readership and got the axe.
I enjoyed this short series, hope that something like this will pop up in the future
A fun, interesting entertaining volume, if what could be a much longer run in my opinion. I guess the book didn't get a large enough readership and got the axe.
I enjoyed this short series, hope that something like this will pop up in the future
April 5, 2022
Favorite one of the first three.
This is my favorite of the 3. Has a decent story, great art and some even greater enemies. Highly recommend even if you have not read the first 2. Well done as an e-book too, flows real nice.
This is my favorite of the 3. Has a decent story, great art and some even greater enemies. Highly recommend even if you have not read the first 2. Well done as an e-book too, flows real nice.
May 20, 2023
Very entertaining third volume. More character backstory that becomes the story seed for a very decent adventure. The characters have grown on me, even Bree. The art continues to be decent, and some tiefling lore was cool.
September 21, 2018
I was pleasantly surprised with this book. I wish I knew it was the middle of a series when I started it. I will need to hunt down the rest of them.
October 15, 2020
Fun, lighthearted adventure. I understand that the comic has now been discontinued. I will miss Fell’s Five.
March 27, 2021
Better than the earlier installments. Established characters and a more straightforward story. Shame, it ends here.
March 10, 2017
While I didn't enjoy this volume as much as the first two, it was still a fun read.
December 7, 2013
If all DnD tie-in novels had been written with this same loving attention to what makes the various settings so sublime,while they certainly wouldn't be considered high literature they'd at least be considered valuable ways to spend one's time.
This one in particular is my favorite because everything revolves around the fearless dwarven paladin of the group, Khal Kalundurrin of Moradin. One of my favorite aspects of Rogers' story has been that Khal is slightly out of the ordinary for a dwarf:He's a poet and moreover primarily a writer of love poems. The ones shown are not at all bad for anyone let alone a race of people known for their grim, dour demeanors. Just proving why I adore Dwarves; they're all gruff and taciturn in public but their passions run deep as their mines (haha ok) and they work hard at all their endeavors. Naturally Khal is (in)famous for writing a particular poem that sent earthquakes (dwarf humor) through his stronghold.
I won't reveal any more but this is an adventure well worth the delving. I hope they decide to produce more graphic novels featuring these characters.
This one in particular is my favorite because everything revolves around the fearless dwarven paladin of the group, Khal Kalundurrin of Moradin. One of my favorite aspects of Rogers' story has been that Khal is slightly out of the ordinary for a dwarf:He's a poet and moreover primarily a writer of love poems. The ones shown are not at all bad for anyone let alone a race of people known for their grim, dour demeanors. Just proving why I adore Dwarves; they're all gruff and taciturn in public but their passions run deep as their mines (haha ok) and they work hard at all their endeavors. Naturally Khal is (in)famous for writing a particular poem that sent earthquakes (dwarf humor) through his stronghold.
I won't reveal any more but this is an adventure well worth the delving. I hope they decide to produce more graphic novels featuring these characters.
January 13, 2016
This was another funny and fast moving adventure set in the world of Dungeons and Dragons. This one showed some nice back story for one of the characters and had the same level of fun wise-cracking by the characters which I enjoyed from the previous two volumes. The plot, however, was not quite as good, in total. It was sometimes harder to follow what was going on and why. And in the end, the plot resolution seemed to rely more on blind luck than the previous two. When your heroes mix cleverness with a little luck, it feels epic. When they mostly just get lucky, it's not quite as fun. I definitely still enjoyed it, but not quite as much as the previous two volumes.
September 1, 2012
Back to good form after the previous collection. The adventure this time focuses on the background of the dwarven paladin/poet, but it doesn't make use of flashbacks which were a draw back last time. So we get a nice blending of action and humor without a long dead zone in the middle. It does end before wrapping up at least one plot thread, but most likely that plot thread will just reset to what was happening before this story took place.
June 30, 2012
Pretty entertaining stuff, both from a D&D nerd perspective as well as that of a comics fan. The writing is witty and actually made me chuckle out loud, which is a rare feat. The story is unique, with some good plot-twists. Basically a good standalone that doesn't rely on cross marketing to sell. Well done.
March 30, 2013
This volume starts off a little flat, but Rogers gets some of his mojo back as the story goes on, with its bits of (solid) humor and its occasional feel of being a group of bickering PCs. The journey down into the Underdark is also quite nice.
May 10, 2014
These continue to impress. The art still isn't quite as good as the first volume, but it's not bad and the story easily covers any of its flaws. These have some of the best dialogue I've read in comics in a long time.
August 28, 2015
(This review covers Vol. 2 and Vol. 3.)
Two more great volumes in a fun series. The highlight is their plan to steal the Guide of Gates in Vol. 2, but the rest is good too. It's such a pity the comic was so short-lived, I would have liked to see more with these characters... (A-)
Two more great volumes in a fun series. The highlight is their plan to steal the Guide of Gates in Vol. 2, but the rest is good too. It's such a pity the comic was so short-lived, I would have liked to see more with these characters... (A-)
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September 29, 2015Still a lot of fun. Rogers gets a good deal of mileage--and interest--by playing with what we know about heroes and archetypes. So this volume focuses around a stubborn dwarf seeking something underground; except what he's seeking isn't gold, but his lost love.
October 1, 2012
Not as fun as the first two, but it still has many good lines to it.
May 2, 2015
Good silly fun from the brains behind TV's "Leverage" - just the way D&D oughta be.
September 2, 2015
Excellent character work in these comics, made me want to play D&D again
December 8, 2015
Also confusing. Not great storytelling, in my opinion.
December 11, 2016
Enjoyable comic book. I like the witty dialogue.
August 2, 2021
A fantastic and fun romp in the sort of fantasy world a Dungeons & Dragons game creates.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews