This post is brought to you by Jim Zub. I received Dungeons & Dragons: Infernal Tides for review. As always, the opinions are my own.
Dungeons & Dragons: Infernal Tides is this year’s mini-series from IDW Publishing. Inspired by the new D&D adventure Descent into Avernus, this comic was written by Jim Zub, drawn by Max Dunbar, colored by Sebastian Cheng, and lettered by Neil Uyetake. These names are among the best in the business, so I had high expectations coming into this series. The book hits shelves on December 11th, but I just couldn’t wait any longer! Let’s take a look into this book and see if those expectations have been met.Dungeons & Dragons: Infernal Tides starts in Hell, as most good stories do. The first couple of pages set up some sort of event that will undoubtedly come into play later on in the series. It is here that we also meet a couple of interesting characters. I believe they’re new, not appearing in either the graphic novels or the inspiring adventure. I’m immediately intrigued by them, and they may make their way into my Avernus games.
The next leg of the story opens in Baldur’s Gate with a bang. We’re introduced to what appears to be our main villain. I can’t say who, for spoiler’s sake, but I can say that they’re my favorite character from the adventure. I’m not ashamed to admit I giggled with excitement turning to that page. Max’s artwork comes out in full force here. He has a distinct style that lends itself well to the story. The action throughout the book is frenetic, yet is never hard to keep up with. The monsters are immediately recognizable, which is great for a D&D fan like myself. There’s one particular panel that I need a print of. You’ll know it when you see it.
The story itself is well written. It borrows quite a bit from the adventure, although there are notable exceptions. The dialogue is particularly well written. There are some laugh inducing and awesome moments in this issue alone. This goes double for Minsc. It seems as though Minsc got most of the one liners here, making it seem more like Minsc and Friends rather than the Heroes of Baldur’s Gate. Minsc is a fan favorite (myself included), but I still hope to see the group dynamic even out through the course of the series. That being said, the story is engaging thus far and I’m looking forward to where the journey takes our heroes. If the next issue’s cover is any indication, things should only get crazier from here.
Dungeons & Dragons: Infernal Tides is a delightful adventure that pulls a lot from its inspiration without feeling like a rehash of it. With fantastic art and clever writing, this comic will please not only D&D fans, but fans of good stories in general. I’m looking forward to seeing what Jim and his team have in store for us. It’s clear that they love what they do, and that love shines through to make this story brilliant. But don’t just take my word for it; check it out for yourself! Dungeons & Dragons: Infernal Tides is available at your local comic shop on December 11th.
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