Review: DUNGEONS & DRAGONS Legends of Baldur's Gate #1

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS LEGENDS OF BALDUR'S GATE #1
IDW PUBLISHING – @IDWPublishing @Wizards_DnD

WRITER: Jim Zub – @JimZub
ART:  Max Dunbar – @Max_Dunbar
COLORS: John-Paul Bove
LETTERS: Neil Uyetake
COVER: Sarah Stone
VARIANT COVERS:  Max Dunbar with John-Paul Bove; Max Dunbar with Jim Zub; Raymond Swanland; Michael Komark
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S.

Tyranny of Dragons

Writer Jim Zub sent out PDF copies for review of his latest comic book series, Dungeons & Dragons Legends of Baldur's Gate.  It is a new licensed Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) comic book series from IDW Publishing.  This series is written by Zub and drawn by Max Dunbar with colors by John-Paul Bove and letters by Neil Uyetake.

Apparently, Baldur's Gate is a fictional city in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting of the D&D fantasy role-playing game (RPG).  I say “apparently” because it has been decades since I have read a D&D comic book or even played the game.

Baldur's Gate is located in the Faerûn region and is a coastal city on the north bank of the river Chiontar.  It is “a place of history and a home to legends.”  Dungeons & Dragons Legends of Baldur's Gate #1 (“Part One”) opens in the Upper City where a young female moon elf, Delina the Wild Mage, is on the run from two flying, stone gargoyles.

Her magic is not enough to stop them, but Minsc, a tall, imposing figure of a man, comes to her rescue.  He has a pet, Boo the hamster, and insists on calling Delina by the name, “Neera.”  She will accept the hamster and the new name, if Minsc can help her find her missing brother.

Simply put, Dungeons & Dragons Legends of Baldur's Gate #1 is the kickoff of a comic book adventure series.  Specifically, it is a comic book narrative structured as if it were a D&D campaign.  Writer Jim Zub grew up on D&D, as he writes in a “Welcome” essay at the end of this first issue, so the series may reflect what Zub loves about D&D.

Legends of Baldur's Gate #1 is not a great comic book, but it does have an intriguing premise.  And I have to be honest; I think I will always be interested in the idea of a D&D campaign.  In this first issue, the story is straightforward, so artist Max Dunbar is not required to convey any complex storytelling.  It is good enough and acceptable for Dunbar to draw big panels and splash pages because this story is three things:  vague introductions of characters, fights, and chase scenes, which are big panel-ready story elements.

I want to try the next one or two issues in order to see where this goes.  Right now, I'll give it a grade of “B.”  I do think that readers of D&D comic books will want to try Dungeons & Dragons Legends of Baldur's Gate.

B

www.IDWPublishing.com
DungeonsandDragons.com

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for October 22, 2014

DC COMICS

JUL140236     ALL STAR WESTERN TP VOL 05 MAN OUT OF TIME (N52)     $16.99
APR140291     ANNOTATED SANDMAN HC VOL 03 (MR)     $49.99
AUG140245     AQUAMAN #35     $2.99
AUG140199     ARKHAM MANOR #1     $2.99
AUG140315     BATMAN 66 #16     $2.99
AUG140316     BATMAN BEYOND UNIVERSE #15     $3.99
AUG140266     BATMAN ETERNAL #29     $2.99
AUG140358     BODIES #4 (MR)     $3.99
AUG140289     CATWOMAN #35     $2.99
AUG140366     DEAD BOY DETECTIVES #10 (DEFY)     $2.99
AUG140203     DEATHSTROKE #1     $2.99
AUG140190     EARTH 2 WORLDS END #3     $2.99
AUG140248     FLASH #35     $2.99
JUL140248     GOTHAM CITY SIRENS TP BOOK 01     $24.99
AUG140291     HARLEY QUINN #11     $2.99
JUN140279     HARLEY QUINN HC VOL 01 HOT IN THE CITY     $24.99
AUG140322     HE MAN AND THE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE #18     $2.99
AUG140307     INFINITY MAN AND THE FOREVER PEOPLE #4     $2.99
AUG140319     INJUSTICE GODS AMONG US YEAR THREE #2     $2.99
AUG140236     JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #35     $3.99
AUG140194     MULTIVERSITY THE JUST #1     $4.99
AUG140220     NEW 52 FUTURES END #25 (WEEKLY)     $2.99
AUG140304     RED LANTERNS #35 (GODHEAD)     $2.99
JUN140284     RONIN DELUXE EDITION HC     $29.99
AUG140242     SECRET ORIGINS #6     $4.99
AUG140243     STAR SPANGLED WAR STORIES GI ZOMBIE #3     $2.99
JUL140245     SUICIDE SQUAD TP VOL 05 WALLED IN (N52)     $16.99
AUG140251     SUPERMAN #35     $3.99
AUG140255     SUPERMAN #35 COMBO PACK     $4.99
AUG140370     UNWRITTEN VOL 2 APOCALYPSE #10 (MR)     $3.99

DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES

MAY140418     BATMAN 75TH ANNIVERSARY ACTION FIGURE 4 PACK SET 1     $75.00
APR140324     BATMAN LIL GOTHAM BATMAN MINI ACTION FIGURE     $12.95
MAY140423     DC COMICS NEW 52 JL DARK CONSTANTINE AF     $24.95
MAY140424     DC COMICS NEW 52 JL DARK ZATANNA AF     $24.95
APR140309     SANDMAN OVERTURE LTD ED PATINA STATUE     $299.95

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for October 22, 2014

MARVEL COMICS

MAY140919     ALIAS OMNIBUS HC NEW PTG     $99.99
AUG140853     ALL NEW GHOST RIDER #8     $3.99
AUG140843     ALL NEW INVADERS #11     $3.99
AUG140741     ALL NEW X-FACTOR #15 AXIS     $3.99
AUG140800     AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #8 EOSV     $3.99
AUG140885     AMAZING X-MEN #12     $3.99
AUG140792     AVENGERS #37 TRO     $3.99
AUG140731     AVENGERS AND X-MEN AXIS #3     $3.99
AUG140735     AXIS HOBGOBLIN #1     $3.99
AUG140877     CYCLOPS #6     $3.99
AUG140736     DEADPOOL #36 AXIS     $3.99
AUG140750     DEATH OF WOLVERINE LOGAN LEGACY #2     $3.99
AUG148110     EDGE OF SPIDER-VERSE #1 2ND PTG ISANOVE VAR     $3.99
AUG148235     FIGMENT #4 2ND PTG CHRISTOPHER VAR     $3.99
JUL140727     HULK TP VOL 01 BANNER DOA     $12.99
AUG140916     IRON PATRIOT TP UNBREAKABLE     $16.99
AUG140906     MARVEL 100TH ANNIVERSARY TP     $16.99
AUG140849     NEW WARRIORS #11     $3.99
AUG140907     ORIGINAL SIN TP HULK VS IRON MAN     $16.99
AUG140847     SECRET AVENGERS #9     $3.99
AUG140915     SECRET AVENGERS TP VOL 01 LETS HAVE A PROBLEM     $19.99
AUG140851     SHE-HULK #9     $2.99
AUG140913     SILVER SURFER TP VOL 01 NEW DAWN     $17.99
AUG140769     THANOS A GOD UP THERE LISTENING #3     $3.99
AUG140879     X-FORCE #11     $3.99

IDW Publishing from Diamond Distributors for October 22, 2014

IDW PUBLISHING

AUG140520     7TH SWORD #5     $3.99
JUL140413     BORDERLANDS FALL OF FYRESTONE #3     $3.99
AUG140419     DEXTERS LABORATORY TP VOL 01 DEES DAY     $17.99
AUG140436     DUNGEONS & DRAGONS LEGENDS OF BALDURS GATE #1     $3.99
AUG140437     DUNGEONS & DRAGONS LEGENDS OF BALDURS GATE #1 SUBSCRIPTION     $3.99
AUG140411     EDWARD SCISSORHANDS #1     $3.99
AUG140448     GI JOE (2014) #2     $3.99
AUG140401     GODZILLA CATACLYSM #3     $3.99
AUG140403     GODZILLA RULERS OF THE EARTH #17     $3.99
AUG140487     JUDGE DREDD ANDERSON PSI DIVISION #3     $3.99
MAR142411     KILL SHAKESPEARE THE BOARD GAME     $59.99
AUG140515     LAST UNICORN TP     $19.99
MAY142831     MACHI KORO THE CARD GAME     $29.99
AUG140501     MAXX MAXXIMIZED #12     $3.99
AUG140429     MY LITTLE PONY FRIENDS FOREVER #10     $3.99
AUG140443     ROT & RUIN #2     $3.99
AUG140414     SAMURAI JACK #13     $3.99
AUG142788     SKYLANDERS MICRO COMIC FUN PACK DSP     $2.99
AUG140420     SUPER SECRET CRISIS WAR COW & CHICKEN #1     $3.99
APR142375     TAMMANY HALL THE BOARD GAME     $59.99
AUG140392     TMNT GHOSTBUSTERS #1     $3.99
AUG140463     TRANSFORMERS PRIMACY #3     $3.99
AUG140460     TRANSFORMERS ROBOTS IN DISGUISE #34 DAWN O/T AUTOBOTS     $3.99
MAY140533     V-WARS BLOOD AND FIRE PROSE HC     $24.99
AUG140482     X-FILES SEASON 10 #17     $3.99
AUG140485     X-FILES YEAR ZERO #4     $3.99

Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for October 22, 2014

DARK HORSE COMICS

JUN140016     BPRD PLAGUE OF FROGS TP VOL 01     $19.99
AUG140087     BTVS SEASON 10 #8 MAIN CVR     $3.50
AUG140097     COLDER BAD SEED #1     $3.99
AUG140071     FATHERS DAY #1     $3.99
JUN140081     GANTZ TP VOL 33 (MR)     $13.99
AUG140027     HALO ESCALATION #11     $3.99
AUG140075     POP #3     $3.99
AUG140010     PREDATOR FIRE AND STONE #1     $3.50
JUL140139     SKY ART OF FINAL FANTASY HC VOL 01     $29.99
MAY140082     TERMINATOR ENEMY OF MY ENEMY #6     $3.99
AUG140028     TOMB RAIDER #9     $3.50

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for October 22, 2014

IMAGE COMICS

AUG140641     DEAD AT 17 BLASPHEMY THRONE #3     $3.50
JUL130522     DREAM MERCHANT #5 (MR)     $3.50
AUG140644     DRUMHELLAR #10 (MR)     $3.50
JUN140550     ELEPHANTMEN #60 (MR)     $3.99
AUG140647     FIVE GHOSTS #13     $3.50
JUL148416     FIVE GHOSTS #13 CVR B BLANK SKETCH CVR     $3.50
AUG140543     GONERS #1     $2.99
AUG140657     LAZARUS #12 (MR)     $3.50
AUG140665     ODDLY NORMAL #2 CVR A FRAMPTON     $2.99
AUG140666     ODDLY NORMAL #2 CVR B GUILLORY     $2.99
AUG148326     OUTCAST BY KIRKMAN & AZACETA #1 5TH PTG (MR)     $2.99
AUG140671     REVIVAL #24 (MR)     $2.99
JUL140596     RISE O/T MAGI #1-4 SIGNED SET ED     $29.99
JUL140573     SHELTERED #12 (MR)     $2.99
JUL140577     STARLIGHT #6 CVR A CASSADAY (MR)     $4.99
JUL140578     STARLIGHT #6 CVR B CHIANG (MR)     $4.99
AUG140683     STRAY BULLETS THE KILLERS #8 (MR)     $3.50
AUG140567     WALKING DEAD #133 (MR)     $2.99
AUG140694     WICKED & DIVINE #5 (MR)     $3.50
AUG148290     WICKED & DIVINE #5 CVR B CLOONAN (MR)     $3.50
JUL140591     WILDFIRE #4 CVR A LINDA SEJIC     $3.99
JUL140592     WILDFIRE #4 CVR B STJEPAN SEJIC     $3.99
AUG140697     ZERO #11 CVR A ORTIZ & MULLER (MR)     $2.99
AUG140698     ZERO #11 CVR B HORROCKS & MULLER (MR)     $2.99

Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for October 22, 2014

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

JUN141439     13 COINS #1 (MR)     $3.99
JUL148466     AFTERLIFE WITH ARCHIE MAGAZINE #1     $4.99
AUG141390     ALICE COOPER #2 RARE MACK VIRGIN ART ED     $50.00
JUL141405     ALICE I/T COUNTRY OF DIAMONDS BET MY HEART GN VOL 01 (MR)     $13.99
AUG141540     ANIMAL LAND GN VOL 10     $10.99
JUL141407     ARPEGGIO OF BLUE STEEL GN VOL 02 (MR)     $12.99
JUL141013     BEE AND PUPPYCAT #5 MAIN CVRS     $3.99
AUG141339     BIONIC WOMAN SEASON FOUR #2     $3.99
AUG141768     BLACK BIRD COMPLETE GN BOX SET     $149.99
JUL148303     BOBS BURGERS #1 2ND PTG     $3.99
AUG141506     BRAINSTORM #2 (MR)     $3.99
AUG141183     BUTTERFLY #2 (MR)     $3.99
AUG141293     CHAOS CHOSEN ONE SHOT     $7.99
AUG141161     CLIVE BARKERS NIGHTBREED #6 (MR)     $3.99
AUG141709     COMP QUANTUM & WOODY CLASSIC OMNIBUS HC     $99.99
AUG141070     CROSSED SPECIAL 2014 (MR)     $5.99
AUG141071     CROSSED SPECIAL 2014 TORTURE CVR (MR)     $5.99
AUG141072     CROSSED SPECIAL 2014 WRAP CVR (MR)     $5.99
AUG141727     DELINQUENTS #3 BOARD GAME CVR DOE (VF)     $3.99
AUG141725     DELINQUENTS #3 REG CVR RIVERA (VF)     $3.99
JUN141198     DF AMAZING SPIDER MAN #1.4 SGN ALEX ROSS     PI
APR141189     DF AMAZING SPIDER MAN 1.1 GOLD ELITE LEE SGN     $699.99
MAY141396     DF BATMAN 66 MEETS GREEN HORNET #2 ROSS SGN     PI
JUN141199     DF BATMAN 66 MEETS GREEN HORNET #3 SGN ROSS     PI
FEB141255     DF MAGNETO #1 SGN STAN LEE     $399.99
APR141194     DF ORIGINAL SIN #1 STAN LEE SGN     $499.99
JUL140774     EMPIRE OF THE WOLF GN (MR)     $14.99
AUG141398     EVIL ERNIE #1 RARE MANGUM OLD SCHOOL VIRGIN ED     $50.00
AUG141397     EVIL ERNIE #1 RARE RAFAEL CHAOTIC GREEN ED     $50.00
AUG141395     EVIL ERNIE #1 RARE SEELEY CHAOTIC GREEN ED     $50.00
AUG141815     GFT DARK SHAMAN #1 A CVR KROME (MR)     $3.99
AUG141816     GFT DARK SHAMAN #1 B CVR MYCHAELS (MR)     $3.99
AUG141817     GFT DARK SHAMAN #1 C CVR QUALANO (MR)     $3.99
AUG141801     GFT GRIMM FAIRY TALES #103 A CVR CHEN (AOFD) (MR)     $3.99
AUG141802     GFT GRIMM FAIRY TALES #103 B CVR QUALANO (AOFD) (MR)     $3.99
AUG141803     GFT GRIMM FAIRY TALES #103 C CVR METCALF (AOFD) (MR)     $3.99
AUG141804     GFT INFERNO RINGS OF HELL #3 A CVR PANTALENA (AOFD)(MR)     $3.99
AUG141805     GFT INFERNO RINGS OF HELL #3 B CVR REI (AOFD) (MR)     $3.99
AUG141806     GFT INFERNO RINGS OF HELL #3 C CVR VALENTINO (AOFD)(MR)     $3.99
AUG141826     GFT VS WONDERLAND #4 A CVR MALSUNI (MR)     $2.99
AUG141827     GFT VS WONDERLAND #4 B CVR EL TABANAS (MR)     $2.99
AUG141828     GFT VS WONDERLAND #4 C CVR PESSANHA (MR)     $2.99
JUL141409     HAGANAI I DONT HAVE MANY FRIENDS GN VOL 09 (MR)     $12.99
AUG141156     HELLRAISER DARK WATCH TP VOL 03 (MR)     $19.99
AUG140941     HERO CATS #2     $3.99
AUG141258     HUGH HOWEYS WOOL #4     $3.99
JUL141042     JACK THE LANTERN SALVATION #1 (MR)     $2.95
JUL141043     JACK THE LANTERN TP VOL 01 (MR)     $12.95
JUL140829     JUGHEAD & ARCHIE COMICS DIGEST ANNUAL #6 (NOTE PRICE)     $5.99
AUG141358     JUSTICE INC #3 CVR A FRANCAVILLA     $3.99
AUG141359     JUSTICE INC #3 CVR B HARDMAN     $3.99
AUG141360     JUSTICE INC #3 CVR C SYAF     $3.99
AUG141357     JUSTICE INC #3 MAIN ROSS     $3.99
AUG141364     LADY ZORRO #4     $3.99
AUG141584     LETTER 44 #11     $3.99
AUG141493     MAGIC WIND GN VOL 05 LONG KNIFE     $12.99
AUG141144     MEMETIC #1     $4.99
JUL140758     MEN OF MYSTERY #94     $29.95
AUG142824     MINECRAFT OFFICIAL MOJANG COMPLETE HANDBOOK COLL     PI
JUL141334     MONOMYTH #3     $3.99
AUG141765     MONSTER TP VOL 02 PERFECT ED URASAWA     $19.99
SEP141384     MOOMIN DLX ANNIVERSARY ED HC     $69.95
AUG141647     MOTHERLESS OVEN GN     $19.95
JUL141063     NEIL GAIMAN THE LAST TEMPTATION HC SGN ED     $75.00
JUL141369     NINJAGO HC VOL 11 COMET CRISIS     $12.99
AUG141545     NO 6 GN VOL 09     $10.99
JUL141411     NO GAME NO LIFE GN VOL 01     $12.99
JUL141446     ORDINARY HC     $19.99
AUG141376     RED SONJA TP VOL 02 ART BLOOD & FIRE     $19.99
AUG141204     REGULAR SHOW #16     $3.99
AUG141546     SANKAREA GN VOL 09     $10.99
AUG141527     SHAMANISM HC (MR)     $24.95
AUG141528     SON OF THE GUN HC (MR)     $34.95
JUL140840     SONIC SAGA TP VOL 06 MOGUL RISING     $11.99
JUL140771     SOUTHERN DOG #2 (MR)     $3.99
AUG141378     STEAMPUNK BSG 1880 #3     $3.99
AUG141577     STUMPTOWN V3 #2     $3.99
AUG141766     SUNNY HC VOL 04     $22.99
JUL141038     TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE #88 DLX ED (MR)     $19.99
JUN141438     THIRD TESTAMENT HC VOL 01 LION AWAKES     $9.99
AUG141550     TOWER CHRONICLES DREADSTALKER #3     $3.99
AUG141551     TOWN CALLED DRAGON #2     $3.99
JUL141153     TWILIGHT ZONE #9     $3.99
SEP141441     USAGI YOJIMBO SC VOL 07 GENS STORY (NEW PTG)     $18.99
AUG141776     VAGABOND GN VOL 36 (MR)     $9.95
AUG141409     VAMPIRELLA FEARY TALES #1 ADAMS VIRGIN ED     $50.00
AUG141407     VAMPIRELLA FEARY TALES #1 JUSKO VIRGIN ED     $50.00
AUG141389     VAMPIRELLA PRELUDE TO SHADOWS ONE SHOT     $7.99
JUN141340     WASTELAND APOCALYPTIC ED VOL 04 (MR)     $39.99
AUG141749     WITCHCRAFT WORKS GN VOL 01     $12.95
AUG141013     WORLD OF ARCHIE COMICS DIGEST #44     $4.99

MAGAZINES
JUL141385     2000 AD PACK SEP 2014     PI
AUG141958     COMIC SHOP NEWS #1427     PI
AUG141963     FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND #276     $9.99
FEB141664     FANGORIA #336     $10.99
JUN141704     FANGORIA PRESENTS SCREAM FACTORY SPECIAL     $10.00
JUN141706     HOBBY JAPAN SEP 2014     $16.60
AUG141975     LOCUS #645     $7.50
MAY141879     MEGAMI AUG 2014     $16.60
AUG141678     MONSTER HIGH MAGAZINE #10     $4.99
MAY141880     NEWTYPE AUG 2014     $16.00
MAY141873     RUE MORGUE MAGAZINE #149     $9.95
AUG141976     STAR TREK MAGAZINE #51 NEWSSTAND ED     $9.99
AUG141977     STAR TREK MAGAZINE #51 PX ED     $9.99
AUG141978     STAR WARS INSIDER #153 NEWSSTAND ED     $7.99
AUG141979     STAR WARS INSIDER #153 PX ED     $7.99
AUG141682     STAR WARS MAGAZINE #3     $4.99

BOOKS
JUL141640     BATMAN FILES SC     $45.00
AUG141850     BROM SKETCHES DRAWINGS & MUSINGS SIGNED SKETCHBOOK (MR)     $10.00
JUL141267     COLONIAL COMICS NEW ENGLAND 1620-1750 TP     $25.95
JUL141408     DANCE IN VAMPIRE BUND SECRET CHRONICLES (MR)     $14.99
AUG141874     GEORGE RR MARTIN ICE DRAGON ILLUS NOVEL HC     $14.99
AUG141919     ON SET WITH JOHN CARPENTER HC     $29.95
AUG141763     PRINCESS MONONOKE FIRST STORY HC     $34.99
JUL141679     ROBOCOP DEFINITIVE HISTORY HC     $34.95
AUG141923     SOFT NUDES FOR DEVILS BUTCHER FROM MENS ADV MAG SC (MR)     $29.95
AUG142791     WARHAMMER 40K ANGELS OF DEATH OMNIBUS SC     $17.50