Week 32 ~ Dungeon Crawlin' Fools

Week 32 ~ Aug 6-12, 2007

Dungeon Crawlin' Fools
by Rich Burlew
(graphic novel, fantasy)

(also an online comic, found here)

So, Dungeon Crawlin' Fools is the first print book of "The Order of the Stick," a web comic that's basically a spoof on Dungeons & Dragons. It's absolutely hysterical - at least for gamers - and even though the art is simplistic, it is well executed. To be honest, the semi-stick-figures used for the illustrations work better than intricate portraits would. The way it's drawn is in keeping with the whole role-playing theme.

The storyline is also quite amusing. Even though at first it doesn't seem that there is a story, the early strips work well as an introduction to the characters, their world, etc. It's not really any different than a regular novel: you can't always determine where the plot is going at first there, either.

Anyway, I've said before that I really have problems reviewing graphic novels, but I will say that this is one that's worth buying if you're into that kind of thing. And if you want to see if you're into it before you buy it, the link above will take you to the website where the comics can be found for free. There are a few new strips, some commentaries, and a few other goodies in the print version, but you can essentially get the whole story online free. (Why buy it if you can get it for free? Well, for me, it's important to support people who entertain. I buy CDs or individual songs - yay iTunes! - and I buy books when I can get them out of the library. Same thing here.)