Griffin McElroy

A quick read, this graphic novel is delightful and witty. A great comic based on a great podcast, 3 funny brothers and their dad begin a roleplaying adventure. It's a concept that shouldn't work (an improvisational comedy Dungeons and Dragons campaign that got recorded in audio-only and then illustrated into a graphic novel series), and yet somehow the charming art-style and infectious personalities manage to somewhat capture the appeal of the Adventure Zone podcast.

I definitely prefer the show more audio version, simply because it retains more of what makes the McElroy's special. That being said, this is a much quicker medium to consume and it's more tangible for people who don't like podcasts. Whether I recommend the graphic novel described herein is more or less irrelevant, what's important is that I can wholeheartedly recommend the McElroy brothers, and all of their content, to anybody with my sense of humor. show less

Petals to the Metal is one of my favorite mini-arcs within The Adventure Zone's Balance campaign. Fast and Furious references, a race, not burying your lesbians plus starting to get snippets of the broader plot with the Hunger and the Red Robes... really fascinating to continue watching how an audio narrative gets translated into a visual, and how plot and hints can be better organized knowing what's to come/smoothing over continuity errors/etc.

I'm curious as to how TAZ goes for someone show more experiencing it first through the graphic novels instead of the podcast! Certainly faster to get through. show less

A fun follow up! Funny, over the top, quirky, and clever; this nerdy graphic novel series is my new favorite thing. A trio of ridiculous adventurers have found themselves on a new quest. They must find a dangerous item before it falls into the hands of a nameless enemy. Things get complicated when they end up stuck on the train that the relic is on and someone gets murdered. Who did it? Why are they relying on a 10 year old for help. Why is there a giant crab attacking them? Wonderfully show more illustrated and filled with fantastic banter, I can hardly wait for the third installment! show less

I am deeply in love with these books. Pietsch’s artwork and Clint’s writing transform the story into a pitch-perfect adaptation of the podcast, and I couldn’t be happier about the way the second one turned out.

Honorable mentions deserve:

• Taako messing with Leon the Artificer. Classic Taako.
• Fantasy Costco where all your dreams come true! Garfield is the creepiest little shit. He’s also clearly the actual Garfield in disguise.
• The little bit with “Unless… …Unless?” show more
• Lucretia seeing Taako with the Umbra Staff broke my heart in the most delicious way possible.

I also love the little glimpses of the overall story starting to peek through. I devoured the whole thing in, like, an hour, and then went back to the beginning again immediately, because it has to be properly savored. Can’t wait for “Petals to the Metal” to punch me in the feels all over again! show less