Full disclosure up top here: while I’ve played my fair share of role playing games, including Dungeons & Dragons, I’d be hard pressed to explain the difference between The Forgotten Realms and Ravenloft. I don’t even know if those are different places! I also can’t tell you a single thing about the great heroes and villains of the franchise, and the basics don’t mean a lot to me.
So credit where’s it’s due: Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing, along with artist Ibraim Roberson, have crafted a rousing all-star Dungeons & Dragons #1 from Dark Horse Comics, one that completely works even if you have no context at all for what’s going on.
Like they did with IDW’s Star Trek, Dungeons & Dragons #1 brings together the Avengers of D&D (you can hear more about it in our interview with Kelly and Lanzing), which includes a disgraced wizard, a ribald bard, and more as they attempt to stop a dragon apocalypse in the Forgotten Realms. What works so well about this “let’s get the party together” first issue is the clarity of character the team brings here, letting you know exactly who these folks are and what their relationship to each other is… It’s also, very purposefully, like getting your own D&D party together to, er party. There’s a lightness and fun here that’s in direct opposition to the world-ending stakes of what’s happening.
That’s aided by Roberson’s art, which is a little more detailed but feels adjacent to Mark Buckingham’s long, storied work… If you’re a fan of books like Fables, this feels like a nice addition on your shelf next to it, albeit with D&D characters instead of general storybook characters.
I’m hesitant to say more because the book isn’t out for a few months — Dark Horse sent the issue over for review in advance of FOC (Final Order Cutoff) on Monday, September 21 — but suffice to say there’s a jaw-dropper of an ending that made me guffaw and eagerly await the next issue of the series. Like I said, there’s a sense of anything-can-happen play here that channels how things sometimes go off the rails entirely when you’re in the midst of a campaign. It’s less about the story than improvisation, and Kelly and Lanzing seem like they’ll be infusing this series with the spontaneity you rarely get in mainstream, franchise comic books.
It’s light, it’s poppy, it’s fun, and it’s gorgeously drawn. Why not roll the dice and put your order in for Dungeons & Dragons #1? Even if you’re not into role playing games, or D&D, this is the big, bold, weird and wild fantasy comic you’ve been waiting for. Let’s play.
Dungeons & Dragons #1 hits stores on November 4, 2026.
Dungeons & Dragons #1 Rating:
Dungeons & Dragons #1 Official Synopsis:
A draconic apocalypse approaches the Forgotten Realms, and it has one name on its lips: MORDENKAINEN. Now, stripped of his magic but never out of the fight, the most powerful wizard in all reality will need the help of Faerûn’s most legendary heroes to restore the balance.
Creative hivemind Jackson Lanzing & Collin Kelly team with artist Ibraim Roberson for a brand-new ongoing epic that will shake the world(s) of Dungeons & Dragons!
- Eisner-nominated creators Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly (Star Trek, Captain America, NYX) join Ibraim Roberson (Annihilation 2099, Star Wars, Weapon X), Arabson Oliveira, Dan Brown, and Haley Rose-Lyon to bring you a flagship Dungeons & Dragons comic like you’ve never seen it!
- A must-read for fans of Monstress, The Witcher, Conan the Barbarian, and The Sacrificers!
- Dragon foil variant covers by beloved Dungeons & Dragons artist Antonio José Manzanedo! One open-order dragon foil variant per issue—collect them all!
- Each issue includes exclusive backmatter like essays from fan favorite RPG personalities and game assets for D&D campaigns!
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