Dungeons & Dragons: Legends of Baldur's Gate #2 comics review

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Dungeons & Dragons: Legends of Baldur's Gate #2 comics review
By Leroy Douresseaux
December 5, 2014 - 20:35

IDW Publishing
Writer(s): Jim Zub
Penciller(s): Max Dunbar
Colourist(s): John-Paul Bove, Joana Lafuente
Letterer(s): Neil Uyetake
Cover Artist(s): Sarah Stone
$3.99 U.S., 28pp, Color

Dungeons & Dragons: Legends of Baldur's Gate #2 cover image

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Dungeons & Dragons Legends of Baldur's Gate is a Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) comic book from IDW Publishing. This new comic book series is written by Jim Zub and drawn by Max Dunbar with colors by John-Paul Bove and Joana Lafuente and letters by Neil Uyetake.

The series is set in the legendary Baldur's Gate (a city in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting of the D&D fantasy role-playing game). In this “place of history and home to legends,” we meet a young female elf and wild mage named Delina. On the run from stone gargoyles, Delina casts a spell to protect herself. It goes wild and hits the statue of Minsc the Beloved Ranger and his hamster, Boo. Soon, Delina is on the run with Minsc and Boo.

As Dungeons & Dragons Legends of Baldur's Gate #2 (“Part Two”) opens, Delina learns that the two thieves they just encountered are Krydle (a male) and Shandie (a female). They agree to help Delina find her missing twin brother, Deniak. However, powerful figures and dark conspirators are also looking for Delina and Minsc, as well as Deniak.

THE LOWDOWN: While the first issue was a kickoff issue and read as a simple introduction to the series, Dungeons & Dragons Legends of Baldur's Gate #2 settles into the heart of the story. A central plot (the search for Deniak) solidifies, and the narrative comes together as writer Jim Zub adds to his colorful band of heroes. I like Delina and company, and I think there will be good times with them. It is obvious that Zub loves the D&D source material, always a good things when adapting a property as a comic book.

Artist Max Dunbar steps forward a little more. His storytelling and compositions are stronger, as if he figured out that this comic book is his sometime while drawing this second issue. Legends of Baldur's Gate #2 also offers four pages of conceptual art, designs, and sketches that Dunbar produced for this series, and it is some beautiful work. Speaking of beauty, the colors by John-Paul Bove and Joana Lafuente positively shimmer on some pages.

POSSIBLE AUDIENCE: Readers of D&D comic books as well as of sword-and-sorcery will want to take a trip to Dungeons & Dragons Legends of Baldur's Gate.

www.IDWPublishing.com
DungeonsandDragons.com

Rating: B+/10