The world of Dungeons & Dragons has seen a shift in recent years. Thanks to web series like Critical Role and Dimension 20, the idea of making your party more flawed, not to mention injecting a hefty dose of humor into the story, makes a campaign way more interesting. Someone at Wizards of the Coast was paying attention, because Dungeons & Dragons: The Fallbacks #1 taps into those same vibes.
Who, exactly, are the Fallbacks? They’re a group of adventurers who are far from the epic heroes you’d expect in a D&D campaign. Tess, the leader, is more concerned with glory and gold than good decisions. Baldric, the cleric, tends to make bargains with gods instead of pledging himself to them, which has all the potential to backfire when you consider the number of deities in the D&D universe. Anson is a fighter with a good heart, which often clashes with his fellow adventurers. Cazarin is a wizard eager for knowledge, no matter how perilous it may be. Lark is a bard with a checkered past. Uggie, their loyal otyugh, is a chaos gremlin who rivals Krypto the Superdog in terms of destruction.
This band of misfits wind up in the town of Loudwater and learn that its royal guard is led by a figure from Tess’ past, Angrilyne. Wanting to show up Angrilyne in Loudwater’s upcoming “Tournament of Heroes” (and replenish their stash of money), Tess leads the Loudbacks to a treasure tomb. Like most tombs, there’s a very good reason why this one is buried…
Greg Park scripts The Fallbacks #1 with an ease that makes it feel like he’s been writing these characters for years. He’s clearly enjoying writing the group’s interactions; Tess’s decisions usually lead the whole group into trouble. Baldric’s pragmatism tempers Calzarin’s curiosity. Lark has a flair for the dramatic, like most bards. At the same time, Pak also hints at deeper themes, with the opening featuring a group of kobolds just attempting to live their lives while dealing with persecution.
Dark Horse
The Fallbacks #1 happens to be a very gorgeous looking comic, and you can thank Wilton Santos for that. Under Santos’s pencils, the world of Dungeons & Dragons comes to life, mingling different species and different terrains together into a landscape you’ll want to see more of. Edvan Alvos’ inks add plenty of texture to these images – you can see the individual scales in a kobold’s skin, or the wisps of magic that Cazarin utilizes in her spells.
Topping it all off is Raul Angulo, whose bright and vibrant colors are the perfect match for the fantasy landscape of D&D. It especially extends to the energy being used by certain characters. For example, when Anson uses his massive sword, it glows with a golden light. Not to be outdone, Nate Piekos manages to incorporate the Draconic language that spellcasters use into the text, alongside Lark’s melodic voice and Uggie’s guttural growls.
Dungeons & Dragons: The Fallbacks #1 is both a solid introduction to the world of D&D and an adventure that’s laced with plenty of humor. From this issue alone, it looks like the Fallbacks could match Vox Machina or the Mighty Nein in terms of lovable fantasy underdogs.
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