This probably goes without saying, but I will say it, “Read volumes one to three first.” So, why am I writing this review for volumes four and five? To let you know that the series gets better as it goes along. Now, things might be a bit slow for the old school reader of D&D like graphic novels (especially at first), but the humor and accessibility for the newbie or someone not fully familiar with that format can get into it. I once gave a copy to a friend, who never got around to reading it, but his son did and that son devoured it. His son was a smart, early preteen, but due to some situations I usually recommend it for at least ages 12-13 to adults. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever seen it not placed in an adult section of a bookstore or comic shop.
This series is based off of the McElory’s podcast of the same name (I think same name, but I know it is a podcast). I recently listened to a podcast about stuff and this one was about other podcasts (I never listen to podcasts and only listened to this one as I was in a car and it was so loudly played I couldn’t sleep. Oh, I was the passenger so it was okay). They mentioned this podcast/series, so it is getting the attention it deserves. (They also mentioned Vox Machina, which is another series/situation that I prefer the animated version of, but is equally good. Only, different. So if you like one, you might not like the other as Vox is overall darker (in story arcs and imagery), while Adventure Zone has a lot more medium to high sophomoric humor).
The Adventure Zone Vol. 4: The Crystal Kingdom by Clint McElroy, Carey Pietsch (Artist), Griffin McElroy, Travis McElroy, Justin McElroy
As much as I love the series, this volume had a couple things that didn’t work for me. A small one was that I had forgotten some things from books one to three, so I was a smidgen confused. But the big one was that there was a lot of science that didn’t make sense to the non-science person. Or atleast me. And while, I do not mind a well placed swear, but this one had a bit too much in that line. What I did enjoy is we had a bigger adventure, we started to see into the characters a bit more and you know something big is happening. If you can read all four back to back, or close together (reread if needed), read them, then grab book five.
The Adventure Zone, Vol. 5: The Eleventh Hour by Clint McElroy, Griffin McElroy, Travis McElroy, Justin McElroy, Carey Pietsch (Illustrator)
As much as I love the series, I am not a fan of the language for language sake, which this book seemed to have a lot of. This time around we really get to look into the lives of the characters and in fact, major background points. We are even given a little with the new people as well. The adventure is not new (a time loop concept) but it is fun. The newer characters of the past books might be seen again, but a lot of new-new ones were there just to push this story forward. The best part is that our time loop is contained in a forty-five to sixty minute arc, and to show how many times this happens is done in one of the sillier ways to show this (I can’t explain it, you just have to see the page, but I will say it is RIGHT up the McElroy’s alley of insanity). In many ways this was one of my favorite volumes, but I am still a fan of the early years. Again, read things as close together as possible, as unknowingly things are building up to a big finale (I’m just wondering when! Answers are needed!)