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892 reviews for:
The Adventure Zone: The Eleventh Hour
Griffin McElroy, Clint McElroy, Justin McElroy, Travis McElroy
4.64 AVERAGE
892 reviews for:
The Adventure Zone: The Eleventh Hour
Griffin McElroy, Clint McElroy, Justin McElroy, Travis McElroy
4.64 AVERAGE
Another excellent adventure with a mysterious cliffhanger.
Who is the red robed figure? What is the actual goal of the Bureau of Balance? Why are they missing time? Why did the Pan stars disappear? And will Taako get his man!?!
Who is the red robed figure? What is the actual goal of the Bureau of Balance? Why are they missing time? Why did the Pan stars disappear? And will Taako get his man!?!
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
They did it again! Finished this installment & wanted to start all over with Book 1 while I wait for 6 to come out.
Our three D&D adventures are sent to the small Western town of Refuge to collect the Temporal Chalice. The Chalice has trapped the town in a time bubble, and when our heroes enter it, they find themselves in a time loop with the rest of the town. Along the way, there’s a bank robbery, an over-enthusiastic miner, meeting a goddess, a mine car chase, and sand worms.
Still more of the fun, humor-filled D&D adventure. I honestly skimmed over the bits that were the overarching storyline because I’ve forgotten so much of it from the previous books because they spend so little time with it. But the time loop story itself was fun. I enjoyed this volume more than the last couple, even though the foreshadowing for the bigger story is so heavy-handed and clunky. I will keep reading.
**********************************
Re-read Dec 2024: Still really enjoyed this one. The time loop shenanigans probably make this the best storyline so far, and it makes a lot more sense when re-reading the whole series together.
Re-read Dec 2024: Still really enjoyed this one. The time loop shenanigans probably make this the best storyline so far, and it makes a lot more sense when re-reading the whole series together.
The Eleventh Hour was one of my favorite arcs in the podcast, and it's DEFINITELY my favorite arc in the graphic novels so far. Carey went above and beyond with the intricate designs of all the unique costumes, props, and sets. But most crucially, this adaptation beautifully emphasizes the emotional beats and moral quandaries of this arc – most notably, the question: If you could turn back time and fix a mistake you made, consequences be damned, would you?
I always cry when reading Adventure Zone graphic novels, because they're gorgeously-produced adaptations of a media property that also made me cry a lot. But this is probably the most I've ever cried reading one (and that's a compliment coming from me) because the characters' pathos and moral dilemmas just really came through. Wonderful work, everyone involved!
I always cry when reading Adventure Zone graphic novels, because they're gorgeously-produced adaptations of a media property that also made me cry a lot. But this is probably the most I've ever cried reading one (and that's a compliment coming from me) because the characters' pathos and moral dilemmas just really came through. Wonderful work, everyone involved!
I've been anticipating this book for ages. Having listened to the full Balance campaign in podcast form more than a dozen times, I was eager to see how the McElboys and Carey would commit this chapter of the story to page.
Needless to say, I was not disappointed. So much happens in the back half of Balance, so many moments of pure wonder and character growth. The way the book weaves the interludes of the original story into the flashbacks every time Tres Horny Boys beef it in Refuge's time loop is an excellent way to not only break up each loop, hammering in the discomfort of the constant deaths and resets, but it gives us the foundation for what happens later in the book.
Later being that moment the boys finally get to the relic, the Temporal Chalice. This was something I both looked forward to and dreaded, knowing what emotional weight it has in the podcast. Not only does Carey's art show off the sheer vast amounts of missing time and history in the boys' respective pasts (pay close attention to the panels where Merle, Taako and Magnus are holding the Chalice respectively), but the way this book gives us these difficult points in their lives is just heartbreaking. Seeing Merle feel like he must abandon his children, hearing Taako's horror as the people at his show become violently sick and die, watching Magnus say goodbye to the only love of his life for the last time...I cried. I nearly ugly sobbed. I knew it was coming and I couldn't take it. I literally had to close the book for a few minutes to recompose myself.
So yeah, a story I know like the back of my hand, and the sheer skill and love and attention to detail put into this book makes it as if I'm approaching it for the first time. I loved this book, every page, every panel, every word. I know that there isn't much left to Balance at this point, two or three books left and the saga will be complete. Part of me doesn't want me to end, but the rest of me knows that moving forward, the story is in wonderful hands with Carey and her artistic skill. Thank you and the McElboys for sharing this tale with us all.
Needless to say, I was not disappointed. So much happens in the back half of Balance, so many moments of pure wonder and character growth. The way the book weaves the interludes of the original story into the flashbacks every time Tres Horny Boys beef it in Refuge's time loop is an excellent way to not only break up each loop, hammering in the discomfort of the constant deaths and resets, but it gives us the foundation for what happens later in the book.
Later being that moment the boys finally get to the relic, the Temporal Chalice. This was something I both looked forward to and dreaded, knowing what emotional weight it has in the podcast. Not only does Carey's art show off the sheer vast amounts of missing time and history in the boys' respective pasts (pay close attention to the panels where Merle, Taako and Magnus are holding the Chalice respectively), but the way this book gives us these difficult points in their lives is just heartbreaking. Seeing Merle feel like he must abandon his children, hearing Taako's horror as the people at his show become violently sick and die, watching Magnus say goodbye to the only love of his life for the last time...I cried. I nearly ugly sobbed. I knew it was coming and I couldn't take it. I literally had to close the book for a few minutes to recompose myself.
So yeah, a story I know like the back of my hand, and the sheer skill and love and attention to detail put into this book makes it as if I'm approaching it for the first time. I loved this book, every page, every panel, every word. I know that there isn't much left to Balance at this point, two or three books left and the saga will be complete. Part of me doesn't want me to end, but the rest of me knows that moving forward, the story is in wonderful hands with Carey and her artistic skill. Thank you and the McElboys for sharing this tale with us all.
I LOVE THESE BOOKS. FUNNY, FULL OF HEART, AND THEY MAKE ME SMILE FROM EAR TO EAR THE ENTIRE TIME <3<3<3
The Eleventh Hour is a fun time loop arc, and it translates well here. The art from Cary Pietsch is gorgeous, I can't wait to see how she illustrates the final couple arcs.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No