Reviews - The Adventure Zone: The Crystal Kingdom

So good. A lot had to be cut but did a good job of streamlining and getting the emotions and jokes. And also Kravitz is here finally!!! Love his design so good!!

ktmiller_14's review against another edition

5.0

This was an easy 5/5 stars for me. The first time I read this, I was figuring out where the story was going (I also listened to the podcast beforehand, but I slept through this particular arc somehow), and now that I understand, WOW. It shattered my heart. I liked Lucas and Maureen Miller a lot more here, mostly because my interest in science has grown since then.

We follow Magnus Bane, Taako, and Merle Highchurch as they go to Lucas and Maureen's lab, which is covered in pink tourmaline from a failed experiment. If the tourmaline touches the ocean (it's a floating lab) it will cover the planet, essentially creating an apocalypse. The group goes and they get more than what they bargained for, as usual.

The way this arc was adapted was my favorite of the arcs, probably in a tie with Petals To The Metal. I read this one in preparation for The Eleventh Hour and now I have context into what the being is that is looking to eat the planes. The scenes with Lucas talking to Maureen when she was temporarily resurrected into a robot (her soul was in the robot) got me. I loved their dynamic. And seeing how Noelle died made it all the more real.

Carey Pietsch's art is fantastically dynamic, adaptable, and creative. I enjoyed when the action packed panels were made to stand out, and when the emotional ones contrasted those by being darker with shading or a different shape than the other panels - absolute art gold. Especially knowing that pink was a hugely important color here, it was showcased so well in harmony with the other bright colors of the characters, or made to look menacing when the group had to fight the crystal golems.

This sets up so well for the next graphic novel. The ending could not have been more confusing in the best way. Volume 5 here we come!

droar's review against another edition

5.0

Ah! Loved it! Give me Kravitz/Taako all day long please! but for reals, this is where the overarching plot really starts to lace together & I am so very here for it. Also I need all of those sweaters in the opening bit. All of them. Immediately.