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A review by ponch22
The Adventure Zone: The Crystal Kingdom by Clint McElroy, Carey Pietsch
4.0
[b:The Crystal Kingdom|54017829|The Crystal Kingdom (The Adventure Zone Graphic Novels, #4)|Clint McElroy|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1602565061l/54017829._SX50_.jpg|84390320] is book #4 in the continuing series of graphic novels based on the The Adventure Zone—a D&D real-play podcast where brothers [a:Justin|7600602|Justin McElroy|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1531958983p2/7600602.jpg], [a:Travis|16706128|Travis McElroy|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1531958740p2/16706128.jpg], and [a:Griffin McElroy|16686574|Griffin McElroy|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1531958425p2/16686574.jpg] play Dungeons & Dragons with their dad [a:Clint|14748891|Clint McElroy|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1531958317p2/14748891.jpg].
[b:Here There Be Gerblins|35684941|Here There Be Gerblins (The Adventure Zone Graphic Novels #1)|Clint McElroy|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1507691828l/35684941._SX50_.jpg|56070994] (2018), [b:Murder on the Rockport Limited!|41812788|Murder on the Rockport Limited! (The Adventure Zone Graphic Novels #2)|Clint McElroy|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1539399890l/41812788._SX50_.jpg|64249214] (2019), & [b:Petals to the Metal|46223323|Petals to the Metal (The Adventure Zone Graphic Novels #3)|Clint McElroy|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1585146457l/46223323._SX50_.jpg|71198864] (2020) were all 5-star adaptations of the first ~26 hours of improvised role-playing, while Crystal Kingdom tackles the next ~12 hours of the Balance arc.
It's been several years since I finished listening to the TAZ Balance story (of which Crystal is part 4 of 8), so it's hard for me to remember what story elements had to be cut to squeeze everything into 240 pages of graphic novel. But the major plot points all seem to be here—
It's always great spending time with Taako (Justin), Magnus (Travis), & Merle (Clint) as they continue hunting for cursed magical artifacts. It's also nice to get some more foreshadowing into future revelations & the introduction of Kravitz (and how he interacts with the Tres Horny Boys.
Illustrator, [a:Carey Pietsch|8504554|Carey Pietsch|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]'s artwork & character design is nearly flawless. My only real complaint in this fourth installment was the overabundance of crystals. The crystal golem often blended into the crystal background and I found it hard to keep all the locations straight or figure out how our heroes were interacting with the world around them. Lots of gorgeous artwork—a little hard to follow.
[b:Here There Be Gerblins|35684941|Here There Be Gerblins (The Adventure Zone Graphic Novels #1)|Clint McElroy|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1507691828l/35684941._SX50_.jpg|56070994] (2018), [b:Murder on the Rockport Limited!|41812788|Murder on the Rockport Limited! (The Adventure Zone Graphic Novels #2)|Clint McElroy|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1539399890l/41812788._SX50_.jpg|64249214] (2019), & [b:Petals to the Metal|46223323|Petals to the Metal (The Adventure Zone Graphic Novels #3)|Clint McElroy|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1585146457l/46223323._SX50_.jpg|71198864] (2020) were all 5-star adaptations of the first ~26 hours of improvised role-playing, while Crystal Kingdom tackles the next ~12 hours of the Balance arc.
It's been several years since I finished listening to the TAZ Balance story (of which Crystal is part 4 of 8), so it's hard for me to remember what story elements had to be cut to squeeze everything into 240 pages of graphic novel. But the major plot points all seem to be here—
Spoiler
buying some little-used items from Garfield at Fantasy Costco; a Philosopher's Stone going wild & turning a floating lab into an ever-increasing transmuted crystal; Hodge Podge the Buddy Bot; No. 3113, pronounced Noelle; Upsy the slimy, creepy elevator; "Pan" lying; Magnus taking a bunch of robot (and other) arms; Kravitz coming to take several characters back to the Astral PlaneIt's always great spending time with Taako (Justin), Magnus (Travis), & Merle (Clint) as they continue hunting for cursed magical artifacts. It's also nice to get some more foreshadowing into future revelations & the introduction of Kravitz (and how he interacts with the Tres Horny Boys.
Illustrator, [a:Carey Pietsch|8504554|Carey Pietsch|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]'s artwork & character design is nearly flawless. My only real complaint in this fourth installment was the overabundance of crystals. The crystal golem often blended into the crystal background and I found it hard to keep all the locations straight or figure out how our heroes were interacting with the world around them. Lots of gorgeous artwork—a little hard to follow.