Dungeons & Dragons Annual 2022 - IDW Publishing

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS ANNUAL 2022, August 2022

Enthusiastically described by “IDW Publishing” as a “special self-contained issue that’s perfect for new readers and gaming fans alike”, Jim Zub and Ryan Cady’s two yarns for the “Dungeons & Dragons Annual 2022” certainly seem to live up to their hype. Indeed, as was probably intended, the authors’ exploration of the Feywild Realm will doubtless pique the interest of this comic’s audience so much so that many may well consider purchasing “The Wild Beyond The Witchlight” adventure sourcebook upon which its narratives are inspired; “Once every eight years, a piece of the Feywild returns to enrapture and entertain the good people of this town.”

First up is arguably the meatier adventure of the book, “Lost & Found”, which sees “fan-favourite D&D writer” Zub take the reader on a fun-packed romp full of humanoid rabbit warriors, wyrmling-guarded cottages and super-cute Owl-bears. The penmanship for this thirty-page escapade proves particularly effective as it will surely cause many a bibliophile to initially dislike its lead protagonist Billi Sharpe right up until the young rogue’s mysterious (and decidedly tragic) background story is revealed – after which they’ll probably be rooting her on as she desperately tries to rescue her brother from the clutches of a truly despicable old witch.

Somewhat reminiscent of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale “Hansel and Gretel”, along with a sprinkle of Lewis Carroll’s “Alice In Wonderland”, this fable is also quite cleverly bookended by artist Eduardo Mello, with Kyler Clodfelter tackling all the interior illustrations once Sharpe has taken the plunge through one of Witchlight’s numerous looking glasses. This visual emphasise that both the thief’s world, as well as its rules, have radically changed genuinely helps reinforce her character’s edgy nervousness at being placed in an entirely unknown environment, and also adds an extra element of potential danger to the sneaky lockpick’s perilous predicament.

Perhaps somewhat less venturesome is Cady’s “Something For Everyone”. Possibly best described as “Romeo and Juliet” but with fairies, this ten-sheet ‘short’ provides a fairly straightforward romp concerning a lawful faction of tiny, winged warriors and a pilfering band of similar-sized criminals. Gorgeously sketched and coloured by Vincenzo Riccardi, this intriguing yarn definitely delivers some well-pencilled eye-candy, and helps provide a romantic air to the two lovers' dramatic escape from the inflexible attitudes of their polar opposite cultures.

Written by: Jim Zub & Ryan Cady, and Art by: Eduardo Mello, Kyler Clodfelter & Vincenzo Riccardi