The Adventure Zone: Here There Be Gerblins

Like most people who've bought this comic, I'm a huge fan of The Adventure Zone's podcastian form, which puts me in a bit of a biased position... but whatever. This comic is amazing; in its own way, even more so than the original material.

The art's cartoony style is perfect for the combination of somewhat-serious storytelling and semi-crude humor, and the characters - Magnus, Merle and Taako (and Griffin, our Dungeon Master) - are perfectly represented in both their expressions and body language. The jokes from the podcast are perfectly translated into the visual media and, as usual, Taako, with his extravagant appearance and fuck-this-shit attitude, tends to take the spotlight.

From caves to mines to SSHHHXKSRNKXXX, the story is clear-cut, the dialogue hilarious, and the characters instantly lovable. Even for those who haven't listened to the podcast and aren't likely to read every line in the characters' voices, I highly recommend The Adventure Zone: Here There Be Gerblins as a fantastic entryway for the McElroy's escapades.

I am new to the podcast, but have really enjoyed it, and honestly, the comic brings it all to life even better, with fabulous facial expressions and interactions between characters as they tackle this meant-to-be-simple job that becomes a full-on quest to save the world.

I absolutely loved the podcast. I’m on my third run through it now. Somehow, the translation to this medium just didn’t work for me. I’m happy to support the work though and hope future iterations will be a little better. I feel like too much of the story changed and all that was kept were a couple of one liners. However, I did see an animated short someone made and posted to Facebook that was absolutely hilarious. If that ever comes out as an official product I’ll be all over it. Unless you are just a really big fan that wants to support the brothers, you could stay away from this one and not miss much.

I really, really, really want to love this. The McElroy family has been a constant presence in my life since The Adventure Zone podcast began, and I have listened and re-listened to the episodes comprising the arc this comic series is based on at least 5 times. It is charming, creative, hilarious, heartfelt, emotional, and wacky. Most importantly, it is unapologetically intimate and raw in its presentation as a long-form audio format. For anyone reading this review who has yet to listen to the original podcast, do yourself a favor and listen to the podcast.

I was beyond excited for this comic when it was announced. Having followed the progress in art submissions from Cary Pietsch throughout the various story arcs reinforced that this delightfully comedic audio adventure could be successfully turned into a comic format. I still think it could, but what was ultimately released unfortunately falls short in ways that I don't really understand why it did. Maybe it's just the change in format, but so many of the jokes and gags are lost in translation. Some of the best gags (the poisonous flowers in Wave Echo Cave come to mind) were missing entirely, and were instead replaced with new one-liners that somehow felt shoehorned in rather than organically riffed by the McElroys in their knife-sharp comedic timing. The art also seems kind of rushed, with many frames a jumble of lines that I would not have been able to discern what was being depicted without having prior knowledge with the story from the podcast. Cary can do, and does do, better work than this. I wonder if it was simply published too soon.

On the other hand, the art and design is fun and whimsical, and appears to be a really nice compromise among the fan community's myriad interpretations of how characters and environments should look. The story is all here, minus a few gags, and it definitely leaves the reader anticipating future installments. With a little more time and maybe a bit more fine-tooth-combing of original goods from the podcast, the next issue would easily out-score this seminal issue. Here's hoping the Tres Horny Boys get an even better second issue. This loving fan sure hopes so.

One last note - maybe I missed it, but I didn't see a character note introducing Killian anywhere in the comic. Without listening to the podcast, new readers would likely have no idea what her name is, or what Taako's A Floating Killian joke refers to. Probably just an oversight, but again just something more time and closer editing could solve.

I looove the story and have listened to Balance multiple times, and this adaption seems really well done. Would give 5 Stars for that.

Docking two stars though because it’s really tough to read on my 10.5” iPad Pro.

There are a variety of formatting problems in things like the text intro by Patrick Rothfuss. I don’t have print version, but I can’t imagine them being present I need printed format. Take a look at the last line in the screenshot.

For the comic itself, it always shows two pages at a time, regardless of orientation. In portrait mode, this is just a disaster as it makes the comic tiny and there is enough white space to start a nice farm. When I flip it to portrait mode, it is bigger and the space is utulized better, but my eyes aren’t what they used to be and it’s really not pleasant for me to read it, and I really don’t get to enjoy the art either. You can click on a panel and it will enlarge, but that is not an enjoyable experience either.

I would love to be able to read it in portrait mode one page at a time. That would give each page a similar size and composition as an actual comic/graphic novel.

So while I really love what they’ve done here and I am sure the print version is nicely executed, I really regret buying this on Kindle as it feels like a fight to get through and I would advise getting a physical copy instead.

I was really excited when they announced the graphic novel that I pre-ordered it immediately. However, I feel like the book really missed the mark. It was certainly minimally enjoyable, but it lacked a lot of the charm and humor that the original podcast had. The artwork is amazing (although the fight scenes are bit tough to follow) and Carey Pietsch should get so much credit for the wonderful put into making this book look amazing.

However, a lot of the fun goofs from the podcast are changed to be less funny versions of themselves. The use of DM Griffin constantly popping in and having meta conversations with the boys also detracted from my enjoyment. It would really grind my immersion to a halt and lampshaded the premise/jokes way too much. I understand why they put DM Griffin into the book, but I feel it was a real misstep in making the story flow and feel fun.

I think the McElroys are in need of a nice, long break. They are increasingly producing lesser quality output. Take a vacation, guys.

This was an amazing experience. I was unsure of the transition from audio to graphic novel for the Adventure Zone, but Clint and Carey KILLED IT. The book perfectly captured the heart of the podcast while staying light and hilarious. The characters couldn't have been more perfectly portrayed. My only question is, when do we get the next one?!

I've made no secret of my deep love of The Adventure Zone, a podcast in which the three McElroy brothers (Justin, Travis, and Griffin) and their father (Clint) get together and play Dungeons and Dragons. (More accurately, they've now started a different game system, but the description suffices.) What started as a lark slowly evolved and became something truly special: a nearly 70-episode saga that came to be called Balance that mixed the McElroys' talent for comedy with wildly imaginative fantasy, rich characterization, and just plain great storytelling.

Now comes Here There Be Gerblins, a graphic novel adaptation of the first arc of Balance, written by the McElroys and illustrated by Carey Pietsch. As part of the podcast, Gerblins is fun and silly, but it isn't really indicative of what the show would become; it suffers at times from the McElroys trying to figure out what the show was going to be, from Griffin not yet developing the confidence (until the arc's end) to leave the book behind and develop his own story, some disconnect between those early sessions and what would come to be the TAZ "vibe", and just some general discomfort with the whole RPG system. So the graphic novel gets the chance to smooth over some of those issues, giving a fresh take on the arc that streamlines some of the bumpiness and ties in better with what would come later.

The result is a real treat for fans, with Pietsch and the McElroys finding a way to capture the anarchic feeling of a D&D session (complete with occasional DM interruption) with the storytelling of Balance; more importantly, they do so in a way that doesn't just feel like a rote novelization or transcript of the podcast. This can be jarring for fans when a gag or plot point you're expecting is gone (or, more notably, in the fact that legal rights concerns meant that a number of names drawn from the original book had to be changed), but at the same time, that means that the graphic novel feels like its own experience, with its own jokes, nods to continuity and running gags, and variation on the story.

But most importantly, Here There Be Gerblins captures the tone of TAZ that's made it so beloved by its fans - a tone that mixes comic anarchy with true affection, open-mindedness and positivity mixed with thoughtful storytelling, and most importantly, a genuine sense of fun and enjoyment. The Adventure Zone works because of the joy of listening to the McElroys play off of each other, and by keeping that attitude in play, the graphic novel can streamline and simplify the story - and line up the characters with the personalities they would begin to develop later - while never betraying what fans love about it.

That's all mirrored by Carey Pietsch's great art, which packs the frames with nods and running jokes and gives everything a light, slightly cartoonish feel while also helping to flesh out Griffin's world. Pietsch's work is most evident and impactful in some of the turns the series takes, most notably a dark turn of events that she lets play out wordlessly but with increasing horror and drama. That she, like the McElroys, can juggle the light fun of the show with its darker undercurrents only goes to show why she's the perfect artist for it.

Here There Be Gerblins sometimes goes a little fast for my taste, eliding out some of the details and sidebars that I love about the show, and I'd be lying if I didn't admit that the loss of some of my favorite bits made me a little sad (even though they're all for the best for the graphic novel's pacing). But even with those minor issues, I had a blast with Gerblins, returning back to the earliest days of a podcast that I truly love and experiencing it all over again. It's fun, funny, imaginative, and just a blast, and I can't wait to see what they manage to do as the arcs get better and better (I am beyond excited at the thought of a Petals to the Metal adaptation, for instance). If you're a fan, you'll be thrilled with it, and if you're a newcomer, it's a great way to dip your toes into this wonderful world.

The Adventure Zone by Clint McElroy, Griffin McElroy, Justin McElroy, Travis McElroy and Carey Pietsch, follows the adventures of three very different individuals who are trying to complete a simple mission, but get dragged into a much larger adventure.

Tako — an elvish wizard with a prideful personality, Magnus Burnsides — a human fighter that is pretty much the human version of a golden retriever, and Merle Highchurch — a dwarve cleric who seems to get the bad end of the stick. All they wanted to do, was rescue Merle’s cousin and get paid. Obviously, it became much more than that.

This beautifully illustrated comic book is an adaption to a Dungeon’s and Dragons podcast with the same name, that has a large fanbase emotionally invested in the journey of these three boys (Much like me and Critical Role — another D&D campaign available online).

As someone who went into the comic book story blind and with very little knowledge of the podcast I was immediately captivated by the characters personalities and their interactions with each other.

Pietsch’s illustrations are beautiful and simple. Her cartoon art style truly matches the general gist of what “The Adventure Zone” is; goofy characters making poor and silly decisions while trying not to die.

You will laugh, you will gasp, you will hold your breath, but most importantly you will want to go on your own adventure.

3.5 stars

There isn't a lot to say about this one for me. It was cute, I enjoyed the art. It was fun seeing the THB come to life. I thought the way they incorporated Griffin the DM was interesting, but it didn't work super well for me. I'll be interested to see how people who didn't listen to the podcast like it, since I have an inkling I wouldn't have really enjoyed it without the background I had. It felt a little rushed to me and I had a hard time connecting to the characters, which was wild since I had already connected to them. Overall, I enjoyed it, but it wasn't anything groundbreaking for me.

I enjoyed it, I purchased it through BnN. It's a lot shorter than expected. I made the mistake of assuming it was everything, the whole story. If they are going to continue with this length style it's possible that they will have quite a few volumes and the later podcasts are when they really start to shine. This first is really more geared towards the fans, I don't believe it will attract many non-listeners. My fear is that they will fizzle out before the fully story can be told.

As for those that did listen to the podcast, with all situations like this, the characters don't look like they do in your head so don't be surprised or disappointed if you get the sense that they got the characters appearance wrong.

This is a great adaptation marred by poor formatting. Book can only be displayed in the Kindle's landscape mode as a 2-page spread, which isn't my preferred way to read digital comics. As of now, this purchase isn't cross-compatible with Comixology either. I still love this book, but readers would be better off with the physical copy.

There is nothing easy about adapting a story from one medium to another. It’s even harder when the two mediums we’re talking about are so fundamentally different as a DnD actual play podcast and a comic book.

TAZ, if for some reason you’ve managed to never hear of it, is a very popular Dungeons and Dragons podcast hosted by the McElroy family, of My Brother, My Brother, And Me fame. The short of it is that it’s a podcast in which three brothers and their dad plays DnD. But don’t be fooled by this description: TAZ is more than just DnD. It is an experience.

I’d say that this comic book managed to do a pretty decent adaptation, with the constraints that it was given (adapt an audio story to a visual one, have the DM be in it because we’d all miss Griffin if he wasn’t). It’s not the best comic book I’ve ever read, but then, maybe I’m doing it a disservice. After all, this is just the first arc of TAZ, which was fun, decent, but ultimately just another DnD story. In comparison, the last few arcs of TAZ are so mind-blowingly excellent that they made me cry, and still figure as one of my all time favourite fantasy story experiences.

Here There Be Gerblins can’t compare to Story And Song (the last arc of the podcast) but then again, it doesn’t have to. It’s a perfectly good starting point to entice readers who might not be familiar with the podcast, and it gives plenty of references to future events for readers who might be reading the entire thing thinking « I can’t wait for the rest! » like I did.

I liked the decision to include the DM in the comic book. TAZ is, after all, a DnD game, and while other such comics like Order of the Stick can get away with an entirely in-game storyline, Griffin is very much a character in his own right in this story. His commentary and interactions with his players are fun and light-hearted, and I think we would likely have lost a layer of humour if he hadn’t been included in the final product.

The artwork was also very pleasing, with artist Carey Pietsch giving life to our characters in a very charming and dymanic way, and drawing the cutest dang version of Avi I’ve yet seen. As expected with the McElroys, you can tell that inclusion and diversity was definitely a goal in the character’s designs, and they didn’t miss their mark.

I look forward to reading more of the adventure of these good, good, goofy boys.

All things considered this was put together very well and is not bad in graphic novel format. But it wasn’t all that exciting to read and I found myself just skimming to parts of the story I knew were more interesting or funny. The start of the podcast itself was somewhat similar so I hope as this podcast to graphic novel gets more volumes it picks up better as the story goes on. Also it would be cool the suggestion of each arc done by a different artist would be so awesome. I don’t dislike this artist style but I wouldn’t miss it either.

I love the Podcast and I love the graphic novel. What I appreciate the most is how well they translated the actual podcast into the graphic novel format. Clint and Carey (along with the brothers) did an excellent job streamlining the story into the 250+ pages, without losing the overall narrative structure. Yes, it is a little jarring to find a name changed (to avoid WotC copyrights, I imagine) or combine some of the plot elements (e.g., Billy Bluejeans setting off the desruction of Phandelin versus Kurtze). But it kept the story moving and - for the most part - was a wink to fans of the podcast that were familiar with the audio-version of the adventure.

Carey also does a wonderful job pushing the medium of a graphic novel, playing with the composition of each page so that the story comes to life. I haven't read a lot of graphic novels - so I don't know if this is the current style - but the zaniness of the McEltroy's adventures was apparent throughout the graphic novel.

The only thing that is disappointing is that I have to wait (and hope) for the next graphic novel in the series.

Whether you've never heard of the McElroy brothers or you refuse to go to bed without kissing your dad square on the lips, this book is a great introduction into one of the most entertaining and engrossing stories you'll find anywhere. Characters pop off the page with personality, the story moves at a quick clip, you'll be laughing out loud, and turning pages to see what happens next.

Exceptionally imaginative fantasy writing, bright comedy, and truly personable art serves this story so well. If you're an existing fan of the series, you will be delighted with this retelling, which goes beyond reiteration while remaining faithful to the story's characters.

I say down to skim and read the first chapter. Two hours later I had completed the entire thing. Don't sleep on this!

I love the Adventure Zone (I've listened to it twice), and I adore this comic book adaptation. After reading through it myself, I am absolutely elated with how it turned out. After putting about a year and a half into crafting this book and with Carey's help, the McElroys have combed through what is arguably the weakest arc of TAZ and turned it into an expressive and engaging story with beautiful artwork and narrative. Here There Be Gerblins always suffered from the brothers' inexperience with D&D alongside them still trying to get a feel for their characters. This arc was always an outlier: Griffin didn't have his plan for the finale mapped out like he did when they arrived at the Crystal Kingdom arc, but this medium does not suffer from those limitations. They clearly took extreme care to portray the characters as their real selves (character development takes a long time) and turned what was sometimes a choppy and slow start to the podcast into a smooth and engaging visual experience.

I don't have enough good things to say about TAZ. I highly recommend you buy this book, get hooked, and maybe listen to the podcast yourself! As the book's introduction says: "The Adventure Zone [is] like suddenly falling in love," and I promise it is worth it.

Amazing work, McElroys, and I can't wait for Murder on the Rockport Limited!

I'll admit I did not buy this comic originally since I was convinced that The Adventure Zone would not translate well into a visual format. But when my good friend showed me his copy I read the entire thing in one sitting, which took about 4 hours, and I am happy to say I was completely wrong.

It is well worth reading and a wonderful take on my favorite story. They had to change a couple of names because if copywrite issues, and I do miss their voices, but Carey Pietch's art work is fantastic.

If you like TAZ at all, pick up a copy of this graphic novel.

It’s a book based on people playing dungeons and dragons. The main difference between the podcast and the graphic novel to quote Justin “you can’t do the dishes while reading the book” you have to give it your attention you aren’t going to be driving, walking, working out, etc while reading so you are focused on the story and won’t miss something and would have to rewind. You just look back up the page. They also cut out most of the table talk and cut the inside jokes so even new people could stop and read it.

Not much to dislike... Maybe that it ends on a cliffhanger and the next book is not available yet?

But what a story, a bit on the trendy, meta side of things, but done in a way that isn't overdone (it's a D&D campaign) while being a little nostalgic to that site of humour. There isn't much to tell and so much that makes this great would go into spoiler territory, so... Just try it ;)

(I bought this in person, not off the store)

This book is so great, I intend to shove it at everyone I've recommended the podcast to in the hopes that it'll get them to listen. It's truly wonderful, maintaining the spirit fo the story while trimming out what wouldn't work. Not to mention, the art work is beautiful, and it genuinely smells amazing...Unless that's just me.

This is a great graphic novel!! It reminded me of the old Finieous Fingers comic from Dragon magazine back in the day. I listened to the podcast and thought it was hilarious. I think this graphic novel captures the comedic joy of the podcast perfectly and the art is very cool and fun. I can't wait for the next one!

Pre Ordered this a million years ago and boy howdy was the wait worth it. This is the heaviest paperback I have ever held. Despite being a paperback the quality of this print is amazing. Then of course Carey Pietsch did a fantastic job of breathing life into this story with her amazing artwork. I look forward to the next issue, and hope to have the whole series on my shelf one day. Keep up the good work!

What a phenomenal book. I’m a loyal fan of the podcast, and yet I still raced through this graphic novel totally compelled by the story. I wanted to know what was going to happen even though I already knew what happened. Finishing the story has made me restart the podcast so there’s astonishing meta thing happening with this book. Great art, great inside jokes, great new jokes, and all of the heart of the original podcast. Can’t wait for the next edition.

For any fan of the world famous and West Virginia famous McElroy boys and their Pan enlightened Father, this graphic novel adaptation is 99 cents on the dollar for their beloved podcast about DnD. I still recommend giving the original hours of podcast a listen but for the hearing impaired of podcast intolerant this book has all the best qualities of its source material. I can't give the artist and writers enough credit for making such a good book so instead I think I'll just rate this comic book five stars on the store. Thank you MBMBAM boys and Clint you've done it again!

This graphic novel does a great job of introducing everyone to the first story arc of The Adventure Zone, hit D&D podcast. The banter, pacing, improvisational humor, and energy of the podcast, starring the McElroy brothers and their father, is captured so well in the art. Even though I know the story, I couldn't put it down. I read the entire book in one sitting. Cannot wait for volume 2!

I love the McElroys, whole heartedly so, but I'm not afraid to dock point on a poorly done piece of work. Luckily for all of us this book was so wonderfully done, and you can tell that the same amount of love for the podcast went into the making of this comic, and I commend Clint and Carey for their hard work (and the rest of the McElbros). The art is great and the writing is cohesive in pulling the story together considering that this arc of the podcast was them just testing the waters. I think anyone who gets this graphic novel will enjoy it!

The podcast that this is based on is one of my favorite things in the world, so I had high expectations for the graphic novel. The art is perfect for the style of story, and it's a beautiful book. Highly recommend, can't wait for them to make the rest.

I just finished listening to the Here Be Gerblins arc of TAZ before buying and reading the book. They did such a great job adapting a pretty goofy campaign into a beautiful, fun, touching graphic novel. There's something about the McElroy brothers' work that brings me a really easy, genuine joy that can be hard to find. The art is great, and Carey did such an amazing job bringing these characters to the page. I'm especially a fan of Taako's many facial expressions. I am so excited for volume 2, whenever it comes!

This is such a delightful and fun book!!! I love the podcast and had to get this! If you like The Adventure Zone, the McElroy Brothers, their awesome Dad Clint, or MBMBAM... or if you don't know what any of those things are- BUY THIS BOOK! It's fantastic and the art is great! I included a pic of the gerblins as they are especially cute. Also, subscribe to their podcasts- I tried listening to MBMBAM during a dentist appt and had to stop because I couldn't stop laughing.. during a filling replacement- this how funny it is!

This book is a feel good adventure and beautifully sets up the rest of the series! The art and writing are fantastic. It really captures the spirit of the podcast. You're going to love it. Buy 13 copies.

This is one of my favorite things out there. Full stop. It is a near perfect adaptation of a story that already makes me so happy and has given me endless hours of entertainment and comfort. The art is gorgeous, the writing captures the spirit and fun of the original story, AND ITS ONLY THE FIRST OF MANY!!! Beyond excited for the next installment of the graphic novel. Amazing job you guys.

As I read through the comic, I hear all the characters voiced by Griffin, Justin, Travis and Clint. I remember listening to the first arc of the podcast a couple years ago and became enamored with this fresh new way of storytelling. They did a great job, along with Carey to bring the story to the graphic novel medium. The depiction of Merle is so cute I can't stand it.

I loved it. I am a big fan of The Adventure Zone and this graphic novel met and exceeded my expectations for what it could be like in comic form. I'm really excited for the rest of the arcs. Murder on the Rockport Limited is in the works and will no doubt be fantastic too. I'm excited in particular for what Crystal Kingdom will look like.

SO GOOD. For fans of The Adventure Zone podcast, fans of graphic novels, fans of dungeons and dragons, fans of fantasy, fans of feelings etc... THIS IS FOR YOU! Beautiful story told by a wonderful family and incredible artwork by the lovely Carey Pietsch. DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND GET THIS BOOK NOW!!

At first, I was worried with the character name changes and things of that nature, but the McElroys exceeded my expectations once again. Here There Be Gerblins is a fantastic way to get the story and love the characters - without listening for 8 hours. 10/10!

Loved it! The artwork is absolutely gorgeous with many visual Easter eggs to jokes on the other shows of our good good boys, the McElroys. Some gags missing or changed, but understandable going from an audio to visual medium. Excited for the next installment!

A beautifully illustrated and well thought out telling of the first Adventure Zone arc. If you’ve been thinking about starting The Adventure Zone but are daunted by the hours it takes to listen, then this is the comic for you!

If you like the podcast you'll love this book! I think it'd even be a good way to get a new friend into the series, podcast or book. The illustration is amazing and fits the tone of the story. Can't wait for the whole series!

I absolutely loved it! The story is hilarious and entertaining, the visuals are stunning, and the whole project is just so unique and creative. I’ve already read it twice now and I can’t put it down!

Such a fun exploration of D&D, in addition to being a fantastic extension of the podcast! Wonderful storytelling, classic characters, and beautiful art come together to make this book a genuine treasure.

I was very disappointed in this book- I bought it for my 9 year old great nephew and when he started reading it he came to me and said it had bad words in it and it did- many bad words- words he is not allowed to use. He knows the words but I would not have bought the book if that had been part of the review. Instead we went to Barnes and noble and they understood the issue and had a wall of graphic novels that were more appropriate in their language choices.

I want to give this 5 stars, I'm sure I'll love it when I can read it, but right now the kindle edition is really weird and awkward.
It forces a screen rotation whenever opened so it can be displayed in two page mode,and as far as I can tell there is no way to get it to display single pages. It's really awkward to handle my kindle horizontally for books, and I'd hav e to zoom in on each page just to make our the text

If there ia a setting I'm missing please tell me, if not please fix this!