Vox Machina has found a way to make money by participating in an illegal fighting ring. Will our heroes make it past round one? Find out in Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins #2 by Dark Horse Comics! 

CRITICAL ROLE: VOX MACHINA ORIGINS #2 (OF 6)

Writer: Jody Houser
Artist: Olivia Samson
Colorist: Diana Sousa
Letterer: Ariana Maher
Editor: Rachel Roberts
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: April 28th, 2021

Previously in Critical Role: Come check out the comic book based on the Critical Role web show! Vox Machina are a group of adventurers always looking for their next quest where they might just save the world! Our heroes have just finished a job but quickly burned through their coin. Luckily, they find themselves sponsored to fight in an illegal fighting ring!

LOOKING FOR SOME COIN

Vox Machina’s first matched against the Goreshon’s Fist! Even though they were able to scrap together a victory, the group was highly disorganized and constantly stepped on each other’s toes. Their next match is against the Scarlet Quorum, a group of magic users that seem to work in harmony. It isn’t until they begin to put their skills together are they able to overcome the mages. The last fight is against Loran the Bear and his team. Loren’s team fights like a well-oiled machine and quickly use their skills against Vox Machina. On top of that, a person from the stands shoots poisoned blow darts at the party. Luckily, they are able to work together and beat their opponents. Taking their winnings, they head off for celebration.

WHAT WAS THE POINT?

There is a plot here, but I can’t seem to find it. This feels like it should be a fun standalone issue featuring the team but the fact that I know that it is a middle issue of the arc really confuses me. There was something here that I couldn’t grasp. Maybe the plot line is supposed to deal with one of the opponents in this fighting ring or maybe the sponsor. But there wasn’t an apparent hook into the next comic. The action on the page was cool and it was extremely well drawn. But I don’t read an issue simply for the action.

BOTTOM LINE: NOT MUCH DEPTH

This issue doesn’t do the title justice. I have a hunch this comic makes more sense in a trade paperback rather than as a single issue. In the context of the full story arc, I’m sure this comic fits in perfectly. 3.5 out of 5 stars for this one. 

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Vox Machina: Critical Role Origins #1 (of 6)

70%

70%

Not Much Depth

Critical Role has proven to have great stories with depth. Unfortunately, this issue only showed us the action of a tabletop game.

• Writing

  6
• Art

  8
• Coloring

  7
• User Ratings (0 Votes)
  0