The next installment of Dragon Age is around the corner! Come check out a new miniseries that bridges the gap between games in Dragon Age: The Missing #1 by Dark Horse Comics!
DRAGON AGE: THE MISSING #1 (OF 4)
Writer: George Mann
Artist: Kieran McKeown
Colorist: Michael Atiyeh
Letterer: Nate Piekos
Editor: Dave Marshall
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: January 25th, 2023
Previously in Dragon Age: Dragon Age: Inquisition ended with a party member revealing that he is the Dread Wolf, an old elven god. Despite his help closing The Rift, he is hunted before he can do more harm. This issue follows the fan-favorite Varric Tethras and Scout Lace Harding as they search for a lead on Solas.
Dragon Age: The Missing #1 uses nonlinear storytelling to provide exposition and propel the plot forward. In the past, Varric is contracted to work with Scout Harding to hunt down Solas, which he reluctantly agrees to despite having other responsibilities. He is concerned that he will be betrayed again, thus keeping his team small, and luckily, Harding finds a trail leading to the Deep Roads. In the present, the pair travels with Evka and Antoine. They hear creatures and rumors of darkspawn in the area, and the group encounters deepstalkers and an Ogre! After dispatching the creatures, Evka and Antonie patch their wounds and search for a few dead guards while Varric and Harding look around. They find a room they believe belonged to Solas and discover a clue about where he is going next. The duo is thus heading to a city in Tevinter.
Dragon Age: The Missing #1 has me giddy. This is one of my favorite video game series, and the complexity of the stories left their mark on me as a creative writer. Because of that, I think I see this comic through rose-colored glasses. I don’t believe the flashback/nonlinear storyline works in practice, making the plot very clunky. But I still enjoyed it because I could hear the voice actors in my ear and see the nostalgia factor set in. The comic runs into two problems. The games are designed to allow you to control the overall narrative. Meaning that this comic is trying to fit every choice a player character could have made in the games. On top of that, Varric is an established character, and I imagine his character development will be minimal here. Lace Harding should take a more prominent role for this comic to improve since her character arc hasn’t been explored.
The art is decent, but nothing specific really stands out besides the use of fire and shadow. The artist and colorist do a group job presenting the darkness of the Deep Roads. Great work by the creative team.
It is safe to say that I am the target audience for Dragon Age: The Missing #1. This comic reinvigorates the hype for the game that will one day come out. However, the comic isn’t great for the average reader. Thus, this comic is 3.5 out of 5 stars, but I can’t wait for the next issue.
Dear Spoilerite,
At Major Spoilers, we strive to create original content that you find interesting and entertaining. Producing, writing, recording, editing, and researching requires significant resources. We pay writers, podcast hosts, and other staff members who work tirelessly to provide you with insights into the comic book, gaming, and pop culture industries. Help us keep MajorSpoilers.com strong. Become a Patron (and our superhero) today.
Dragon Age: The Missing #1
Dragon Age: The Missing #1 hits that nostalgia factor but may not be a good entry point for those unfamiliar with the fandom.
-
Writing7
-
Art7
-
Coloring7
Christopher Rondeau is a storyteller based in Tulsa, OK. Finding himself with little work, he ended up creating a job as a Game Master full time on the internet. Chris spends most of his days reading everything he can, writing bad fiction, and watching old Digimon cartoons with his daughter. Sometimes you can find him Dungeon Mastering a podcast or streaming on twitch. Recently, he has completed his Master's degree with a focus on collaborative storytelling. Find out more at https://rondeaucreator.com