We return to the ’80s, where six kids enter the Forgotten Realms from a D&D-themed roller coaster! Find out if they can return home in Dungeons & Dragons: Saturday Morning Adventures #1 by IDW Publishing!

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: SATURDAY MORNING ADVENTURES #1

Writer: David M. Booher and Sam Maggs
Artist: George Kambadais
Colorist: George Kambadais
Letterer: Ed Dukeshire
Editor: Zac Boone and Jonathan Manning
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: March 29th, 2023

Previously in D&D: Saturday Morning Adventures: Six kids arrived in the D&D world and turned into unlikely heroes. Noble ranger Hank, intrepid acrobat Diana, quiet thief Sheila, impulsive barbarian Bobby, fearful cavalier Eric, and uncertain magician Presto must look for their way home. The problem is that their Dungeon Master is less than helpful, and the villain Venger wants to steal their magical equipment! After saving the world many times, the crew wonders about their place in the real world.

SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO

Dungeons & Dragons: Saturday Morning Adventures #1 starts with an organized introduction of the characters, their magical equipment, and their stats. They discuss how tired they are when the DM suddenly appears and offers to get them snacks. Hank is frustrated and concerned that they aren’t doing enough to get home. Then it is revealed that the rest of the kids aren’t sure they want to return, as they’ve met friends and loved ones here. Hank is shocked by this revelation, but they are suddenly attacked by Driders and other creatures. Hank tries to lead the team to victory, but ultimately Shelia makes the call to retreat through a portal. Luckily, the portal takes them to the town of Waterdeep!

TARGET AUDIENCE

When I saw the solicitation this week, I was very excited. I don’t remember much about the original cartoon, but what I saw I enjoyed. Dungeons & Dragons: Saturday Morning Adventures #1 is an exciting start because it quickly introduces characters and their personalities but doesn’t introduce their relationships. There is only a broad sense of Hank being a leader within the party dynamics, and the Dungeon Master is eccentric. I thus found the characters to be flat because the characters don’t have the time to develop, and I think the comic relies on solid familiarity with the original cartoon. But D&D has attracted a new audience in the last decade who are likely not familiar with this piece of media. Without the nostalgia element, this comic falls short. But there is a good chance that the character dynamics will improve in the next issue, and this will read better as a trade.

I enjoyed the art, particularly the magic portal the crew went through. It is undeniably within the style of the original cartoon, and it translates well to the comic page. Great work by the artist in capturing this style.

BOTTOM LINE: LOTS OF GOOD IDEAS

In writing, you want a solid balance between plot, setting, and characters held together through an engaging conflict. Dungeons & Dragons: Saturday Morning Adventures #1 manages most of those elements well but doesn’t have the time to add proper characterization in the few short pages of this opening issue. However, there is an excellent chance for a good trade paperback as we get into future issues. 3.5 out of 5 stars for Dungeons & Dragons: Saturday Morning Adventures #1.

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