Dungeons & Dragons: Cutter #1
Written by R.A. Salvatore & Geno Salvatore
Art by David Baldeon
Color by David Garcia Cruz
Letters by Neil Uyetake
Covers by Steve Ellis, David Baldeon
IDW Publishing
Release Date: April 10, 2013
Cover Price: $3.99

The hardest part about reviews for something that R.A. Salvatore has released is coming up with a new way to introduce his work. All I really want to do is grab people and shake them forcefully while screaming “Why haven’t you read him yet?” But I hear that is illegal in some places…*sigh* This go around he is writing with his son Geno Salvatore, which has yielded some excellent results in the past. Dungeons & Dragons: Cutter #1 is the first in a five-issue series that centers around a sword that has been around for a while, passing from warrior to warrior.

But Cutter is no ordinary blade, not by a long stretch (see what I did there? It’s a longsword!). It’s Drow name is Khazid’hea and its true nature is that of death and destruction. For you see, this sword is sentient in the most malevolent of ways, it’s only goal is to be wielded by the finest warrior. Having first appeared in Salvatore’s Starless Night, we have seen it alter its own appearance to entice warriors to claim it as their own. From a weapons master in the Underdark to Drizz’t Do’Urden to Cattie-Brie and so on…this sword has been seeking its perfect match. Is it finally coming to pass? Only time will tell as this miniseries breathes more life into the sword’s story and that of the Drow family that currently possesses it.

The beginning of the story allows us to bear witness to a vicious sparring match between brother and sister, Tierflin and Doum’weille. The reward for this test is the right to bear Cutter, something they both see as their birthright. Their father, Tos’un Armgo, was wounded in battle and is now considered unfit to carry the sword by the magical weapon itself. After all, what can a crippled renegade do for the greatest sword ever? Using it’s telepathic abilities to influence members of the family, Cutter plays one against another to tragic results…

The story is set in motion with this first issue, focusing in on the sword and it’s wants rather than any one particular person. I like the concept of following the weapon as the prime character, hopefully that continues throughout the series. Trying to connect with Cutter, however, is impossible. It’s only true love is war. It seeks what it was created to seek…death. Watching the way it manipulates the characters, it feels very Machiavellian to the reader. It was a twisted little start of what I can only presume will be a twisted little story and I loved it.

I thoroughly enjoyed the art from David Baldeon, it was crisp and clean. Lending itself to the tale rather than attempting to overshadow it. I think it pairs well with the way the Salvatores tell the story. I look forward to seeing more of it in issues to come. IDW Publishing made a great choice having  Steve Ellis do some their cover art for this book, too. He has worked as penciler and inker on a plethora of comics and I’ve long been a fan of his art.

I have already shown you folks a preview of this comic and hope that it convinced all you fantasy lovers to pick this one up. It’s not often that we get to see some of Salvatore’s books being expounded upon, especially when he’s the one telling the story.  The Forgotten Realms keep getting larger and more detailed, a wonderful thing for those of us that grew up playing role-playing games and lugging around huge bags of dice. Embrace your inner gaming nerd and grab this while you can, it hits shelves this Wednesday, April 10.