The Legend Of Drizzt
Dungeons & Dragons: Neverwinter Tales
Written by R.A. Salvatore and Geno Salvatore
Art by Agustin Padilla
Colors by Leonard O’Grady
Letters by Chris Mowry and John Barber
Cover by Gonzalo Flores
IDW Publishing
Release Date: May 1, 2013
Cover Price: $19.99

I love graphic novels. Don’t get me wrong, I was brought up on monthly comics. It’s just that as I’ve gotten older I have a deeper appreciation for contained stories. Dungeons & Dragons: Neverwinter Tales: The Legend Of Drizzt is a prime example. Having missed the first issue, I was originally a wee bit behind. Thanks to this wonderful book, that is no longer the case!

Written by R.A. Salvatore and son Geno Salvatore, this story takes place during the Neverwinter Saga of books. But the tale itself is all inclusive and doesn’t tie directly in with those novels, so you can enjoy one without having read the other. The really interesting thing about this particular one is that it centers around a lesser-known character from the books, Thibbledorf Pwent. As leader of the Gutbuster Brigade of Battleragers, Pwent was always at the forefront of any battle, charging ahead with no regard to his own mortality. This time around, though, things are quite different. No spoilers from me, but everyone thought he had died defending his king. Lost for so long, Pwent’s plight is a dark and lonely one that is fully explained here.

But let us not forget that Drizzt plays no small role in this plot, we see his journey with Dahlia through the forest as more of a way to move the story forward and create a reason for necessary dialogue. It also doesn’t hurt that Drizzt is the most famous of all Salvatore’s characters, he’s a good draw for new readers. And with nefarious beings like the lich Valindra Shadowmantle and Korbin Dor’crae behind the scenes, things get very tense for Pwent on occasion.

Agustin Padilla handled all the art for this mini-series, doing a bang up job of creating a world that aligns itself with the story almost perfectly. Coupled with Leonard O’Grady‘s coloring, the graphics enhance without overpowering the writing. In and of itself, the visuals might be a bit bland for some people, but I really loved the detail in many of panels. Simplistic without being simple, the art does its job well.

Not the strongest story from the Salvatores, but a good one. Quite tragic, yes…but also a very worthy addition to the long list of Forgotten Realms tales. There are a variety of formats to choose from so that won’t pose a problem for anyone. The price is decent, not to mention the fact that you can usually catch a sale on graphic novels online or in store. No, the true choice lies in deciding if you are a fan of the series or just a casual observer of all things Faerun. If you’re like me, a self-proclaimed completest, then you really don’t have a choice at all…do you? This will be available at finer bookstores, local comic shops and, of course, online. No pressure, but if you know how good Salvatore can be…why wouldn’t you buy this?