The Young Adventurer’s Collection Box Set 2
Dungeons & Dragons 4-Book Boxed Set: Beasts & Behemoths, Dragons & Treasures, Places & Portals, Artificers & Alchemy
Paperback Box Set
By Jim Zub, Stacy King, Andrew Wheeler
Publisher: Ten Speed Press
Release Date: September 24, 2024

Welcome back, reader! It is time to take a look at the newest box set in the Dungeons & Dragons: Young Adventurer’s Guide series. The Young Adventurer’s Collection Box Set 2 is here to deliver some great references for the intermediate-aged role-playing gamer in your life. I know I am a little late delivering this review, but maybe this is a better late than never situation, right? I will give you a brief synopsis of each of the four books in this fun little box set. I am impatiently awaiting the day that my grandchildren are old enough to read these and begin their adventure into the world of Dungeons and Dragons, I mean the first books I read to each of them included D&D books, such as these right here.

Dungeons & Dragons: Evil At Baldur’s Gate #1
Print Edition | Digital
Written by Jim Zub
Art by Dean Kotz
Colors by Stefani Rennee
Letters by Neil Uyetake
Covers by Max Dunbar and Joanna Lafuente, Dean Kotz and Joanna Lafuente, Dean Kotz, Max Dunbar
IDW Publishing
Release Date: April 25, 2018
Cover Price: $3.99

Straight from the hip, there is nothing serious about Dungeons & Dragons: Evil At Baldur’s Gate #1 except that it is seriously fun. Imagine, if you will, that we had a mashup of the Dungeons & Dragons cartoon with Teen Titans Go! and it was presented in comic book form. That is essentially what we have here. It’s certainly entertaining, but also, just as certainly, not deep in plot or characters.

Conan/Red Sonja #4
Written by Gail Simone & Jim Zub
Pencils by Randy Green
Inks by Rick Ketcham
Colors by Dave Stewart
Letters by Richard Starkings & Comicraft
Cover art by Dan Panosian
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: April 29, 2015
Cover Price: $3.99

Conan/Red Sonja #4 is the perfect ending to what, in my opinion, was the perfect example of a inter-company crossover. For the past three issues, two of fantasy’s most popular characters have fought, loved, and been comrades in arms. Now, with the fate of the entire universe at stake, can even they protect it?

Writers Gail Simone and Jim Zub continue their excellent tale of Conan and Red Sonja. What I’ve loved most about this series, and this issue in particular, is that it was more of a team-up than a crossover, and that both characters get equal billing and “page-time.” Each has their share of story to carry and each has their own weight to pull when it comes to the overall adventure. This issue is a fitting end to the series. I won’t spoil the ending, but it’s perfect.

Conan Red/Sonja #3
Written by Gail Simone & Jim Zub
Pencils by Randy Green
Inks by Rick Ketcham
Letters by Richard Starkings & Comicraft
Colors by Dave Stewart
Cover art by Dan Panosian
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: March 25, 2015
Cover Price: $3.99

Conan/Red Sonja #3 takes a big swerve from the first two issues of this series, and it’s a total surprise for the reader. We’re used to the past two issues that skipped around during different times of the lives of Conan and Red Sonja, and it was great and fun, but now that the narrative has changed, is it still good? Let me tell you what I think…

Conan/Red Sonja #2
Written by Gail Simone & Jim Zub
Art by Dan Panosian
Colors by Dave Stewart
Letters by Richard Starkings & Comicraft
Cover art by Dan Panosian
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: February 11, 2015
Cover Price: $3.99
Kindle Edition: $3.19

Conan/Red Sonja #2 is the second installment in this way too long in the making crossover. We get a follow-up on the first issue’s first meeting between the two most recognizable characters in the fantasy comics genre, but in many ways, it’s also a first issue. Confused? Let me straighten things out for you.